What's on this LGBT+ History Month
31 January 2022
Colleagues are invited to a wide range of on-campus, online and external events to recognise and celebrate the achievements of LGBT+ people through history.
It is also the perfect opportunity to learn more about LGBT+ people whose lived experiences differ from your own. We are offering training opportunities through UoRLearn to support your journey of discovery
LGBT+ History Month happens in February every year in the UK. Some historical figures could not be openly ‘out’ in their own time (Oscar Wilde, for example) and for this reason it is important to celebrate them today and recognise them as their whole selves.
The LGBT+ community also have a long history of having to fight for human rights. Still today, 70 countries criminalise same-sex relationships. This map shows the stark reality of current global rights for LGBT+ people, which makes it even more important that we critique, as well as celebrate the community’s history, and by doing this, we can look ahead to the future.
LGBT+ training on UoRLearn
All courses will take place on Microsoft Teams.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->LGBT+ Ally recruitment and information, Tuesday 8 February, 10:00-12:00
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Bi inclusion training, Wednesday 9 February 2022, 11:00-12:00
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->Trans inclusion training, Thursday 31 March 2022, 10:00-12:00
University and local events
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Event |
When |
Where |
Details |
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‘Ice and Fire’ a rehearsed reading and Q&A – brought to you Dr Ruvi Ziegler, Chair of the LGBT+ staff network.
(Prior to the reading, between 2-2.45pm, there will be an asylum mapping workshop open to interested law students and staff)
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Wednesday 2 February, 15:00-16:30 |
G14-15, Henley Business School. Whiteknights Campus |
A rehearsed reading of LGBT+ asylum testimonies by Ice and Fire followed by a Q&A moderated by Sebastian Aguirre, Director of Actors For Human Rights (a queer human rights activist and theatre practitioner from the Chilean refugee diaspora in the UK), with Ruvi Ziegler and a representative of the Reading Refugee Support Group.
For more details and to secure your place at this special event, please use this sign up link. |
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Broken Futures LGBT+ Historical tour of Reading |
Throughout February |
Online, self-guided tour |
Broken Futures Walking Tour Of Reading's Queer Past joins together with local LGBT+ support group, SupportU to provide a history of LGBT+ people in the town of Reading.
There are map, audio, visual and video tour versions available, so you can follow the tour in person or you can enjoy this historical tour remotely. |
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University of Reading LGBT+ Whiteknights Campus trail |
Throughout February |
Online, self-guided tour |
The Central Diversity and Inclusion team is releasing a University of Reading ‘talking or walking tour’, in collaboration with the LGBT+ Staff Network. Colleagues can listen to an audio version, read about the icons, use the ‘map’ to physically familiarise themselves with Whiteknights campus buildings and departments (and LGBT+ History).
Register your interest here. |
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Prepster: PrEParing and HIV |
Friday 11 February, 13:00-14:00 |
Online |
Dr Will Nutland, co-founder of prepster, will be talking about why testing for HIV is important, who should be thinking about testing, and how frequent. He will also talk to us about how testing has changed over time in addition, to how there are options -including PrEP for those who are negative and new options for those folks that test positive for HIV.
To register interest click here. |
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‘Rainbow Cuppa’ with Oxford Health Equality Networks |
Monday 14 February, 12:00-13:00 |
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Join representatives from the University of Reading at the Oxford Health-led informal get together ‘Rainbow cuppa’.
Register your interest here |
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LGBTQ+ Britain through Bishopsgate institute collections
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Thursday 24 February, 14:00-15:00 |
Online – Microsoft Teams |
Stef will take the university on a virtual tour of the collections talking about the history of LGBT+ Britain covering many topics and moments over last 50 years in a light-hearted fashion for all the University Staff and Students.
Register your interest here. |
External events
Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion events
- Guest Interview: Trans Awareness, Tuesday 2 February, 11:00-12:00.
With Antonia Belcher, who will share her story to help raise visibility and awareness of the challenges faced by transgender people and those who don’t conform to gender stereotypes.
- LGBT+ Guest Webinar: Learning From The Past, Thursday 17 February, 11:00-12:00.
During this session guest speakers from Time for Inclusive Education, Jordan Daly and Liam Stevenson, will provide an overview of their work to tackle prejudice with LGBT Inclusive Education, and explore how learning about the past can contribute to efforts to create a more equitable present.
LGBT+ History Month UK programme of online events
Calendar - LGBT+ History Month (lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk) has a programme of events across the UK and online, including the following free online events:
Meet Kevin - storyteller, author and fierce vegan talking about his writing, and telling one of his tales. With Q&A
This event explores the journey of Qiuyan Chen, a passionate LGBTQ+ activist and artist. She is co-curator of the Queer Chinese Community Art Festival 2021, and a London School of economics (LSE) Gender alumni. She initiated campaigns in China, ‘Say No to Homophobic Textbooks’ and ‘All Teachers out for LGBT+’, which called for equality.
Explore how the lives of LGBT+ people, and attitudes to sexual and gender diversity, are reflected in the RCP collections
More about LGBT+ History Month and how we are making the university inclusive of LGBT+ people
The overall aims of the month, according to the charity who founded this initiative, Schools OUT UK, are:
- “Increasing the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (“LGBT+”) people, their history, lives and their experiences in the curriculum and culture of educational and other institutions, and the wider community.
- Raising awareness and advancing education on matters affecting the LGBT+ community;
- Working to make educational and other institutions safe spaces for all LGBT+ communities; and
- Promoting the welfare of LGBT+ people, by ensuring that the education system recognises and enables LGBT+ people to achieve their full potential, so they contribute fully to society and lead fulfilled lives, thus benefiting society as a whole.”
At the University of Reading, we have a dedicated action plan to advance LGBT+ inclusion. We work with stakeholders across the staff and student population to co-create this. We also work with Stonewall, a charity who provide an external critical analysis and expert advice on the inclusion of LGBT+ people.
We work closely with community groups like SupportU, and Reading Pride to support community events and collaborate on projects and initiatives.
We recognise the importance of continuing to celebrate the contributions of all members of the community and working towards equity for all.