LGBT+ History Month is a month-long annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual trans, and non-binary history, including the history of LGBTQ+ rights and related civil rights movements. In the United Kingdom it is celebrated in February each year, to coincide with the 2003 abolition of Section 28 which prohibited the ’promotion of homosexuality by local authorities’.
Below are ways that you can get involved this History Month with KCLSU and our Staff Network Proudly King’s.
LGBT+ History Month 2023: Behind the Lens
This year the theme for LGBT+ History Month is #BehindTheLens, celebrating LGBTQ+ peoples’ contribution to cinema and film from behind the lens. Directors, cinematographers, screen writers, producers, animators, costume designers, special effects, make up artists, lighting directors, musicians, choreographers and beyond.
At a time when LGBTQ+ lives are in the media we also encourage you to look ‘Behind the Lens’ and listen to LGBTQ+ peoples’ lived experiences.
KCLSU Events and more
KCLSU, in collaboration with KCLSU LGBT+ Network and other student groups, bring you different events, activities and initiatives to increase the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans activists, their history and the struggles still being fought by this community.
This year's theme, ‘Liberating Our Present', aims to focus on collectively moving our community forward here and now by championing intersectionality and social justice for all LGBT+ identifying individuals, to reflect on both our individual and collective histories, to challenge social norms, like homonormativity. This also means focusing our energies on supporting and empowering the most vulnerable and underrepresented in our community.
See the full calendar of events and find out more on the KCLSU LGBT+ History Month page.
KCL LGBT+ Society
The KCL LGBT+ Society is free for all students to join and exists to provide a fun, safe, inclusive and accessible environment for LGBTQ+ students and their friends to meet, campaign on behalf of the LGBTQ+ student community, and promote awareness of LGBTQ+ issues.
Find out more and join here
Events across King’s
Queer In Academia Speaker Event 2023
Thursday 2 February, 18.00 - 19.30 (online and in-person) – Sign up here
Professor Alice Taylor (History), Dr Jamie Hakim (he/him, Culture, Media and Creative Industries), Dr Ros Murray (she/her, French) and Dr Chris Parkes (they/them, History) will share their experiences of being a Queer academic in UK Higher Education and their opinions on the place of queer perspectives in academia, before opening up to a Q&A.
Sodomy: The History Of
Tuesday 7 February, 17.30 - 20.00 (in-person) – Sign up here
For 2023's LGBTQ+ History Month Proudly Kings and The KCLHistory department are once again teaming up. Join Professor Alice Taylor and Dr Chris Parkes
Service of thanksgiving to celebrate 10 years of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act
Tuesday 14 February, 17.30 - 18.15 (in-person) – Find out more
A service of music and readings to celebrate 10 years of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act and an invitation for all couples who wish to do so to come and reaffirm their commitment to each other.
Difference is Born on the Lips - A Reading and Q&A with Michael Handrick
Tuesday 28 February, 19.00 - 20.30 (in-person) – Sign up here
Part-memoir, part-exposé, Michael Handrick’s powerful narrative looks at how societal prejudices foster the conditions for abusive relations.
Second-Annual LGBTQ+ Herstory Month Panel event this year entitled “Queer Solidarities a Historical Perspective”
Tuesday 7 March, 17.30 - 20.00 – Sign up here
Join panelists Professor Laura Gowing, Professor Alice Taylor and Dr Chris Parkes for Queer Solidarities a Historical Perspective.