LGBTQ+ History Month

LGBTQ+ History Month takes place across the UK every February. The University of Birmingham offers an exciting and diverse programme of events with all students, staff and the wider community warmly invited to join us in celebrating and commemorating LGBTQ+ history.

The theme for 2024 is Medicine – #Under The Scope, which celebrates LGBTQ+ peoples’ contribution to the field of Medicine and Healthcare both historically and today. We want to showcase the amazing work of LGBTQ+ staff across the NHS and in other healthcare settings, in providing healthcare, especially during the Pandemic. Whilst still shining a light on the history of the LGBTQ+ community’s experience of receiving healthcare which has been extremely complicated leaving LGBTQ+ people still facing health inequalities even today.

At Birmingham we celebrate our diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment in which all members of the University can flourish. We are delighted to support LGBTQ+ History Month, which is an important component of our Equality Programme. We will continue to raise awareness of issues facing LGBTQ+ members of our community, as well as celebrating their significant contributions and achievements.

Professor Stephen Jarvis, Provost and Vice-Principal

How can I get involved?

There are lots of ways to support LGBTQ+ History Month events at Birmingham. Please attend as many as you can and encourage others to do the same. If you are a member of the Rainbow Network or the Allies scheme, please wear your Network or Scheme lanyard during February. If you are not a member, consider joining the Rainbow Network or joining the LGBTQ+ Allies Scheme.   

Finally this is a great time to get inspired and think about putting on your own event as part of the programme for next year.  Please share details of your event via the event submission form.

Programme of events

 Date Time Event
    EDI Microsession LGBTQ+ (for UoB staff) - self enrolement 15 minute course
Throughout February   Online exhibitions and access to rare books and archives held at the Cadbury Research Library to aid research into LGBTQ+ history, LGBTQ+ people and allies.
Throughout February   LGBTQ+ Association -  Weekly Coffee Socials (for UoB students - dates on event listing)
Every Tuesday   oSTEM – Weekly Socials (for UoB students - time and location on event listing)
1 February 17:30 - 19:30 Queer Arts Society - Creating flag art (for UoB students)
5 February 17:00 - 19:30 B-Film Queer Film Series present: Drag History
6 February 12:00 - 14:00 LGBTQ Ally workshop (in person)
7 February 10:00 - 15:00 Gender indentity awareness and student support training
7 February 13:00 - 14:00 Shades of the Rainbow: an intersectionality panel discussion
7 February 15:00 - 17:00 Trans and Non-Binary Student Meet-up
8 February 17:30 - 19:30 Queer Arts Society - Queer Media Show and Tell
12 February 17:30 - 18:30 Pride of Place: Queering heritage in Contemporary England
14 February 14:00 - 16:00 Life-Drawing Workshop with Queer Draw Brum
15 February 12:00 - 13:00 Drag Queen lecture time
15 February 17:30 - 19:30 Queer Arts Society - Queer History of Sherlock Holmes
17 February 08:45 - 18:00 oSTEM and CSS – Bletchley Park Trip 
19 February 12:00 - 13:00 LGBTQ+ healthcare talk
19 February 12:00 - 13:00 BASW England LGBT History Month Event: Improving LGBTQ+ Young People's Experiences of Social Care
21 February 12:00 - 13:00 Women's Network LGBTQIA+ bookclub - This is going to Hurt by Adam Kay (online)
21 February 15:00 - 17:00 Bread and belief: Queer virtue discussion for LGBTQ+ history month
21 February 10:00 - 18:00 STEM, LGBTQ & You 2024 - Conference
21 February 10:30 - 12:30
or
15:00 - 17:00
Diamonds in the rough: LGBTQ+ history month walking tour
23 February 11:00 - 16:30 LGBTQ+ Older People and Social Care Conference
6 March 12:00 - 14:00 LGBTQ Ally workshop - for exisiting allies