Now an annual institution, LGBT History Month is all about celebrating the achievements of LGBT people and gaining awareness for those silenced and suppressed in the past. It’s an important force in the fight against homophobia in schools and now includes over 1,000 events each year. We caught up with Co-Chair Sue Sanders to find out more about this month’s calendar of events.
What are you focusing on in 2013?
We decided to celebrate all things mathematical, scientific and technical this year with our link to Alan Turing. We have already had a very prestigious pre launch at Bletchley Park with Turing’s nephew. Our intention is to raise the profile of LGBT people in the maths, science and technology area for both educational and business purposes, so that firms think effectively how they are making their culture respectful and welcoming to LGBT employees and customers, as well as educating about prejudice and challenging negative stereotypes of LGBT people. A tall order, so we need some help!
Which events are you most excited about this year?
There are so many great events organised by other people I can’t name them all, so check out the calendar on the website
How can people get involved?
Everyone can be involved; we have events started by LGBT people in clubs, pubs, trade unions, churches and universities. We also owe thanks to the public duty of the Equality Act and professionals recognising that if they are giving a service to the public that utilising LGBT HM is a really effective way to both ensure their service is for everyone and to enhance their knowledge.
Who is it for?
It really is open to everyone. Getting knowledge across about a community that has been ignored for a long time is many people’s business. Schools are now using it more and the we have supplied loads of resources for them on all three websites. Museums and galleries are now being much more inclusive and thanks to the month there are now some really interesting public exhibitions; see the London Museum, British Museum and the Manchester War Museum. There are many projects up and down the country that are being funded by the heritage lottery developing archives, among them are Burnley and the Pink Singers.
How has the event grown over the years?
From the very first year in 2004 when we had 100 events, by the following year we had grown massively to incorporate up to 1,000 events in our calendar. These days many more events take place – some not even making it into the calendar. This is our ninth year, and we are all volunteers, working for love from our own homes. We only do one event ourselves in the month, which is The Schools OUT annual conference and AGM, but we work flat out to raise the month’s profile, and ensure that organisations embrace the concept and put on events.
“We need to learn about our history, the people who went before us and helped make our lives easier.”
And the list of high profile supporters just seems to keep getting bigger…
Gordon Brown instituted a gathering in Downing Street in February of LGBT people to celebrate the month and endorsed it. David Cameron now holds that event in July, however he does link with us and did a big splash on sport in our first year focusing on sport and has also endorsed it. Our twitter and Facebook account keeps growing with thousands of friends, ‘likes’ and followers, and our site is popular across the world – especially with the Americans in October when they hold their own LGBT HM. Our list of patrons grow and include academics, sports personalities writers and activists.
Anything else you’d like to add?
The month is a success because the massive amount of work done by hundreds of people across the country determined to make us visible. Norfolk and Camden and Islington frequently get an event a day organised every year. I hope that you will brave the weather and get out and sample the rich tapestry of events that are there for you and make sure the month goes from strength to strength. We need to learn about our history, the people who went before us and helped make our lives easier, we need to teach the rest of the community that we have been here and made a massive contribution to their lives.
• LGBT History Month takes place in February across the UK. See the website for full listings at
