LGBT+ History Month takes place every February across the UK, and celebrates all LGBTQ+ individuals and communities, as well as taking the time to reflect on the struggles and traumas of the past, and what still needs to change.
This year’s theme is #BehindTheLens, celebrating LGBTQ+ people’s contribution to cinema and film, which we are interpreting as listening to and honouring the lived experiences of people within the LGBTQ+ community.
LGBT History Month at Kent
There’s lots going on to mark LGBTQ+ History Month at Kent, with events and activities throughout the month for all staff and students to participate in at both Canterbury and Medway campuses and online. You can browse all events for LGBT+ History Month on the dedicated events calendar.
Events in Canterbury
The launch event for LGBT+ History Month at Kent takes place on Tuesday 7 February, and will feature the opening of the LGBTQ+ love letters exhibition, a performance from Drag Queen Dame Jame, and a talk by trans activist Connor Styche about their own experiences.
The #BehindTheLens exhibition (on display in the Marlowe Building lobby from 7 to 28 February) explores our own history at Kent, pulling materials from our archives and also showcasing the Zine Library, created by members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Other events on the Canterbury campus:
- Watch a special preview screening of Joyland, a film about the love between a back-up dancer in a Bollywood-style burlesque and the strong-willed trans woman who runs the show, at the Gulbenkian cinema on Valentine’s day (Tuesday 14 February)
- Make pronoun badges and queer Valentine’s cards, or join the zine workshop with the Queer Zine Library.
- Listen to a talk from local author Rosa Rankin-Gee at Templeman Library on Wednesday 22 February.
- Test your knowledge at the LGBTQ+ quiz night takeover in Woody’s on Sunday 26 February, organised by Kent Union.
- Pop into an event from the Careers and Employability service on LGBTQ+ friendly employers, a coffee and cake morning for CEMS students, or come to the first Period Café, where anyone can come to talk about period anxiety, period dysphoria and chat in a safe and supportive environment (and have some cake!)
Events in Medway
From Wednesday 1 February, you can come and see the LGBTQ+ In Lockdown exhibition (previously on display on the Canterbury campus) in Drill Hall Library.
Other events to celebrate the month include:
- Test your knowledge at the LGBTQ+ quiz night on Thursday 16 February.
- Get crafty at a pronoun badge making workshop on Tuesday 21 February.
- Watch a marathon viewing of Heartstopper – about coming out and coming of age in school – on Thursday 23 February.
Online events and resources
We have explored the Special Collections Archives at the University of Kent to explore our LGBTQ+ history, take a look at the timeline on our LGBT History Month webpage.
There are also lots of online events:
- Watch the play Angels in America on-demand – this production explores the AIDS crisis in the 1980’s.
- Listen to an online talk by Rebecca Milsom, a Kent graduate who speaks openly about her experiences being LGBTQ+ in the world of work on Thursday 16 February.
For online opportunities to meet and chat with our LGBTQ+ Staff and Student Networks and other resources, look at the LGBT+ History Month events calendar.
If you have any questions or feedback about LGBT+ History celebrations and information at Kent, email the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team: StudentEDI@kent.ac.uk
Using social media to share your participation? Tag posts with #LGBTHMKent23 and #BehindTheLens
Written by Becky Lamyman and Joshua Stevens, Student Services, 01.02.2023