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General Resources

We have chosen Bishopsgate Institute for all our archives as we feel it is one of the UK’s most accessible and friendly archive; home to a huge range of LGBT+ resources, including thousands of journals, books, banners, badges, t-shirts, memorabilia, oral histories, written personal accounts, private papers, reports, postcards, posters, press clippings, photographs and more on individuals and organisations important to understanding and celebrating LGBT+ history, politics and culture. The collections include the archives of organisations such as Stonewall, Switchboard and Outrage! and the records of important LGBT+ activists such as Peter Tatchell and Paris Lees. The collections are open to all; no need to book in advance to come and see them or to undertake research. Follow the link below to access the catalogue and find out more about this incredible repository of LGBT+ history.

Our papers are quite extensive covering our own activities and myriad LGBT+ organisations, events and conferences. The catalogue can be found here. Before you have a clear out of papers, memorabilia and photos contact  Stef Dickers at Bishopsgate or your local archive.

We need to have a record of what we did and who we are. We must not be invisibilised!

COVID-19 Activities and Ideas

View the Queer Britain lockdown podcasts here: www.pscp.tv/Queer_Britain

Nine weeks and fourteen plays later, we finally come to the climax and triumphant conclusion of Peter Scott-Presland’s epic cycle, A Gay Century.

1.       1999: SKIN DEEP  June 23rd, 8pm

FRANKIE and his friend JODIE are at the Admiral Duncan on the night of the bombing.  Jodie happens to be outside, FRANKIE is inside, and severely disfigured.  As a fit and handsome young man with a full social life, he finds his whole being is challenged.  His lover leaves him, unable to live with the visible trauma, his rage against his fate drives Jodie away – she is wrestling with her sense of guilt at being spared.  The Duncan bar manager, QUEENIE, is a tower of strength and wisdom, till he too dies in an unrelated queer-bashing.  But his memory and his ghost gives Frankie the inspiration to pull his life back together, as the community welcomes him in again.

2.       2001: TWO INTO ONE, June 23rd, 9pm

It is the first day of the new register of same-sex partnerships at the temporary GLC HQ in Marsham Street.  KEN LIVINGSTONE, his PA MIRIAM and the national media are awaiting the arrival of the first couple, chosen for the symbolic significance of their story.  GARY [103] and BARRY [98] have been together for 82 years, and can finally declare their love for each other.  But when they arrive, in the middle of a furious row, the whole arrangement threatens to fall apart…

Topic: Skin Deep/Two into One performance

Time: Jun 23, 2020 07:30 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 883 9136 5444

Password: SkinDeep


Birmingham LGBT+:

BOOKING NOW: Anxiety Management Workshop

Wednesday 10th June
11am – 12.30pm OR 1.30pm – 3pm 

FREE for LGBT+ people aged 18 and over

This workshop is a safe, positive space to share experiences and to learn tips in anxiety management. Booking via Eventbrite is essential; the session takes place on Zoom.


TUESDAY, JUNE 9TH, 8PM LOCKDOWN READINGS, ‘HOMOPROMOS’ PRESENTS:

‘1984 : QUARANTINE’

This is not the way it was, It is the way we felt it was. This is not what happened, This is what we felt might happen. And it did. In our nightmares.’

“There is nothing like personal experience to change hearts and minds or mobilise action. One hopes that the same thing is happening now with Covid 19…”

 ‘A GAY CENTURY’, Created by Peter Scott-Presland & Robert Ely, this work was written as a major contribution to LGBT History Month 2020.

This cycle comes at the lgbtq+ history of the 20th century ‘crabwise’, with new angles on the events which shaped and changed who we are.

JOIN THE AUDIENCE (VIA ZOOM): 

 EVERY TUESDAY – NEXT ON JUNE 9TH, 8PM *

find the outline for the performance at:

Entry pass: call – 07444 311695 or email: homopromos@googlemail.com

* NOTE – unlike performances to date, this will be one play in two parts with an interval.   


Schools OUT UK announces the first Pride In Education online conference.

Saturday 27th June 10.30am – 6.30pm via Zoom.

Guests include actor Sir Derek Jacobi, author Bonnie Greer and LGBT+ Poet Laureate Trudie Howson.

More information:
https://lailaelm.wixsite.com/prideineducation

Press release for #PrideInEducation


Join us tomorrow (June 5) from 11 AM CEST for a webinar on LGBTI community organising and outreach during the COVID-19 crisis. We will have three activists to share their stories on supporting LGBTI communities and strategies on how to continue:

  • Xheni Karaj from Aleanca LGBT, Albania
  • Farkhad Musazov from Kyrgyz Indigo, Kyrgyzstan
  • Jan-Willem de Bruin from COC Netherlands

We would like to hear your learnings as well!Register here in advance to attend the webinar

If you missed our first webinar on community organising, read this blog post reporting what we have discussed.

Looking forward to talking to some of you tomorrow! Nurbek Omurov (him/he)Programmes OfficerILGA-EuropeRue du Trône/Troonstraat 60, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumTel.: +32 2 609 54 10 • Fax: +32 2 609 54 19 •  www.ilga-europe.org


Breakfast With Sue Sanders was a podcast back on 20th April, when Laila El-Metoui (Stonewall Lesbian Role Model of the year 2020) interviewed Sue Sanders, the British LGBT rights activist and reflects on over 40 years of work and activism as part of Lesbian Visibility Week.

Watch and listen here


Join our co-hosts for our third virtual quiz- Let’s get quizzical. Join us in our virtual celebrations with this pride edition. Let us take you to pride in your living room!
This virtual quiz will be hosted by zoom. All you will need is yourself and friends, (if you wish to join as a group), and a pen and paper!


https://tinyurl.com/theprideedition


PinkNews’ digital Pride extravaganza! Join them for four days of content featuring your favourite celebrities, influencers and politicians. From the 4th to the 7th of June, don’t miss out on the opportunity to chat to our guests during live Q&As, sing along to unmissable concerts, and listen in on some great conversations.

Pride For All


While we may not be able to celebrate Pride Month in physical spaces and come together as a community as we have done in the past this year, it is still important to use the time to celebrate the people making a huge difference to queer people’s lives today.

Anthems Pride is a new podcast series that will be released throughout Pride Month to celebrate the diverse voices in our community who are making history.

Produced by Broccoli Content, this collection of stories by people throughout the LGBTQ+ community highlight why Pride extends beyond just one month of the year.

These mini episodes will spotlight the challenges, victories and experiences of queer people from across the community.

Guests for the series include singer-songwriter dodie, performance artist Scottee, writer and filmmaker Amrou Al-Kadhi, musician Grace Savage, columnist Raven Smith, and BBC LGBT Correspondent Ben Hunte.

Travis Alabanza, Marc Thompson, Jamie Windust, Kenny Ethan Jones, Char Ellesse, Glyn Fussell, Asifa Lahore and Naeem Davis are also on the series line-up, among many more.

“We need community now, more than ever – words that bind us, not divide us,” says Anthems Pride executive producer, Hana Walker-Brown.

“I saw how much of an impact Anthems Women and Anthems Home had on people, how much comfort and courage listeners were finding in the words of others and really wanted to bring that to Pride, especially as Pride celebration events have been cancelled.

“We have an exceptional selection of voices from exclusively LGBTQI+ communities contributing to this series, their words are raw, honest, inspiring, moving, motivating- there truly is something for everyone and it’s a real privilege to be able to bring them to our listeners and celebrate the words and experiences of some truly brilliant people.  

“It was really important it was for us to represent all of these communities and I hope it inspires others to be proud of who they are.”

A new episode of Anthems Pride will be released daily throughout the month of June.

Anthems Pride



We are reaching the end of our digital series with the 3rd and final episode of ParaPride Digitals: Our Stories; kindly funded by LGBT ConsortiumThis last event will be focused on Mental Health.

As you’re aware, Mental Health affects different aspects of the LGBTQ+ community, some more than others, especially when it comes to acceptance, inclusion and access. Particularly during these unprecedented times living with COVID-19, our psychological and emotional well-being is continuously challenged, especially for the more vulnerable members of our community. 
Our host Smashlyn Monroe will be joined by 4 guests from different angles of our community. We will hear from their stories, the success and pride in what they do and how their work supports others. The discussion topics will include:

  • which parts of the LGBTQ community can be more subject to poor mental health
  • more visibility, inclusiveness and equal access can improve our mental health
  • a reflection on what we’re learning from this health crisis, can it create a more resilient community?

Sunday 24th May, 17.00 – 17.45 – Mental HealthHost: Smashlyn MonroeConfirmed guests: Stewart O’Callaghan – Live Through ThisKarina Pound, Biodanza Teacher – DanzabilityKai Mensah – Mosaic LGBT+ Youth Centre; Kerry Manning – Stonewall, Staff Mental Health & Wellbeing Network
BSL Interpreter: Martin Fox Roberts. Captions by: http://www.mycleartext.com/
We apologise to those of you who experienced difficulties to connect last Sunday, unfortunately on that day Zoom had many down issues. We do not foresee any problems for this Sunday. The live event will be recorded and repeated on GlitterBeam radio on Tuesday 26th May 3PM, for people who cannot join the live stream.

Dial by your location
        +44 203 481 5240 United Kingdom
        +44 131 460 1196 United Kingdom
        +44 203 051 2874 United Kingdom
        +44 203 481 5237 United Kingdom
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
        +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +353 1 653 3895 Ireland
        +353 1 653 3897 Ireland
        +353 1 653 3898 Ireland
        +353 6 163 9031 Ireland
        +353 1 536 9320 Ireland
Meeting ID: 846 7196 8049
Password: 552768

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kPvSC5Xy4  


Stonewall Workplace Digital Learning Series

The outbreak of coronavirus impacts us all. We’re all adapting to new challenges and developing new ways of working.

Unfortunately, we were unable to hold our London Workplace Conference in April. It’s also unlikely we’ll be able to gather together safely for our Manchester Conference in September. However, it’s during times of crisis that marginalised communities are often hit the hardest. This could include your LGBT staff, customers and service users, so your work is needed now more than ever.

That’s why we’re still committed to supporting you to create organisations where LGBT people can achieve their potential. We will, therefore, be delivering our planned 2020 workplace conferences as a five-week digital learning series beginning on 16 June.

Why attend?

Stonewall’s research* shows that lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) people still face challenges at work. More than one in three LGBT people have hidden their identity at work because they fear discrimination. This figure rises to two in three bi people and one in every two trans people. LGBT people experience discrimination in areas such as recruitment and promotion. They also face negative comments from colleagues, service users and customers.

Organisations that take a holistic approach to LGBT inclusion see real results. They find that they’re able to attract and retain the best talent. In environments where staff can be themselves, innovation, team cohesion and motivation follow.

Stonewall’s workplace inclusion experts have been working with employers for 20 years. We’ve developed best practice working with over 800 organisations around the globe.

We’ve used our expertise to design our innovative Digital Learning Series, beginning on 16 June and lasting five weeks. To give you the best experience we’ve designed a range of CPD-accredited digital content that integrates online audience engagement tools. This is a unique opportunity for professional development and to create a practical roadmap to a more inclusive organisation.

What’s included?

Five weeks of exclusive content starting on 16 June

  • Access five interactive digital workshops on a range of topics, either live or recorded 
  • Choose one of our knowledge sharing sessions to workshop your challenges alongside a small group of delegates, led by a Stonewall inclusion expert 
  • Read or watch one new specialist resource per week

Opportunities to connect and grow your network

  • Weekly hosted coffee breaks, as an informal space to stay connected, share and learn  
  • Access to our event app where you can book meetings and chat with other delegates  
  • Opportunities to share ideas and inspiration during interactive sessions

You can find more information about topics and session structures in our programme

How does it work?

Who attends

The series is perfect for anyone interested in making their workplace more inclusive. Content is tailored for Diversity and Inclusion and HR professionals, those in LGBT network groups and senior leaders. As all content is CPD-accredited it’s a great professional development opportunity for people on furlough.

The event portal

When you book your ticket, you’ll receive a personalised login for our the online event portal. All content will be hosted on there to make it easy to access. Your login will work until the end of September so you can revisit things you missed or learn something new. You can already access some useful resources on adapting to the current climate on the portal.

Engaging with content

Live content will run for five weeks 16 June – 23 July. We’ll use a range of tools such as Zoom, Mural and Sli.do to make sessions interactive and enable networking. We’ve chosen these tools because they’re really intuitive, but we’ll be providing plenty of tech support if you have any issues. If you’d like to discuss more, please get in touch.

Booking

Stonewall Diversity Champions can get more from their membership with discounted tickets. All prices exclude VAT, which will be added at checkout.


While the Bureau does not have any virtual events scheduled this week, we are working on a few events for later this month and in June.

Hold the following dates for our upcoming virtual events!

On Saturday, June 13th, the Bureau will virtually host authors Alden Jones and Genevieve Hudson for a joint launch of their forthcoming books: Jones’s The Wanting Was a Wilderness: Cheryl Strayed’s Wild and the Art of Memoir (Fiction Advocate, August 25, 2020, paperback, $19.95) and Hudson’s Boys of Alabama (Liveright Publishing, May 19, 2020, hardcover, $26.95).

About The Wanting Was a Wilderness: Cheryl Strayed’s Wild and the Art of Memoir:
“How did Cheryl Strayed turn a solo hike into an inspirational memoir, beloved by millions? Memoirist and professor Alden Jones sets out to explore why. But when a sudden personal crisis occurs while she is writing, Jones realizes she must confront some difficult truths, both in her life and on the page.

About Boys of Alabama:
“In this bewitching debut novel, a sensitive teen, newly arrived in Alabama, falls in love, questions his faith, and navigates a strange power. While his German parents don’t know what to make of a South pining for the past, shy Max thrives in the thick heat. Taken in by the football team, he learns how to catch a spiraling ball, how to point a gun, and how to hide his innermost secrets.



Welcome to our bulletin this week from
The Proud Trust

I Went to the Gym and I…

Aim: A fun “virtual class” type activity for all to join in, using activities designed by your group.

Suitability: Any age; assess suitability of exercises as you go along. 

Resources: Just what is created/suggested by your group.

Preparation: None.

Instructions:  This is a bit like the “I went to market and I bought…” game. In turn, each person starts a sentence by saying “I went to the gym and I…”, and then finishes the sentence with an exercise of their choice, e.g. “did five star jumps”. Then everyone does five star jumps (or whatever). The second person starts their sentence with “I went to the gym and I did five star jumps and…”, adding a new exercise of their choice. All the group do both exercises. Repeat and add to this exercise list until all the group have been – they should be pretty tired at the end!

Hosting one of the UK’s leading voices in Black queer writing

Join the Virtual LGBT+ Centre, in collaboration with Rainbow Noir, from wherever you are in the world, who are hosting one of the UK’s leading voices in Black queer writing for a private reading and Q+A.

Dean Atta took the world by storm in 2012 with his poem ‘I Am Nobody’s Nigger’ which became the title of his first collection of poems the following year.

As one of the UK’s most influential LGBT+ people (Independent on Sunday) Dean will be sharing from his 2019 novel ‘The Black Flamingo’ which follows the life of the young mixed-race gay protagonist Michael who unleashes the power of drag.

Intensely personal and political, this reading will leave you both buoyed and inspired.

Optional donations warmly received to help support LGBT+ youth through the rebuilding of Manchester’s LGBT+ Centre.

Book your free places now by clicking this link http://virtuallgbtcentre.eventbrite.co.uk


Pride in Surrey have their own radio show now on Radio Woking every Sunday from 12-4pm, see https://radiowoking.prideinsurrey.org/.

To commemorate IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia) this Sunday, 17th May, Di Stiff, Surrey Heritage’s Collections Development Archivist will be joining Stephen Ireland, Pride in Surrey co-founder, to reveal some of Surrey’s LGBTQ+ hidden history and collections. Find out how to tune and listen again at https://radiowoking.prideinsurrey.org/


Gay Liberation Front at 50 – International Museum Day.

Uncover the fascinating history of Gay Liberation Front UK through newspapers, sound recordings and pamphlets archived at the British Library.

In October 1970 the first meeting of Gay Liberation Front UK was held at the London School of Economics. Think-ins quickly grew to over 200 people. Regional groups began to meet, communes were formed and demonstrations and activism flourished.

In this free Zoom webinar, reference specialist Steven Dryden takes you through the story of Gay Liberation Front UK as it marks 50 years, and discusses what happens when a radical political movement is archived and preserved by a national library.

Book here

Details

Name:Gay Liberation Front at 50
Where:Zoom
When:Mon 18 May 2020, 13:00 – 14:00
Price:Free
Enquiries:+44 (0)1937 546546
boxoffice@bl.uk

ParaPride Digitals: Our Stories – Celebrating our 1st anniversary

As you probably know, due the current Health crisis with COVID-19 we had to postpone our ParaPride live events, so we’re coming to you with an incredible online project to mark ParaPride’s first anniversary since we officially launched. We would be honoured if you could join our series of 3 events called ParaPride Digitals: Our Stories, generously funded by the LGBT+ Consortium.  

During these events we will explore in more depth the intersectionality of being LGBTQ+ and disabled, talking to people who contributed greatly to ParaPride’s success: our performers, partners, allies and supporters. We will be hearing from their stories of empowerment and authenticity, discussing activism and reflecting on the importance of supporting the more marginalised LGBTQ+communities. Moderated by a different host, each episode will be focused on a different category: Physical disabilities/conditions; Sensory impairments/conditions; Mental Health.

 Sunday 10th May 17.00 – 17.45 – Physical impairmentsHost: Son of a TutuSpecial guests: Andrew Gregory, Pole competitor/performer; Mel Stevens, Aerial artist, Artistic Director – Aim to Fly;Dr Clara Bradbury-Rance, Queer@King’s, Liberal Arts Early Career Development Fellow – King’s College London; Domenico Pasquariello, Accessessbility Consultant – Middlesex Pride. BSL Interpreter: Martin Fox Roberts. 

Sunday 17th May, 17.00 – 17.45 – Sensory conditionsHost: Mzz KimberleySpecial guests: Ebony Rose Dark, Dancer/performing artist,Tyron Woolfe, Deaf LGBTIQA; Yusef Gojikian, UK Black Pride; Cavyn Mitchell, SpectraBSL Interpreter: Martin Fox Roberts. 
Sunday 24th May, 17.00 – 17.45 – Mental HealthHost: Smashlyn MonroeSpecial guests: Stonewall, Mental health & wellbeing network; Stewart O’Callaghan Live Through This; Karina Pound, Biodanza Teacher at Danzability; Theresa Heath-Ellul, Founder and Producer of Wotever DIY Film Festival.BSL Interpreter: Martin Fox Roberts.  

We will be using Zoom as a streaming platform. To attend, click attending on the Facebook event page and we’ll message you the Zoom connection details. The events will be recorded and our amazing partners  GlitterBeam Radio will also be broadcasting the events.
Please  share and help us spread the word by posting about the #ParaPrideDigitals #OurStories on social media and telling everyone. You can use the attached flyers and/or share our posts, but don’t forget to tag us so we can return the love ❤ Facebook: @ParaPride.World, Twitter: @ParaPride, Instagram: @ParaPride.World  


This week we celebrate 30 years of the defiant queer rights direct action group OutRage! 

It fought the church, media, police, military & government for LGBT+ human rights.
There is more on The Peter Tatchell Foundation website HERE and tomorrow’s #PTFweekly newsletter will cover the impact of OutRage! in greater detail.
In the meantime, Simon at the Peter Tatchell Foundation has produced a short video (2’10”) to highlight some of OutRage!’s campaigns.

Please view it HERE


ANNOUNCING ARQ FACEBOOK VIDEO PREMIERE 

ARQ’s first set from their recent album launch will be broadcast on Facebook FRIDAY 1st MAY at 8pm

Here’s the faceb’ook link

Alison writes “When I decided to video the gig, I had no idea that we’d soon be in lockdown, with our tour dates cancelled. As performers, we’re without any work at present, so it’s nice to keep something going in the meantime. This is just another way way to share some music – so do join us if you’d like to!

We’ll be hosting live Zoom meet up after the event with members of ARQ. If you’d like to join us, just reply with ‘Zoom’ in the email subject and we’ll send you the link.

If you want to support ARQ and Blow the Fuse you can buy an album (CD, vinyl or digital) – you’ll hear songs from all three ARQ albums tomorrow night http://www.alisonrayner.com/albums/ has a choice of ARQ album purchase options.

OR you can make a donation HE,RE through Paypal. If you are also affected financially by the global lockdown, please just enjoy the music.

See you tomorrow evening and please listen to this high quality visual/audio mix through on the biggest screen you have, through a stereo system or, failing that headphones. Smartphones alone will not allow you to make the most of this experience 


OPERA VIA ZOOM

TUESDAY, MAY 5TH, 8PM & 9PM

‘HOMOPROMOS’ PRESENT: ‘1912 – A HELPING HAND’ & ‘1918 – FRONT’

The 3rd and 4th of 16 one act operas, read without music; part of: ‘THE GAY CENTURY’, Created by Peter Scott-Presland & Robert Ely, this work, written as a major contribution to LGBT History Month in Belfast 2020. It was cancelled owing to the virus. However, all is not lost…..

“The first productions ‘1900 -Two Queens’ and ‘1907 – The Jewels…’, on April 28th, were absolutely fantastic….”

This cycle (of operas) comes at the lgbtq+ history of the 20th century ‘crabwise’, with some new angles on the events which shaped and changed who we are.

 EVERY TUESDAY – NEXT ON MAY 5TH, 8PM & 9PM

JOIN THE AUDIENCE (VIA ZOOM) :

http://homopromos.org/1918_front.html


Disappointed and Forbidden Love – National Archives

A lovestruck medieval clerk writing out romantic lyrics as he daydreams. A gay man in the 1930s who tears up a letter to his lover to hide it from the police. Two women who defy 18th century conventions to marry in secret…these are some of the characters you’ll meet in this episode, which features three stories of disappointed and forbidden love.

Each story comes from a real love letter held in The National Archives’ collection, and if you think a government archive can’t be romantic, these documents and their powerful stories may very well change your mind.


click here to view the website


Manchester Pride presents “Live in Your Living Room”

“Manchester Pride: Live In Your Living Room will see four weeks of Friday night shows made up of performances from Manchester Pride Festivals 2017, 2018 and 2019.”
click here to view the website


Museum from Home – Sacha Coward

View the playlist on YouTube or watch below.


Manchester Pride Conference 2020

Watch the full conference on YouTube, or visit the website.


“Five Minutes with Ian Adams” interview by Dods Diversity & Inclusion

Ian Adams is the Director of Membership and Stakeholder Engagement at NHS Resolution.

Inclusive Childrens Literature Reading List

Pop ‘n’ Olly Books

Pop’n’Olly is an LGBTQ+ equality educational resource used by children, parents, carers and teachers. Our videos and books are used in primary schools across the UK, and beyond, to teach about equality, diversity and acceptance. Created by Olly Pike, Pop’n’Olly ‘usualises‘ different types of people, particularly those who may be LGBTQ+, and ultimately aims to combat homo-, bi- and transphobia before it can even begin.



The list below has been compiled by Charlie Morris is Senior Publicity and Marketing Executive at Little Tiger Group, a former independent bookseller, and social media manager for the Pride in Publishing network. At Little Tiger, Charlie works across all children’s books from board books to Young Adult fiction. Find her on twitter @charlieinabook we do not necessarily endorse them.

PICTURE BOOKS

The Girls by Lauren Ace and Jenny Lovlie.

This is the story of four little girls who are best friends, each with their own interests and passions. As they grow up, we see them support each other through thick and thin. We can see from Jenny’s illustrations that the girls attend Pride (a march to celebrate and fight for LGBT rights) and support one of their own as she forges a life with her wife.

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Julian Is A Mermaid by Jessica Love

All families are different – and yet in many ways the same! This book uses a gentle rhyming text to follow eight different families, celebrating their everyday differences as well as the similarities they share.

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We Are Family by Patricia Hegarty and Ryan Wheatcroft

A picture book about self-confidence and love, and a radiant celebration of individuality.

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Introducing Teddy by Jessica Walton

A sweet and gentle story about being true to yourself and being a good friend, Introducing Teddy can also help children understand gender identity.

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Plenty of Hugs by Fran Manushkin  and Kate Alizadeh (out in April)

Two mommies spend a sunny day with their toddler in this cozy, rhyming picture book that is a loving celebration of family. This cheerful book follows a family from morning to night in lively rhyme that rolls off the tongue.

Llama Glamarama by Simon James Green and Gary Parsons (out in June)

A hilarious, rhyming story with a powerful message about celebrating

differences.

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GRAPHIC NOVELS

Princess Princess Ever After by Katie O’Neill

Join Sadie and Amira, two very different princesses with very different strengths, on their journey to figure out what “happily ever after” really means-and how they can find it with each other.

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Lumberjanes by Shannon Watters, Noelle Stevenson , Grace Ellis , Brooke Allen Friendship to the max! Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley are five best pals determined to have an awesome summer together…and theyre not gonna let any insane quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way!

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Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Heartstopper is about love, friendship, loyalty and mental illness. It encompasses all the small stories of Nick and Charlie’s lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.

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MIDDLE GRADE (AGE 8-12)

Nothing Ever Happens Here by Sarah Hagger-Holt

Izzy’s family is under the spotlight when her dad comes out as Danielle, a trans woman. Izzy is terrified her family will be torn apart. Will she lose her dad? Will her parents break up? And what will people at school say? Izzy’s always been shy, but now all eyes are on her. Can she face her fears, find her voice and stand up for what’s right?

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The Deepest Breath by Megan Grehan

Written in accessible verse `chapters’ and in a warm and reassuring style, The Deepest Breath will be of special relevance to young girls who are starting to realise that they are attracted to other girls, but it is also a story for any young reader with an open mind who wants to understand how people’s emotions affect their lives.

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The Strangeworlds Travel Agency by LD Lapinski (out in April)

When 12-year-old Flick Hudson accidentally ends up in the Strangeworlds Travel Agency, she uncovers a fantastic secret: there are hundreds of other worlds just steps away from ours. All you have to do to visit them is jump into the right suitcase. A magical adventure for 9+ readers that will take you to whole new worlds.

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Death in the Spotlight by Robin Stevens

Hazel and Daisy must take centre stage and solve the crime . . . before the murderer strikes again.

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YOUNG ADULT 13+

PROUD by various

A stirring, bold and moving anthology of stories and poetry by top LGBTQ+ YA authors and new talent, giving their unique responses to the broad theme of pride. Compiled by Juno Dawson.

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The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

This is not about being ready, it’s not even about being fierce, or fearless, IT’S ABOUT BEING FREE. Michael waits in the stage wings, wearing a pink wig, pink fluffy coat and black heels. One more step will see him illuminated by spotlight. He has been on a journey of bravery to get here, and he is almost ready to show himself to the world in bold colours … Can he emerge as The Black Flamingo?

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Wranglestone by Darren Charlton

In a post-apocalyptic America, a community survives in a national park, surrounded by water that keeps the Dead at bay. But when winter comes, there’s nothing to stop them from crossing the ice. Then homebody Peter puts the camp in danger by naively allowing a stranger to come ashore and he’s forced to leave the community of Wranglestone. Now he must help rancher Cooper, the boy he’s always watched from afar, herd the Dead from their shores before the lake freezes over. But as love blossoms, a dark discovery reveals the sanctuary’s secret past. One that forces the pair to question everything they’ve ever known.

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The Love Hypothesis by Laura Steven (out in March)

Physics genius Caro Kerber-Murphy knows she’s smart. With straight As and a college scholarship already in the bag, she’s meeting her two dads’ colossal expectations and then some. When Caro discovers a (definitely questionable) scientific breakthrough that promises to make you irresistible to everyone around you, she wonders if this could be the key. What happens next will change everything Caro thought she knew about chemistry – in the lab and in love.

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Afterlove by Tanya Byrne (out in August)

Ash Persaud is about to become a grim reaper in the afterlife, but she is determined to see Poppy Morgan, the love of her life again – the only thing that separates them is death. AFTER-LIFE COMES LOVE .

Dangerous Remedy by Katherine Dunn (out in May)

The first in a dazzling, commercial, historical adventure series set in the extravagant and deadly world of the French Revolution. A whirlwind of action, science and magic reveals, with a diverse cast of fearless heroines, a band of rebels like no other.

Hideous Beauty by William Hussey (out in May)

Dylan is forced to come out after his secret relationship with Ellis is exposed on social media, but to his surprise, everyone is really supportive – or appears to be. But Dylan’s and El’s happiness is short-lived, and following a tragic accident, Dylan begins to realize how little he knows about the boy he loves…or those closest to him.

Boy Queen by George Lester (out in August)

Fall wig first into a world of big hair, high heels and even higher stakes in George Lester’s debut novel Boy Queen. Life’s a drag until you try . . .Robin Cooper’s life is falling apart, there’s only one thing for him to do: bring it to the runway.

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Charlie Morris is Senior Publicity and Marketing Executive at Little Tiger Group, a former independent bookseller, and social media manager for the Pride in Publishing network. At Little Tiger, Charlie works across all children’s books from board books to Young Adult fiction. Find her on twitter @charlieinabook 

Link to original list https://toppsta.com/blog/view/lgbt-history-month

Books, Booklets, and Theses

Other Stories LGBT+ History Project

is dedicated to telling other stories from the LGBT+ community’s history. They launched in 2017 coinciding with 50 years since the landmark 1967 Sexual Offences Act. 


Darwin’s Closet – The Queer Side of “The Descent of Man”

The article is available from The Zoological Journal above (please note – the PDF is around 2MB in size)

Charles Darwin’s published and unpublished writings contain a plethora of references to sex variations, including intersexualities (‘hermaphroditism’), transformations of sex and non-heteronormative sexual behaviours. Marking the 150th anniversary of his major sexological work The descent of man, this historical review examines a range of strategies that Darwin deployed in order to accommodate such variations within his evolutionism, while simultaneously attempting to mitigate the potential for condoning sexual phenomena that were feared and reviled in Victorian bourgeois society.

Although he moved to cast sex-variant animals, human and non-human, as biological misfits and failures, Darwin’s commitment to the principle of primordial intersexuality (dual-sexed origins) nonetheless occasioned some of the queerest evolutionary narratives of the 19th century. Similarly, his construal of the ‘unnatural crimes’ of indigenous peoples was contained within a hierarchical narrative of the backwardness of ‘savages’ and civilizational supremacy but was readily subject to challenge and queer reinterpretations, not least with reference to the ‘extreme sensuality’ of the classical Greeks. Despite working to subdue the queer potentialities of his evolutionism, Darwin nonetheless laid the foundations for a new, modernist sexology to emerge, a situation that was exploited by a cohort of Darwinist sexologists, Sigmund Freud chief among them, who followed in his path.

My name is Dr Maarten Christenhusz and I am Editor in Chief of the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. I would like to let you know that we intend to publish an article in our February issue by Ross Brooks with the title “Darwin’s closet: the queer sides of The descent of man (1871)”. 

This article is celebrating LGBT+ History Month 2021, because it coincides with the anniversary of Darwin’s work The Descent of Man which was published in the same month 150 years ago, I hope you like the paper and feel free to contact us at the Journal or the Linnean Society of you would like more information.


Queering Glamorgan is a research guide to sources for the study of LGBT history, produced by the Glamorgan Archives – compiled by Norena Shopland and Dr Daryl Leeworthy.


Top 31 Books on Gender – by OurQueerStories.com


The Rainbow Planet booklet was distributed at Pride in London in 2019. It was written for a target audience of 16-25 year olds.


Andrew Lumsden, who was a participant in the Gay Liberation Front in the 1970s and edited Gay News during the 1980s, has kindly sent us his perspective on The 1967 Sexual Offences Act, in which he expresses the importance of celebrating the Act as the first stepping stone on the crossing to equality and of thanking those who put their careers and reputations on the line to see it through, rather than focusing on the shortcomings. To read his analysis, go here: andrew-lumsden


E M Forster and the Labouchere Family – By Andrew Lumsden – A talk given at Charleston Farmhouse in Sussex on Saturday 8 February 20 during the house’s first venture as a hub for “OUTing the Past”


‘Minority consciousness gone mad?’ Exclusion, inclusion and self-organisation of disabled LGBTI people in the Dutch and British LGBT+ and disability movements, in the late twentieth century – Thesis by Nina Littel


Section 28 and Black History Month: public libraries after the new urban left – Thesis by Colette Townend

Film, Video and Television

LGBT History Month UK YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT4nBN8y9zvWmW0kqZrSthQ

LGBT History Month UK Archive Flikr – https://www.flickr.com/photos/lgbthmuk

Ninety-year-old Kenneth Felts is living proof that it’s never too late. He’s just come out as gay. The Colorado resident used his lockdown time to write his memoirs, which brought back old memories. So Kenneth opened up to his daughter Rebecca about his first love, Phillip – 25 years after she told him she was gay. Watch

How To Queer Your Museum by Ancient House Teenage History Club


A new film about the first Pride London March in 1972 ‘Are You Proud’ is now available. Directed by Zachary Cole, the film is ostensibly about Britain’s first Pride March. However it covers the beginning of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF), the Peter Tatchell Human Rights Foundation, the Shropshire LGBT Film Festival, the Shropshire National LGBT History Festival (now known as OUTing the Past) and Liverpool Pride. It finishes by asking questions about Pride in London as it is now. Click here to read more.


This 20 minute whistle-stop tour also includes the international struggle for LGBT+ Equality – including images that some  people may find disturbing. Contributors and interviewees include Peter Tatchell, Frankie Green, Peter Roscoe, Geoff Hardy, Stuart Milk of The Harvey Milk Foundation, Jenny Bishop and Dr Emma Vickers.


Annette Pryce of the NUT LGBT+ Network has created a video file that can be shown in school for history month. Some trailers clipped together and other stuff to show them how close history really is.


BBC History has its LGBTQ+ History Month page, looking at the progress the BBC has made in its portrayal of LGBTQ+ people since 1922.
The site includes:
Timelines, articles, a special Gaytime TV feature, and a Share Your Memories page to encourage people to upload their experiences of watching and listening to LGBTQ+ programming over the years.


Jeff Evans – We’re Here, We’re Queer, And We’re Not Going Shopping!


“Just Me” – film by Adam Tyler
Just Me is a powerful thirteen-minute film from BAFTA-winning educational channel TrueTube, about a young couple who are fighting to keep their relationship together when one of them comes out as gender non-binary. The short drama’s script was developed in consultation with charity Gendered Intelligence, for classroom use, and the film is free to use for everybody. The filmmakers hope it can help any non-binary or gender non-conforming young people feel seen and validated, be used as a tool to increase understanding for non-binary and other trans young people’s experiences, and help model positive communication about gender and identity.

“Just Me”


Highlights – ‘What does a Queer Museum Look like?’

videos by Julian Langham



Thinking about our older LGBT+ community and the services they need


Usualising LGBT+ videos by Pop’n’Olly


Equality Education Podcasts from Olly Pike

Roche Court Educational Trust
GRAND FINAL 2020: Charles Lee on The Proud Trust Centre

GRAND FINAL 2020: Charles Lee on The Proud Trust Centre from Roche Court Educational Trust on Vimeo.


Education

Harvey Milk – Ever the trail-blazer

Lilian Faderman shows us Harvey the secular Jew, wandering restlessly from job to job — and even dallying with the Republican party in 1964

This article from ‘The Spectator’ is available as a PDF


5 Historical Gay Symbols

Cade Hildreth is an American who runs a website dedicated to Queer issues for young people.

We have turned one of the web pages into an accessible PDF for students:

  • The Rainbow flag
  • Green carnations
  • The pink triangle,
  • The Labrys
  • The Lambda symbol

Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery Displays

Our History Boards:

Shropshire Archives called us (Shrewsbury LGBT), in 2005, to say that they had a gaping hole around LGBT history and could we help? I took a couple of bags of ephemera, emptied them out and talked. Out of that grew the first six Boards. We don’t have online artwork for them, but we do have the Boards.
A few years ago, we created more, for the National Festival of LGBT History Hub in Shrewsbury. These were exhibited at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery.
Since then, we have added a few more, keeping up to date with new, emerging, stories. We also needed to show what advances the schools and Shropshire Council Curriculum advice were making – hence the Schools and Trans Boards.
The aim was to create a resource for schools/colleges etc, showing the development of the LGBTQ struggles/campaigns and gains across the years. They are centred on Shropshire, but respond to National, as well as local stories/campaigns.

The Samuel Butler Boards: 

Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery unearthed Samuel Butler, who had local family connections here. His is a good story, as it shows how our history has been made invisible, partly by our need to hide. So, we have to read between the lines.
This resulted in an exhibition at the Museum.

The Set:

  1. Salop Assizes 1949
  2. Soldiers In Love
  3. Samuel Butler (1835 – 1902)
  4. A – Z of LGBT+ (Shrewsbury OTP)

An LGBTQ History Educators’ Guide

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, transgender, intersex, queer (LGBATIQ) people, as is still often the case for many other minoritized communities, often grow up in a society without an historical context in which to project their lives. They are weaned on the notion that they have no culture and no history. This educators’ guide is designed to assist educators at all grade levels to integrate materials and content into coursework related to LGBATIQ history. (This document is from an American perspective)

#PrideinEducation2020 
Educate OUT Prejudice – Usualise LGBT+ content 
Live – Global – Virtual 

Visit www.prideineducation.co.uk to view the videos recorded on the day. Videos available July 18th.


LGBTQ+ Primary Hub – “Our Mission is simple: Enhance the delivery of LGBTQ+ inclusive education in primary schools by providing teachers with the support they need.”


Daniel Bregman has put together very useful suggestions on how to Usualise LGBT issues throughout the curriculum.


There are also Curriculum Subject Area Identity Posters produced by Kit Heyam of York LGBT History Month in response to requests from schools in York for resources to help make LGBT history visible in the curriculum.


Section 28

Section 28 – 2018 is also the 30th anniversary of Section 28, a regressive piece of legislation introduced by the Thatcher government of 1979-1990. Section 28 of the 1988 Local Government Act stated that councils should not “intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” in its schools or other areas of their work.

Schools OUT UK – Section 28 Resources

Back in 2013 we gathered together a small collection of original documents and publications relating to Section 28, as part of our ‘pink promotion’ to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the repeal of the legislation. We’re making them available again.

Heritage

Historic England looks at some buildings and asks whether there is such a thing as Queer Architecture. Go here to see and read more.


The British Museum shares with you their take on LGBT+ History issues


Homosexuality at the Foreign Office 1967–1991 – James Southern, FCO Historians