LGBT+ History Month takes place every February and is a celebration to provide education and insight into the issues that the LGBT+ community face. It achieves this by highlighting specific histories, important events and milestones, and the people that have made change possible.
The event originated in the wake of the abolition of Section 28 – legislation which silenced teachers, preventing them from talking about LGBT issues in schools, and left thousands of young people without the support they so badly needed.
The main aim is to inform people and teach younger people about the history of the gay and trans rights movements and to promote an inclusive modern society.
This year’s theme is Body, Mind, Spirit.
This past year has taught us how important our health and wellbeing is, both mentally and physically. Many of us have faced extremely challenging times, but it is also key to recognise that some communities encountered barriers around health and wellbeing long before COVID-19 dominated our world.
Find more information and resources at https://lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk and follow @LGBTHM and #LGBTHM21 on Twitter.
Find events happening across the country during February as part of OUTing the Past: The International Festivals of Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Trans History, at www.outingthepast.com
Read the stories of experiences of LGBT+ people around the world at https://ourqueerstories.com
Here are some of the books you can find in our libraries. You can browse our full collection at www.southeastlibrarysearch.nhs.uk Click on each cover to find more details and location.
On 18th February there will be a LGBT+ History Month Event for Health Libraries, to explore how health libraries can promote equality, diversity and inclusion in relation to the LGBTQ+ community (both within the profession and the NHS). Panellists will include Steve Bowman, our Medical School Librarian and Technology-Enhanced-Learning Lead.
Follow the Twitter hashtag #LGBTHealthLibs to find out more, and look out for another blog post later this month reporting back from the event.
