Get ready for LGBTQIA+ History Month

February marks LGBTQIA+ History Month, an important opportunity to recognise the histories and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual people.

At Reading, we’re marking the Month with a diverse range of events, talks, workshops, and training sessions to celebrate, educate, and foster inclusion.

From engaging theatre productions to thought-provoking lectures examining queer theory, the calendar offers something for everyone.

A full listing of what’s happening at the University and in our local community can be found in the LGBTQIA+ History Month Events Calendar.

Highlights of the University’s programme include:

• The Wolfenden Lecture with Dr Sophie Cook (27 February). Sophie will share her inspirational story as the first openly trans woman in Premier League football and her work promoting diversity and inclusion.
• The Wolfenden Seminar on Safe Travel (26 February), Tahlia-Rose Virdee (PhD Student, Law and co-chair of the LGBTQIA+ staff network) and Frances Hamilton (Associate Professor, Law) will give a seminar on safe travel marking measures for LGBTQIA+ staff when travelling abroad. They will be joined by Dr Ruvi Ziegler (Associate Professor, Law, and co-chair of the LGBTQIA+ staff network), Professor Richard Harris (Institute of Education), Dr James Greenwood-Reeves (University of Leeds), and Seth Atkin (University and College Union).
• This Is Who I Am (27 February). Actors from the Ice & Fire Company will perform This Is Who I Am, sharing first-hand accounts of LGBTQIA+ people seeking asylum in the UK. The monologues cover stark testimonies of real experiences of arriving in the UK and the challenges they have and are facing in the asylum process.
• Bowie Love Lecture (22 February). Professor Alex Sharpe (University of Warwick) will explore ideas of love, freedom and queer theory through the lens of David Bowie's work.
• Other events: The calendar also includes trans awareness, bi inclusion, and allyship training, an LGBTQIA+ research showcase, films screenings, arts and crafts workshops and more.