In 2025 Schools OUT is celebrating its 50th year by presenting 20 years of UK LGBT+ History Month. The LGBT+ Education Charity's goal is to make our schools and educational institutions safe spaces for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) communities including teachers, students, parents, staff and governors.

UK LGBT+ History Month was created to:

• claim our past
• celebrate our present
• create our future

Section 28 was part of the Local Government Act 1988, brought in by the backward and homophobic Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher. Their new law stated that a local authority "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".

Of course lesbian, gay and bisexual young people have always existed in the world and, therefore, in our classrooms. However, because of this law, they did not see themselves reflected in the education they were receiving and did not have the language to describe their own experiences.

The cruel legislation was singly responsible for the bullying of many young children in school, whether they were gay, or just thought to be gay. It claimed the lives of many young people, particularly young men, who committed suicide as a result of them realising they were gay and them being unable to face the prejudice of their every day lives. It gave bigots and thugs all the excuses they needed to verbally and physically attack LGBTQ+ people, in particular young people. It saw vulnerable teenagers being made homeless, by families who'd thrown them out of the family home.

Section 28 was abolished by Tony Blair's Labour Government in 2003, and more than twenty years on from this, we find ourselves moving increasingly towards the right side of history. For many more schools than ever before, positive and inclusive education around lesbian, gay and bisexual lives and identities is just part and parcel of teaching all students about the world they actually live in. Furthermore, we’re learning to embrace lesbian, gay and bisexual young people as valued, included and visible, simply part of the rich diversity of any (school) community, with more freedom than ever to explore this element of who they are.

Each year is set a theme, whilst choosing five LGBT+ historical figures to highlight. A number of free resources are provided to a range of education settings, organisations, and businesses.

In addition, across social media channels, they highlight the five LGBT+ historical figures and UK LGBT+ people past and present in line with their theme.

• Octavia Hill - The English social reformer and a founder of the National Trust. Octavia’s sexuality is contested but she was thought to be lesbian.
• Ivor Cummings - The British civil servant from Sierra Leone ancestry who in 1941 became the first black official in the British Colonial Office. He has been dubbed the 'gay father of the Windrush generation'.
• Annie Kenney - The English working-class suffragette and socialist feminist who became a leading figure in the Women's Social and Political Union.
• Charlie Kiss - A kind, thoughtful and funny person who famously wrote about his gender dysphoria. For many years his identity was that of a lesbian woman, and one who at the age of 17 lived at the women-only anti-nuclear protest camps at Greenham Common.
• Olaudah Equiano - He was known for most of his life as Gustavus Vassa, a writer and abolitionist. Enslaved as a child in West Africa, he was shipped to the Caribbean and sold to a Royal Navy officer. Although once married he was considered bisexual.

Amongst the events in this year's LGBT+ History Month are:

• LGBT+ History Month display throughout February at the Surrey History Centre, 130 Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey GU21 6ND. Surrey has a rich and important LGBTQ+ history and their collection reveals stories from 18th century punishment to 21st century Pride. The display during normal opening hours is in the foyer from 1st to 29th February 2024. More Information.
• Free LGBTQ+ History Tour of Central London starting from Outside The Clermont Hotel, Charing Cross, Strand, London WC2N 5HX. Hear stories of drag queens in the 1700's, the 1920's secret gay soirees and the infamous history of Soho, one of the world's best loved queer neighbourhoods. Saturdays at 11am. More Information and Tickets londonwithalocal.com.
• A Life of Activism: Peter Tatchell in his own words. Front-line activist Peter Tatchell has campaigned for human rights and LGBT+ freedom since 1967, will provide an inside account of his arrests and detention at Bow Street, including the mass turn-in to defy anti-LGBT+ laws. Magistrates Ballroom, NoMad London WC2E 7AW. The talk begins Sunday 2nd February at 18:00 and lasts approximately 75 minutes, including a Q&A with the audience. More Information and Tickets PeterTatchellFoundation.org.
• LGBT+ History Month archive exploration & guided gallery tour. Explore the theme of activism and social change by joining a guided gallery tour and delving into the archive collection of the People's History Museum, Left Bank, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3ER. Saturday 8th February at 10.15am. More Information and Tickets.
• Me and HIV - An Intergenerational Talk About the Changes, Wins, and Struggles of Living With HIV. An inspiring evening with trailblazing activists and community organisers who have fought stigma and demanded life-saving healthcare for our community. CAMP, 125 Northdown Rd, Cliftonville, Margate CT9 2QY. Tuesday 11th February at 7.30pm. More Information and Tickets.

LGBT+ History Month Badges.

The overall aim of LGBT+ History month is to promote equality and diversity for the benefit of the public. This is done by:

• 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.

You can find out more on the LGBT+ History Month website, where there's information and some downloadable presentations, webinars and videos exploring many aspects of UK and International LGBT+ history.