Tomorrow is the start of LGBTQ+ History Month
Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month
This month-long, annual observance is dedicated to raising awareness, tackling prejudices, and commemorating the LGBTQ+ community and their rich history. It also aims for progress towards a more equitable and inclusive future.
This year, the theme is Medicine - #UnderTheScope where we’re spotlighting contributions to the field of medicine and healthcare both historically and today from LGBTQ+ people.
The theme also delves into the history of the LGBTQ+ community’s experience with healthcare, which has been extremely complicated, leaving LGBTQ+ people still facing health inequalities even today.
How can I get involved?
Join us for a variety of eye-opening discussions, engaging workshops and a fantastic set of events and celebrations that students and staff can get involved in, as well as opportunities to get educated and ask questions about the LGBTQ+ community at UoB. These events are open to anyone LGBTQ+ with or without society membership.
- Your Guild of Students' LGBTQ+ Association is hosting a series of weekly coffee socials for LGBTQ+ students to relax, connect, play games and enjoy some free snacks and drinks. These events are open to anyone LGBTQ+ with or without society membership. All LGBTQ+ individuals, society members or not, are welcome to join. Discover more.
- Looking to create your own distinctive flag using Queer colour palettes? Dive into creativity with the Queer Arts Society on Thursday 1 February from 17:30 until 19:30. Find out more.
- Get ready for an artistic celebration as Birmingham’s Queer Draw Brum makes its mark on campus! Join us for a laid-back, two-hour life-drawing session celebrating the beauty of queer bodies, expression and creation on Wednesday 14 February from 14:00 until 16:00. We've got all the drawing materials covered, along with tea and tasty snacks! Book your place before spaces fill up.
- Dive into the rich tapestry of LGBTQ+ experiences with our intersectionality panel discussion, Shadows of the Rainbow, taking place on Wednesday 7 February 2024 from 13:00-14:00. Dr. Sammi Li, Habiba Abbad and Dr. Arun Verma will lead a lively panel exploring how intersecting identities shape lives. Register for this event.
Those are just a few of the highlights. Check out the full list of events by visiting our official LGBTQ+ History Month page.
Feeling inspired? Suggest a story and share your pride
LGBTQ+ history offers a spectrum of colourful and rich lived experiences. To reflect this, UoB's Library Services are putting together a display showcasing the community's diverse narratives. We're eager for your book recommendations from the Main Library's existing collection using FindIt@Bham.
Whether it's real stories or just some good fiction spotlighting LGBTQ+ characters, themes, and identities, all suggestions are welcome! Share your selected book along with a short reason why below and watch your submission come alive in the Main Library Atrium for others to enjoy. If you're in need of some inspiration, the Main Library have put together some suggestions here.
Suggest A Story
Hear from our students
Read words from our students at UoB they share their unique perspectives, experiences, and personal stories in celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month.
“As a History student, I see LGBTQ+ History Month as a valuable opportunity to celebrate and reflect on our community by understanding our history. The study of the history of sexuality has allowed us to understand the modern social constructs that dominate our understanding of being LGBTQ+, why the community is marginalised and why celebrating our history is so important. I find personal value in the sense of companionship history can provide for us as a marginalised community; this sense of humanity is what connects me to history overall. There is great comfort in the idea that there is no experience you can have, no emotion that you can feel that has not been had or felt before by someone, somewhere. If someone can understand your position in the world, it cannot hurt to look for them."
“For me, LGBTQ+ history month means celebrating the work our predecessors have done to enable us to flourish as queer young people today. It also means remembering and celebrating those who are no longer here to see how truly impactful their lives have been on queer liberation today. It’s a month dedicated to reminding the LGBTQ+ community that they are loved, regardless of how they identify or the experiences they have had as an LGBTQ+ individual. This month highlights what is needed each day of the year: for LGBTQ+ people to feel safe and able to be themselves wherever they go.”
Learn more by visiting our official LGBTQ+ History Month events page.