LGBT History Month is an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, taking place every February in the UK. The movement was originally founded in 1994 by Missouri high-school history teacher Rodney Wilson. An LGBT History Month is currently observed in the UK, Hungary, the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil and Greenland, writes Rhian Radia, Partner and Head of our Employment team.
Schools OUT UK – The LGBT+ Education Charity (a registered charity since February 2015), is the founding organiser of LGBT+ History Month in the UK. Schools OUT evolved from The Gay Teachers’ Group, a socially-supportive network established in 1974 following the sacking of a London teacher who had been ‘outed’ to his managers by a student.
The event came in the wake of the abolition of Section 28 of the Local Government Act which banned the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities in 2003, as well as the government’s proposals to bring in a single equality act and a public duty, although this, in fact, did not come to fruition until 2010.
The Month is intended as a means to raise awareness of, and combat prejudice against the LGBT community while celebrating its achievement and diversity and making it more visible.
History Month has three taglines –‘Claiming our past. Celebrating our present. Creating our future’.
Additional resources on how to support LGBT History Month are listed on this LGBT dedicated website.
For initial advice or to arrange a meeting with one of our Employment team, please email employment@bishopandsewell.co.uk or contact 020 7631 4141 quoting Ref CB275 and ask to speak to our Employment team.
The above is accurate as at 07 February 2022. The information above may be subject to change during these ever-changing times.
The content of this note should not be considered legal advice and each matter should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
