February is LGBT+ History Month and the University is celebrating the history of the LGBT+ community with a series of events.
This year we will be celebrating LGBT+ History Month online, with virtual quizzes, talks, reading circles and a week that focuses on how we continue to move these conversations forward. We hope you enjoy the range of activities and get involved as much as possible.
Throughout the month there will also be content across the University and Roehampton Students’ Union social media platforms with recommendations on books, films, and podcasts you can listen to.
Resources
Each week we’ll share a number of resources for further thought and exploration! If you have any questions about LGBT+ History Month, do get in touch with the UR Pride Staff LGBT+ Network via URPride@roehampton.ac.uk or the RSU – rsu@roehampton.ac.uk
Week One Resources: Invisible Identities
Listen To
The Log Books Podcast: This podcast explores queer history in Britain using unique stories from the archives of LGBTQ+ charity Switchboard.
Watch
Olly Alexander: Growing up Gay: In the BBC Documentary, LGBTQ+ pop icon Olly Alexander explores mental health issues within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly LGBTQ+ young people.
Read
‘Gendering asexuality and asexualizing gender’ a research article by Kristina Gupta – this is the first article to be explored in the LGBTQ+ Reading Circle, starting Friday 5th Feb, 4pm. The article can be found online through the University Library.
LGBTQ+ History Timeline: The BBC has put together this timeline to explore major events in UK LGBTQ+ history.
Moments from LGBT history: London Metropolitan Archives: A Guardian article exploring a range of archive images in celebration of LGBT+ History Month.
Tune into
Queer Britain in Conversation with Russel T Davies, discussing his new Channel 4 series, It’s A Sin: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/its-a-sin-tickets-135677098855
Week Two Resources: Trans Lives
Listen To
What the Trans?! A UK based podcast made by and for the Trans and Non-Binary Community.
Watch
Disclosure – A Netflix Original Documentary: This documentary explores transgender representation in TV and Film over the years, with eye-opening interviews from some of the leading trans thinkers and creatives.
Read
Non-Binary Lives: An Anthology of Intersecting Identities, edited by Jos Twist, Ben Vincent, Meg-John Barker and Kat Gupta (some may know Kat from the Linguistics team in MCL).
Week Three Resources: Black Lives Matter
Listen To
Busy Being Black: This podcast collects queer Black voices and explores how many learn to thrive at the intersections of their identities.
Watch
Black Gay Group (Free on BFI Player): This short documentary interviews members of the Black Gay Group that formed in the 1980’s to support the gay Black Community in London.
Read
Queer Times, Black Futures by Kara Keeling
Queering” #BlackLivesMatter: Unpredictable Intimacies and Political Affects
Where Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ pride intersect
Week Four Resources: Moving Beyond History Month
Listen To
Food 4 Thot: This podcast is led by a range of multiracial queer writers, discussing all manner of thing from sex and relationships to identity, race and beyond.
Read
There’s a long way to go for LGBTQ activism in the UK
Pride Month: People are fighting for their freedom
United Queerdom by Dan Glass
Watch
Queer Britain (free through BBC Iplayer): This documentary series explores queer culture in Britain and the challenges faced by the LGBT+ Community.
Events
Find out below what events are taking place for students to celebrate history month.
LGBTQ+ Coffee and Chat – 1st Feb 12.45pm and 16th Feb 4.30pm
Join the UR Pride Staff LGBT+ Network for a virtual coffee and chat.
Join us here:
1st Feb – https://roehampton-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/83141338777?pwd=SkNySHZCMllxcUd4MjJIaXdYZU43Zz09
16th Feb – https://roehampton-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/81410785552?pwd=S2xNRHpJclEzaG8relNreFJ5b250UT09
Endangered Species: The Bisexual Christian – 3rd Feb, 5:30pm
Endangered Species: The Bisexual Christian considers the invisibility of bisexuality within LGBT+ faith communities. Is it that bisexual Christians simply do not exist or can we indeed speak of a conspiracy of silence around bisexuality? Dr Carol Shepherd is a global expert on bisexual Christian identities. As well as Bi: the Way, Pastoring Bisexual Christians in Europe, she has published a monograph with Palgrave Macmillan in 2018, The Damage of Silence: Bisexuality in the Western Christian Church. She also has chapters in several academic bisexual anthologies. As well as writing and researching on bisexual intersectional identities, Carol is Secretary of the European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups and a Sociology lecturer at Andover College, Hampshire.
This event is for both staff and students.
Please register here: https://roehampton-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYoc-mrqzkvHNRLK6U7RMSbBEVTzn-CcYLv
LGBTQ+ Reading Circle – 5th, 12th, 19th Feb, 4pm
The LGBTQ+ Reading Circle is an opportunity for students and staff to discuss articles and academic pieces with LGBTQ+ themes.
5th: The launch of the Reading Circle starts with an exploration of the intersection between gender and asexuality through Kristina Gupta’s article “Gendering asexuality
and asexualizing gender: A qualitative study exploring the intersections between gender and asexuality”.
12th: The second LGBTQ+ Reading Circle looks at bisexual women’s experiences of non-monogamous relationships through Christian Klesse’s piece “Bisexual Women, Non-Monogamy and Differentialist Anti-Promiscuity Discourses”.
19th: The final LGBTQ+ Reading Circle explores an article around LGBTQ+ Sex Education for Young People through the article “Sex and relationships education for LGBT+ young people: Lessons from UK youth work” by Eleanor Formby and Catherine Donovan.
Each event is for both staff and students.
Please register here: https://roehampton-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwofuugrDopGdPVAGKduk9cmhrFn-5INPLH
From Cheap Flights to Trans Rights: In Conversation with Adele Anderson – 11th Feb, 4:30pm
Adele Anderson is an Olivier Award nominated trans singer, actor, and writer. Adele, who is well known for being one third of the of the comedy cabaret group Fascinating Aida, has had success on both stage and screen, including her own solo cabaret show ‘Gloomy Sunday’, which premiered in 2016. She is also a patron of Humanists UK.
Join us as we chat with Adele and explore her career, trans rights and being a performer in lockdown.
This event is for both staff and students.
Register in advance for this meeting: https://roehampton-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtf-2qpzgpGNwM0rx84c9CXB04tQwlndZY
LGBTQ+ Community Chat – 12th Feb, 3pm
Join this virtual chat for LGBTQ+ students and connect with others in the community. For this session bring along a recommendation of something to watch, read or listen to!
This event starts at 3pm.
Please register here: https://roehampton-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUtdO2rrzMuGdMLitU_-f0FzNjDSR09rNum
Coexist Café – 15th Feb, 1pm
This week at the Coexist Café we’ll be talking about what global equality looks and feels like, or at least ought to!
The Coexist Café: Global Equality #LoveisLove
All students and staff welcome.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqc-iprjMpHNDQ7T6VHNDRFA8Wg5ZYnM7p
LGBTQ+ Allies Training – 22nd Feb, 12pm
Another chance to take part in training on LGBTQ+ allyship, facilitated by UR Pride Staff LGBT+ Network.
This event is for staff.
Register here: https://roehampton-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIodOisrjotGNRptl5W02TxwcKWbK4uIF4g
LGBTQ+ Showcase – Feb 23rd, 1-2:30pm
UR Pride and the European Research Council-funded project Our Mythical Childhood http://www.omc.obta.al.uw.edu.pl ‘Show and Tell’ LGBT+ themed books and video games informed by classics. Contact s.deacy@roehampton.ac.uk for further information.
This event is for both staff and students.
Join here: https://roehampton-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/81589915647?pwd=YXI2T05yMk9Nb1g4dXFKL2NkODFBZz09
Queer Review – 25th February, 12pm
This virtual round table discussion is open to students and staff, with the aim of ‘Queer Reviewing’ current curriculums. How LGBTQ+ inclusive is your academic programme?
This event is for both staff and students.
Please register here: https://roehampton-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUocO-qpzgoGtB4yVNykvPNIDlXfBu4CKYq
Service to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month – 26th Feb, 4pm
Roehampton Chaplaincy invite all staff and students to join us to celebrate our common humanity and beautiful diversity through words, silence and song from different faith traditions.
This event is for both staff and students.
Register in advance for this event here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sdeuurj0qG9Q49AdpyeykBdpdZIbHgS5Y