Lancashire Teaching Hospitals proudly supports LGBT+ History Month 2022
The month of February marks LGBT+ History month which Lancashire Teaching Hospitals is proud to support. It is a month-long, annual celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Non-Binary history, including the history of LGBT+ rights and related civil rights movements.
In the United Kingdom it is celebrated in February each year, to coincide with the 2003 abolition of Section 28 – a law which was enacted in 1988 to "prohibit the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities” - you can read more here.
Since 2011, LGBT+ History Month has been linked to a different subject each year — in 2022 the theme is “Politics in Art: ‘The Arc is Long” chosen by charity Schools Out, who said: “This year marks the 50th anniversary since the very first Pride March in the UK in 1972. A popular slogan of the early Gay Rights Movement (the idea of the ‘LGBT’ community was some way off) of the time was “the personal is political”, and art is probably the most individual of pastimes. So it seemed logical, as we have a National Curriculum link to our theme every year, to choose Art for 2022.
“We then looked for five artists (one each to represent the L,G,B,T and ‘+’ of the community) who had used their talents for “political” ends, or expressed their orientation through their work and decided on our Five Faces for 2022. Keith Haring’s dancing figures are a perfect example as they were used to draw attention to the growing AIDS crisis of the early 1980s. Doris Brabham Hatt and Fiore de Henriquez both fought against fascism in the 1930s. Jean’Michel Basquiat began as a graffiti artist and Mark Aguhar’s life “and mere existence was an act of confronting white hegemony”.
“Finally, as this year’s anniversary is one on a continuing and often winding journey towards full equality, which has suffered many setbacks while still moving forwards, we took ‘the arc is long’ as our tagline, from Dr Martin Luther King jnr’s quote “The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice”.
Throughout February, we will be visibly demonstrating our support for LGBT+ History Month in many ways, including flying the Progress flags at both hospital sites throughout the month. You can find out more about the progress flag here and you can tag us on social media @LancsHospitals with your photographs using #LGBTplusHM #LSCLGBT @LGBTHM #lgbthistorymonth.
You may also see our staff wearing a Rainbow badge, this is a way for staff to show that our Trust offers open, non-judgemental and inclusive care for all who identify as LGBTQ+, no matter their age, and their families.
Finally, our Library service has highlighted a selection of books by LGBT+ authors or on related themes which you will be able to find online, or in our Library if you have a patient membership.
Useful resources
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Lancashire LGBT (lancslgbt.org.uk) - A registered charity working across Lancashire (including Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool) for Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Trans (LGBT+) people.
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LGBT Switchboard – A helpline that provides an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men and bisexual and trans people – and anyone considering issues around their sexuality and/or gender identity.
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LGBT Foundation – LGBT Foundation provide a wide range of support services to lesbian, gay, bi and trans people. They also work with healthcare and other professionals to help make public services more accessible and inclusive for LGBT communities.
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Stonewall – Stonewall is an LGBT charity focussing on empowering individuals, transforming institutions, changing hearts and minds, and changing and protecting laws
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Mermaids – Mermaids supports gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care.
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Gendered Intelligence – Gendered Intelligence is a trans led charity who work with the trans community and those who impact on trans lives; they particularly specialise in supporting young trans people aged 8-25.
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Opening doors – Opening Doors London (ODL) is the biggest charity providing information and support services specifically for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT+) people over 50 in the UK.
