LGBT History Month officially launches at the Guildhall

THE MAYOR of Cambridge, Cllr George Pippas, will host an event at the Guildhall tomorrow (Thursday 1 February) to mark the start of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History (LGBT) Month.

The Mayor will launch this year’s event, which is supported by Cambridge City Council, from 11.45am at The Guildhall, with the rainbow flag raised above the building 40 years after it was first flown in the UK.

There will be a busy programme of talks, walks, social activities, films, exhibitions and more in Cambridge and beyond during February, organised by a number of local organisations in partnership with the Encompass Network.

Events taking place during LGBT History Month include the following:

• A free LGBT History Timeline Exhibition during the whole of February at Addenbrooke’s Hospital – This exhibition documents the experiences of LGBTQ people in relation to medicine and the contributions made by them to the evolution of healthcare;
• A free LGBTQ Cultural Exhibition from 1-6 February at Cambridge ArtWorks, Green’s Road: A diverse array of work by artists expressing voices, experiences, and artistic practices among LGBTQ communities
• Cambridge Interact Group on 8 February at Cambridge Fire Station, Parkside: An opportunity to meet new people, chat about gay life, and the issues that impact people.
• ‘OUT’ on 13 February at Cambridge Junction: Challenging homophobia and transphobia within our communities, OUT is a conversation between two bodies - an award-winning live art/dance performance.
• Section 28: The Politics of Homophobia on 22 February at Friends’ Meeting House, Jesus Lane: Colin Clews, author of the book and blog ‘Gay in the 80s’ explores the dynamics of life during Section 28.

Cllr Richard Johnson, Executive Councillor for Communities, said: “We look forward to this year’s packed programme of events about the lives and achievements of LGBT people.

“We are proud that Cambridge is a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone to live in, and events like LGBT History Month help us to celebrate our diversity as a city. 

“The council’s commitment to diversity is encapsulated in the Equality Pledge, and we would encourage other organisations to sign up to the Pledge too. We also are signed up to the Safer Spaces pilot in partnership with the Encompass Network in order to help ensure that people of all genders and sexualities continue to feel welcomed and supported by our services.”