February is the UK’s annual LGBTQ+ History Month! Want to get involved but don’t know where to start? Read on!
Events will be taking place across cyberspace offering people the opportunity to celebrate, commemorate, and learn more about historic LGBTQ+ experiences and the struggle for recognition and equality.
This year is obviously going to be a bit different. We are in the midst of a global pandemic. Many of the heritage and community organisations who have previously hosted events have had to close their doors.
Events are going to be virtual, and this is to be celebrated!
Whilst we would all love to meet and learn together, moving events online has its benefits. We can join events around the country and even around the world. We can see inside heritage venues that we otherwise may never be able to visit. We can enjoy performances and events in far-away locations from the comfort of our homes. We can (virtually) met others with similar interests.
All this means we can widen participation in LGBTQ+ History. We can help and encourage more people to engage with both History as a subject and with the wider issues affecting LGBTQ+ communities around the world.
So, where to start?
The official UK LGBTQ+ History Month website is the main hub for resources. The theme for this year is Body Mind and Spirit. Programmes are currently being added to the website along with registration links and registration deadlines. Free downloadable resources for all ages are available too.
The OUTing the Past: Festival of LGBT+ History conference is for anyone specifically interested in LGBTQ+ Histories. Their webpage contains collated programmes for a range of museums and organisations.
The Northampton History team will be posting regular materials and links on this blog throughout the month. We will be including links to resources as well as book, media and audio content recommendations.
Look out for the events hosted by Northampton’s student History Society run in partnership with the LGBTQ+ Society! Information will become available on their Twitter feed.
We look forward to introducing you to more resources over the coming month.
Got a recommendation? Please let us know via social media!
HISTORY AT NORTHAMPTON 