Wokingham Borough Council will be celebrating LGBT+ History Month throughout February, with a range of online resources and events for adults and children led by the library service, to highlight the creative, political, and literary impact of LGBT+ people and friends of the community.
LGBT+ History Month is an annual month-long celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. Founded in 1994 by Missouri high-school history teacher, Rodney Wilson, it was initiated in the UK by Schools Out UK and first took place in February 2005.
It is celebrated in February each year, to coincide with the 2003 abolition of Section 28. The event is intended to raise awareness of, and combat prejudice against, LGBT+ people and history. To mark LGBT+ History Month this year, the library service is highlighting books, authors and music which are creating an impact within the community and beyond. The library service is planning the following activities:
- Publishing blogs that focus on LGBT+ books (fiction and non-fiction) for adults, as well as profiles of LGBT+ authors and their titles – these, will be live on the library service’s website and shared on Facebook and Twitter. Blogs focused on books for children and teens are also available.
- Publishing a list of recommended eBooks and eAudio books available to download via the service’s digital app, Libby. Information about this service can be accessed on the council’s website.
- Providing a playlist via the music streaming service Freegal, featuring LGBT+ artists and friends of the community. More information on accessing this is available on the council’s website
Bill Soane, the executive member for neighbourhood and communities, said: “Our library service has been proud to promote equality and diversity within its activities for many years, and we are delighted to support a very vibrant and informative celebratory month. The team works hard to select and promote a diverse selection of literature and it is my hope that the range of resources and events open to both children and adults will help educate out the prejudice that continues to plague the community and make LGBT+ people visible in all their rich diversity and creativity”.
Laura Blumenthal, the deputy executive member for equalities, said: “It is important that in our work, events, and campaigns we have representation to ensure everybody in society feels seen, heard, and their experiences reflected. As we move into February, we encourage residents to take a moment to open themselves to LGBT voices and history and make the most of the fantastic resources available from our library service.”
With the global theme this year, Politics in Art, the library service has curated a variety of resources and activities to engage residents that want to be educated about the history of LGBT+ History Month. Raising awareness of and advancing education on matters concerning the LGBT+ community helps to cultivate a society that is accepting and acknowledges marginalised communities. To find out more about the work LGBT+ History Month has celebrated both past and present, visit the website.
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