Sharing your story doesn't stop there; it keeps unfolding.
To honour, highlight and empower our students' unique identities, cultural backgrounds and stories, this page offers a glimpse into the celebrated holidays and occasions set to unfold throughout the academic year 2024/25. There are plenty of ways you can get involved.
LGBTQ+ History Month
We're proud to support LGBTQ+ History Month, which is celebrated in February in the UK to coincide with the 2003 abolition of Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1986.
The period is a month-long, annual observance which intends to raise awareness of and combat prejudice against, the LGBTQ+ community and history, aiming to make progress towards a more equitable and inclusive future.
This year, the theme is Medicine - #UnderTheScope. This theme celebrates LGBTQ+ peoples' contribution to the field of Medicine and Healthcare both historically and today. It also aims to shine a light on the history of the LGBTQ+ community’s experience of receiving healthcare which has been extremely complicated, leaving LGBTQ+ people still facing health inequalities even today.
There's a variety of events and celebrations that students and staff can get involved in, as well as opportunities to get educated and ask questions about the LGBTQ+ community at UoB. Check out our official LGBTQ+ History Month events page.
Hear from our Student Content Shapers
Our Student Content Shaper Arianna and her friend Maddie marched alongside UoB's LGBTQ+ members and allies for Birmingham Pride 2023. Check out her vlog on the celebrations!
Come to Birmingham Pride 2023 with Arianna • UoB Student Vlog #UniversityofBirmingham
We also asked Arianna to share what LGBTQ+ History Month means to her. If you'd like to share what the period means to you, then please contact The Student Communications Team at studentcommunications@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
These weeks are meant to celebrate the members of this community, the achievements reached so far, the battles that were won and those that are still worth fighting for. [...] It’s also important to remember that we got to the point where it’s possible for us to live our true selves freely and loudly because of the sacrifices of those who came before us. Honouring their memory, proudly showing off the colours we inherited from them, and telling their stories is the least we can do. But even more than that, it’s important to remember that the fight for recognition is not over yet.
Arianna Petrelli, BA Creative Writing Student
Read in full what LGBTQ+ History Month means to Arianna
Get educated this February
Explore our list of resources to get educated this LGBTQ+ History Month. If you have any other suggestions, then feel free to contribute to our Padlet.