Here’s what Lancaster Uni is doing to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month

LGBTQ+ History month occurs every February in the UK, with an aim to promote equality and diversity by increasing the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community by looking at their history, lives and experiences. Lancaster Uni has hosted many events, with some still to come, during this month to celebrate those in this community and its allies.

Terry Abbott, Chair of the LGBT+ Staff Network at Lancaster Uni, said that this month is dedicated the learning and appreciating the history of those in the LGBT community. They said: “LGBT+ History Month is a celebration of LGBTQIA+ history and civil rights movements. It helps us to remember that there are still many countries where consensual, same-sex activity is illegal.

“LGBT+ History Month highlights the stories of people that have been misrepresented in, or erased from history books and the media. It provides positive role models and helps us to see inspirational characters that we identify with, as well as helping us to learn about people different from ourselves. It helps us to remember how far we’ve come in a very short time.”

Networks

LUSU LGBTQ+ Officer Sophie Schultz leads the LGBTQ+ Student Forum which gives students an opportunity to be part of a student network and provides social events for members of the LGBTQ+ student community.

Students can also join the LGBTQIA+ Safe Home Base Ally Network, providing a safe space for students to seek LGBTQIA+ guidance and help.

Social media takeover and rainbow lanyards

At the beginning of the month, February 3rd, students, staff and allies will were in Alex square handing out rainbow lanyards and flags as a visual way to mark LGBTQ+ History Month.

LGBTQ+ Voices launch

On February 9th, the Counselling and Mental Health Service were in the library’s living wall area launching LGBTQ+ Voices, a service offering LGBTQ+ students a one-off appointment without having to complete a self-referral form to speak to LGBTQ+ practitioners. Counselling and Mental Health representatives were in the library, answering questions about wellbeing and support.

LGBTQ+ Forum’s presentation event

LUSU hosted an evening, on February 16th, with presentations about queer history in the library’s new exhibition space.

LGBTQ+ quiz

There will be an LGBT Quiz for all colleges on 22nd Feb hosted by drag performer Marie La Rae. The quiz is at barker house farm at 7:30 pm.

LGBTQ+ Q&A 

Other upcoming events include LGBTQIA+ reps from Lancaster University and University of Cumbria collaborating to host an open discussion, February 25th 12-1 pm, to answer your questions in honour of LGBT history month. The panel will be face to face attendees will join online. Questions can be submitted anonymously live during the event or beforehand by emailing [email protected].

Linguistics and English language seminar

Professor William Leap (American University, Washington DC and Florida Atlantic University) will give a talk, March 7th 4-5:30 pm, entitled “Disgruntled flamingos and the… kindness of strangers” which will include discussion of LGBT language studies.

Children’s books in the library

In the library, there will be a display of LGBTQIA and print books as well as an online resource list. During the month of February, the library also plans to buy a range of new children’s books for the family area, but predominately from a company called Queer Lit- an independent gay bookshop in Manchester.

For more information about LGBTQ+ History Month, click here.

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