In the Uk, since 2005, LGBT+ History Month (Pride Month) has been celebrated in an attempt to raise awareness of the prejudice that a community - who remain otherwise invisible - face every day. The general aim of the month being to increase the visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, etc community by sharing their history, sharing their lives, sharing their stories.

The first month was initiated by Sue Sanders, Elly Barnes and Schools OUT Uk in wake of the termination of Section 28 in 2003. Section 28 being the amendment that was enacted on 24 May 1988, and stated that a local authority "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship"

The first celebration of LGBT+ History Month included over 150 events nationwide whilst the organisation's website received around 50,000 hits in that February alone. Patrons of the first Pride Month included names such as Sir Ian McKellen, Cyril Niri and Sarah Weir - to be replaced in 2009 by Sir Ian McKellen, Cyril Niri Angela Eagle and Labi Siffre.

As well as receiving support from numerous famous faces, the initiative was granted government backing from the deputy Department for Education and Skills and Equalities Minister Jacqui Smith even when this lead to people of the press arguing against Political Correctness and mentioning how the sexuality of certain historical figures are more a result of speculation as opposed to solid fact. However, these arguments were dismissed by the point made that it is important to challenge heterosexist attitudes in today's society in order for a portion of the population to live as themselves (heterosexist behaviour is a system of attitudes, bias and discrimination in favour of opposite-sex couples and interaction) The Department for Education and Skills ensured that funding would be provided for LGBT+ History Month for the first two years in order to aid the event in getting off the ground. Nowadays, support is provided by various sources from year to year as the organisation has grown more popularity. Several constant means of support that the initiative receives is in the form of funding from sponsors such as the Metropolitan Police Authority, the Crown Prosecution Service and Amnesty International.

The first ever pre-launch event took place in and was sponsored by Southwark Council  - the following year in occurred in the Metropolitan Police's Empress State Building. 2006 saw the Trades Union Congress offering the Congress House to hold the pre-launch and in 2007 it took place in the hall in the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand. Each one of these events included speakers talking about their experiences; speakers such as Sir Ian McKellen, Stella Duffy and Linda Bellos.

A turning point for the organisation was in 2009 when the current Prime Minister Gordon Brown hosted a reception at Downing Street on the 5th of March to mark the month.

In 2017, LGBT History Month is focusing on Citizenship, PSHCE and Law to mark the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality in England and Wales - the Sexual Offences Act, passed on July the 27th, 1967 - which was one of the first steps towards equality for the LGBT community (although it only related to males, it affected the entirety of the community).

Festivals are being held around the country in locations including:

- York

- Preston

- Liverpool

- Manchester

- Exeter

- Newcastle

- Shrewsbury

- Coventry

- Bournemouth, and 5 London locations.

The celebration of LGBT History Month holds a vital place in the fight for equality that the LGBT+ community desperately needs and whilst times are improving and views are changing, the struggle in ongoing. During the February month, a community is given the chance to celebrate who they are and teach others how life is for them.

Ellie Jones- Langley Park School for Girls