World

UK Celebrates LGBT History Month

by Rhonda J Mangus | February 3, 2009 at 06:21 am

390 views | 43 Recommendations | 8 comments

LGBT History Month is a month-long annual observance of LGBT history. In the United States it is observed during October, including National Coming Out Day on October 11th. In the UK, it is observed during February to coincide with a major celebration of the 2005 abolition of Section 28 that, in part, prohibited schools from discussing LGBT issues.

February 2009 marks the fifth celebration of LGBT History Month in the UK. The Month, which celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community, has received accolades from all and sundry including Government Ministers, the Attourney General, artists and performers, trades unions, journalists, librarians, teachers and of course the general public.

For further information click here. You can also read testimonials of community groups and organisations supportive of History Month here.

Readers can also check-out NowPublic scan coverage, here.

Correction: "...2005 abolition of Section 28...", should read "...2003 abolition of Section 28...".

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lefty_liberated

at 06:55 on February 3rd, 2009

Neat. Didn't realize they had that celebration.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 07:05 on February 3rd, 2009

lefty-liberated, thank you for commenting, reading, and for the recommendation! Just when I think I have a "handle" on the LGBT Community, I learn something new:)! I knew nothing of the UK's Section 28, and I'm glad to learn that it was abolished! Thanks again!

Amy Judd

at 12:07 on February 3rd, 2009

Hopefully we can get some good coverage on some of the events taking place in the UK this month!

158

at 14:24 on February 3rd, 2009

Interesting.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 16:40 on February 3rd, 2009

Thanks to everyone who read, commented, and/or recommended this story. Special thanks to those who uploaded photos from previous celebrations! Like Amy, I too hope that we can get some good coverage of the events taking place in the UK during GLBT History Month. Thanks!

Zefrog

at 01:30 on February 5th, 2009

Section 28 was abolished in 2003, not 2005. This is what made LGBTHM a viable possibility in the UK as a tool to fight homophobia in schools.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 05:24 on February 5th, 2009

Zefrog, thank you for reading and commenting. You are correct and I thank you for pointing out the error.

Babel-Fish

at 06:59 on February 5th, 2009

I am glad that the rights of gay people have been made clear by the aboliton of Section 28 but whilst young I never noted homophobia at school we back then had no clue what homophopia was or what was homosexuality it maybe strange to hear but it very true. Its only later I found out what homosexuality was it was in fact hard at the age of 16 to realise what sex was all about anyway I did not lose my cherry till I was gone 17 years of age.

But then the news paper was full of it and suddenly the whole world was full of gays that had come out of the closit.

Then there was a brillant TV thriller about a gay civil servant. The world has change for the better and people mostly now can be what they really are express their sexuality and not hide behind close doors. However the world is not perfect and there are still religions that will not reconise gays and countries that gays have no rights because of religion.

I have been homophobic in my younger adult years and have learned by experience that gays are as human as I and a normal part of society and a natural flaw of nature.

Yes it was a victory and if your in London and your gay enjoy you have the right to celebrate, please remember those gays and fellow citizens restricted rights by extremist religions.