Dear Colleagues,

Apologies for cross posting

February 2005 will be the first Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
(LGBT) History Month.

Schools Out, the organisation working for LGBT equality in education, has
launched LGBT History month to occur annually beginning February 2005.

The month has had support from Jacqui  Smith, Minister for Equality, who
said

‘I believe the month will be important in helping to drive the culture
change to create a more inclusive society. It will also be a great
opportunity to uncover some hidden LGBT histories.’

The DTI, DAC, DFES, Amnesty International, NUT, Intercom Trust, FFLAG,
THT, Southwark Council, Simon Hughes amongst others are supporting the
event.

Sir Ian McKellen. Says

“The notorious Section 28 was a disaster for children in state schools
because it encouraged their teachers to lie about homosexuality. In its
aftermath, there will still be confusion around the subject in all our
schools. Who is going now to eradicate homophobic bullying in the
playground? Who is going now to support teachers and pupils who decide to
come out and publicly define their sexuality at school? Who is going now
to place the history of gay people within the context of other academic
studies?
”No group is better placed than Schools Out to answer these urgent
questions
and I send my very best wishes and congratulations on their 30th birthday.”

Schools Out! Initiates LGBT History Month - February 2005

www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk

  Co-chair Paul Patrick explained:

‘This event will give us the opportunity to reveal and explore the vast
wealth of LGBT experience; nationally and internationally.  As we work in
schools, we are only too aware of the ignorance that exists about LGBT
people.  Whilst we are found in educational curricula: William
Shakespeare; Florence Nightingale; Isaac Newton; Virginia Woolf; Bayard
Rusting; Jackie Kay; Shaka, leader of the Zulu Nation; Jan Morris; and
Mark Rees - to name but a few- our sexual orientation/gender identity is
ignored and we are rendered invisible.  Because of this, stereotypes
abound that feed the appalling homophobia/transphobia that is frequently
expressed and distorts all our lives.’

LGBT History month will be an opportunity to tackle the prejudice,
stereotypes and discrimination of LGBT people. It is well known that
homophobic bullying is rife in schools and in society as a whole. This is
due to the ignorance and silence that surround our lives. We cannot tackle
homophobia and the constant derogatory use of the word gay, without
educating society about who we are and what we have done. The reality is
that most people don’t knowingly know many LGBT people particularly those
from the black or minority ethnic, disabled or older population.

LGBT history month will enable schools, libraries, theatres,
organizations, sports clubs, councils, museums, art galleries and music
venues to explore and celebrate the many achievements of LGBT people.

Schools Out co-chair Sue Sanders explained:

‘We have chosen February as it is a quiet time in both the school year and
for society as a whole.  It is also an opportunity to make St Valentine’s
day a more inclusive celebration of love. It’s proximity to International
Women’s Day will allow for other important connections to be made.’

Having a focused time to explore the contributions from the diverse LGBT
community, past and present, we shall encourage the school curriculums and
society as a whole to be more inclusive: enabling the visibility of LGBT
people: educating and addressing homophobia and transphobia.

Teachers have welcomed this initiative as it will give them additional
confidence to deal with the issue in the knowledge that all schools have
the opportunity to do the work at the same time, thus challenging the
perceived embarrassment of raising the issues.



For Further Information:
Sue Sanders     [log in to unmask]
0207 635 0476
Paul Patrick    [log in to unmask]
mailto:[log in to unmask]      01282 441601    07866723806