LGBTQ+ history month

What is LGBTQ+ History month?

LGBTQ+ History month is a month celebrated every month in February to remember, educate others and celebrate the history of the LGBTQ+ community in the UK and across the globe.

What is the difference from LGBTQ+ History Month and Pride Month?

Well Pride Month is celebrated in June and id dedicated to not only to spread awareness of the discrimination and hardships that the community face around the world but also celebrate the many sexualities that people have, as each day if dedicated to a different sexuality. On the other hand, LGBTQ+ History Month is made to remember the hardships that the community faced but also to celebrate the wonderful achievements and progress made towards equality and inclusion of the LGBTQ+ History Month.

Themes in LGBTQ+ History Month

Every year, LGBTQ+ History Month has a different theme he theme of LGBT History Month and in 2022 it is ‘Politics in Art’.

The theme references art in the national curriculum and celebrates the many achievements and contributions of LGBTQ+ artists. In the fight for equality, art has served as an emotive communicator, a representation of the LGBTQ+ community’s struggles against homophobia.

A Timeline of LGBTQ+ history:

Here is a timeline of some important events in the UK relating to the LGBTQ+ community

(Disclaimer : This is not a full timeline , more of a rough timeline as not all events will be covered)

1951: The first known case of sex reassignment surgery.

Roberta Cowell, a trans woman, underwent reassignment surgery. She was assigned male at birth, but later had her sex legally changed to female and underwent vaginoplasty surgery.

1967: The Sexual Offences Act decriminalises sex between two men over 21 ‘in private’. 

However, homosexuality was still widely discriminated and the Act still lead to arrests, as certain conditions were still considered illegal.

1969: The Stonewall riots occurred. 

This was one of the most momentous events in LGBT history. Riots by LGBTQ+ people were sparked after police raided the Stonewall Inn ), a famous gay bar in New York City.

1978:  Gilbert Baker, artist and gay rights activist, designs the Pride flag.

 It originally had eight colours, but two were dropped to make mass-production easier. It is now a widely-recognised symbol of LGBTQ+.

1988: The introduction of Section 28 of the Local Government Act.

 This was a major step backwards for the promotion of LGBTQ+ rights and awareness, triggering a huge uproar and renewed momentum in LGBTQ+ activism. The Section stated that local authorities “shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality”

2000-2010: The new millennium and its first decade saw huge steps forward for LGBTQ+ rights.

 In the year 2000, the ban on lesbian, gay, and bisexual people serving in the army was lifted by UK Government. In 2002, same sex couples in the UK received equal rights for adoption as straight couples. Section 28 was repealed in 2003 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In 2004, the Gender Recognition Act passed, which allows transgender people to identify with their chosen gender fully and legally, as well as acquire a new birth certificate.

2014: The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act comes into effect in England and Wales

 finally making same-sex marriage legal. Scotland followed suit later in the same year.

2019: The World Health Organisation declassifies transgender health issues as a mental illness. 

LGBT rights director at Human Rights Watch said the changes would have a “liberating effect on transgender people worldwide”.