What does LGBT History Month mean to you?
February is LGBT History Month in the UK and an opportunity to celebrate, observe and commemorate the contribution and legacy of the community’s heritage and identity, with greater emphasis on public awareness.
LGBT stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans but the month is inclusive of the wider LGBT+ community. Campaigners use this occasion to share a broad history but aim to “educate out prejudice continues throughout the year”.
This year also has special importance for being the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, a milestone in gay British History which marks the partial decriminalization of male homosexuality.
Each year, LGBT History Month has a different theme. For 2017, it is ‘Citizenship, PSHE & Law’.
We asked members and supporters of the Midland’s LGBT+ community to share their thoughts on LGBT History Month:
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Leomi Windsor, Birmingham
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Leomi Windsor from Birmingham supports LGBT History Month (Photograph: Leomi Windsor)
“For me it means celebrating who I am, celebrating and appreciating my brothers and sisters who fought for my rights. It’s remembering all my brothers and sisters who’ve died through hate crimes and suicide.
“Realising that there’s still issues in other countries and hoping that acceptance will one day be something that won’t need to be fought for – it will just be given, unconditionally.”
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Mohammed Mumit, Birmingham
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Mohammed Mumit is a human rights campaigner from Birmingham (Photograph: Mohammed Mumit)
“This year, by which I don’t mean 2017 specifically but more so the time gone by, has seen some incredible development. By ‘development’ I don’t mean progressive laws, I mean the discourse of hetcisnormativity and the state Queerphobia has been amplified.
“In the spotlight are stories like ‘Moonlight’. The Birmingham LGBT+ Festival will open with the discussion of ‘The World’s First Black Lesbian and Gay Centre’. While, in what’s been dubbed ‘the Refugee Crisis’, we are seeing stories of Queer refugees and migrants and the rightful shaming of States’ racist immigration policies. We are fighting at the fore with an NUS LGBT+ Officer who is Muslim and Non-Binary.
“I’m not ‘making this about race’. It was always about race. And all forms of oppression and marginalisation. When we talk about the theme we have to talk about how the state perpetuates and embodies Queerphobia while using Queer bodies as a defence for the indefensible actions against other marginalised peoples. A strong example is Israel and how it pink washes Settler Colonialism. This is something I haven’t seen before so wide spread, and it may have happened in the past. In fact, I’m pretty sure there was some essence of it in the Marsha P. Johnson’s first throw of the stone.
“No more is the face of Queerness the state’s ideal Middle Class able bodied White Cis Gay Guy [whose probably celebrating being able to join the army or what not]. This ‘homonormative’ image is dying [and being resurrected as the Fascist Poster Boy, Milo Yiannopoulos].
“Intersectionality is healing the people trodden upon, it is bringing people together against racism – including xenophobia, islamophobia and anti-Semitism. It is creating a united front against pink-washing and state sanctioned abuse against Queer Migrants and attack on Queer support. From the Disabled protestors against cuts to the Women’s’ March, joined or supported by people across the ground, the fight is embodying people power against the state.
“From this we shouldn’t assume that in the fight against Queerphobia, Queerness is being diminished. On the contrary, discourse on being Queer is being reclaimed by Queer people on the ground, Queer people from all backgrounds, with their different stories and telling the State that it will not pretend to be the saviour of Queer people as a disguise to do anything. Queer Liberation will not be co-opted by the establishment.”
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Dylan Dunnett, Birmingham
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Rainbow beads on a stall at Birmingham Pride (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
“I didn’t know [the theme] was ‘law and citizenship’, that’s very ironic considering the state of the asylum seeking system, especially for LGBT people.
“I’m doing my entire thesis about that and it’s pretty horrendous how they treat people. They pretend to be a haven for LGBT people when they are trying their utmost to deport them and leave them destitute. I assume they’ve chosen that theme because of the anniversary of partial legalisation of (male) homosexuality.
“We still have a long way to go – as many POC (People of Colour) know being recognised as ‘equal’ in law doesn’t necessarily translate to real life, nor does it stop the state from fucking you over in other ways. For example, lack of benefits for under 25s means that those estranged from their parents after coming out are royally fucked and youth LGBT homelessness is high.
“We also have greater health inequality especially mental health due to the stigma and shame still surrounding being queer. There are still ridiculous laws which have you appear in front of a panel of cis people in order to be declared your rightful gender (or ‘change gender’) legally.”
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Michael Adams, Birmingham
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Michael Adams from Birmingham (Photograph: Michael Adams)
“To me, its an expression for some of open defiance against persecution.”
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Aysha Khan, Birmingham
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Aysha Khan says she’s been taught to see ‘all the colours of the rainbow’ (Photograph: Aysha Khan)
“My mother nor father never had time to explain hate discrimination or prejudice towards any community. They were too busy teaching us too see the rainbow and explore the colours.
“The LGBT community became my very own magical mystical adventure playground I gobbled up with delight. Birmingham was the location. Birmingham became my sanctuary and still is 40 years on. Keep doing what you do so well Birmingham LGBT community, fly that rainbow flag with Pride!”
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Adam Carver, Birmingham
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Pride celebrations in Birmingham city centre last year (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
“LGBT history month is for me about celebrating, remembering, and reflecting on the history of the LGBT community. It’s about dedicating time to acknowledging the struggles and achievements of specific groups of people who make up between 5-10 percent of the UK’s population (according to the 2011 census, the real figure is probably higher) who are often ignored in mainstream narratives.
“So, LGBT history month is about raising awareness and drawing attention to our histories. Reminding people that this history and experiences of LGBT people are relevant and important to everyone because we are all connected to them.
“To me this is particularly important in 2017, which is the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK.”
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Geoff Dexter, Birmingham
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Geoff Dexter attending a solidarity gathering in Birmingham last year, following the Orlando shooting massacre (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
“It’s an opportunity for us to remember our revolutionary history – the Stonewall riots, liberation in the Russian revolution, albeit briefly, and how solidarity can melt prejudice away like in the miners strike. But it also serves a warning from history with fascism and the holocaust, to say NEVER AGAIN.
“It’s a chance to think about how a near revolution in south Africa resulted in LGBT rights being enshrined in the constitution but a reminder that our right are coupled with the rights of others in all of these struggles and the strength of the working class.
“The theme is awful. Law and justice have never been what’s protected us, and now 40 years of it is being signed away with a pen by Trump. Some of us only got the rights we have because of revolutionary working class struggles like the black trans activists at Stonewall and even after 50 years later, what do they have? We need a revolution!”
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Daniel James Howell, Birmingham
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Daniel James Howell is a staunch ally of the LGBT community and their rights (Photograph: James Howell)
“As a non-LGBT person, who considers themselves a staunch ally, with many LGBT friends, to me LGBT History Month is a reminder, that there is nothing wrong with being different from the societal ‘accepted norms’ and a way to be loud and proud about what makes you, you.”
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Aquila Edwards, Birmingham
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Aquila Edwards supports LGBT History Month but feels more needs to be done (Photograph: Aquila Edwards)
“First of all, I was only vaguely aware but, secondly, it’s no more the same as this being Black History Month also [in the US]. It’s nothing more than to make people in government tick the box and say ‘everything is OK’ and pat us on the head, then shuffle us away and ignore us.
“Those who are actually trying to find out more about LGBTQ in general have a few obstacles to either scale or demolish to get to it. Be it just to enlighten yourself with more knowledge, or coming to grips with the person’s identity or sexuality.
“Either way, this doesn’t end with a month. At best, its a gateway to understand, at worst it’s a coddled gesture.”
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Maryam Din, Nottingham
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Maryam Din from Nottingham identifies as a “queer Muslim woman of colour” (Photograph: Maryam Din)
“Is that really the theme? I actually scoffed at it.
“LGBTQ people and all other sexual variants and deviants have historically been persecuted by the law. Indeed, the reason why we have modern day Pride marches around the world was because the LGBTQ community in New York was sick of being targeted by the police. It was a black trans woman of colour who threw the first brick at the police in retaliation which started the Stonewall Riots. Even with the gains LGBTQ people have made under the law, we still remain outside of it and indeed largely outside of society.
“Generally speaking, the only way mainstream society can accept LGBTQ folk is if ‘we’re born this way’ because we can’t help it… Like people have to take pity on us. What if it was a choice and we actively chose it, or some of us have? Does that make us any less deserving of being treated like human beings. The only way mainstream society can accept us is if we get married, buy that house with a white picket fence and have kids.
“There is so much that falls under the LGBTQ umbrella and heteronormativity seeks to suppress that in so many ways. We don’t want equality, we want liberation.
“When I think of law and citizenship I can’t help but think of the instruments of state such as the police and they have never and will never be our friends. There are many many examples of this from racist stop and search policies, to Prevent. These are relevant to LGBTQ people because we identify as more than just our sexuality. For example, I identify as a queer Muslim woman of colour.”
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Dave Massey, Birmingham
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Dave Massey, Editor of BrumHour, supports LGBT History Month (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
“I’d prefer to see LGBT Month moved to May or June, Pride season always marks the start of sharing and considering the changes to the LGBT community year on year.
“If you are in the LGBT community you will naturally follow stories, websites and issues that explore and share about the community as a whole.
“However the fact these types of “months” take place still is a statement of where we are at with cultural change.”
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.>> READ MORE: How is LGBT History Month being celebrated in Birmingham? <<
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