February is LGBT+ History Month and this year’s theme is Body, Mind and Spirit. Despite the ongoing pandemic preventing in-person events, organisations and community groups across the city region are marking the month with virtual events.
LCR Pride Foundation CEO, Andi Herring, said: “This year’s theme ‘Body, Mind and Spirit’ is significant as we start LGBT+ History Month in a national lockdown and in an ongoing pandemic. Events that celebrate and share LGBT+ histories are vital to our wellbeing. They bring us together, make our stories visible and highlight the impact that the local LGBT+ community has had on the region and beyond.”
See below for a host of events that you can get involved in. We will be updating the page throughout the month so do check back and if you are running an event that isn’t listed yet, let us know by emailing press@lcrpride.co.uk
SAE Institute
As part of its LGBT+ History Month activity, SAE Institute – a provider of niche creative media programs which has a base in Liverpool – is welcoming Drag Artist Rujazzle for an online drag makeup masterclass and Q&A on 26th February, which you can watch at home and practice along with. For booking and further information, visit the event page.
GYRO
Throughout February young people from GYRO will have the opportunity to interview LGBTQ+ activists who were once service users of GYRO themselves. In each session the activists will be asked to discuss an object they would like to place in a time capsule for LGBTQ+ youth of the future, as a representation of the Body, Mind, and Spirit of LGBTQ+ young people today.
The project will focus on role models and activism as a way of improving the self-esteem and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ young people. The sessions are closed and only available to young people who are registered with GYRO. If you haven’t attended GYRO before and would like to participate in any of the sessions, contact gyro@ypas.org.uk for more information and to register.
GYRO’s event schedule is as follows:
- 2nd February – Meet artist and activist Lo Tierney – Lo will also be helping to create illustrations and profiles of the other guest speakers
- 4th February – Meet activist, actor and poet Felix Mufti – Felix will be helping participants repurpose poetry as a form of self-expression
- 9th February – Meet Stonewall Young Campaigner of the Year and LCR Pride Awards LGBT+ Young Person 2019, Ben Saunders
- 16th February – Meet comedian and activist Ben Hodge and see how comedy can help with your mental health (and see some improv too)
- 18th February – Yoga and mindfulness for LGBTQ+ youth wellbeing.
- 23rd February – LGBT+ History Month celebratory event with a soon-to-be revealed special guest
National Museums Liverpool
National Museums Liverpool (NML) will reveal the untold histories and lived experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people as part of LGBT+ History Month. Following this year’s theme, NML has curated a special collection of exciting online commissions which document the history, lives and experiences of the community.
Kay Jones, lead curator of community history, said: “Although we’re unable to come together physically for LGBT+ History Month, we want to unite people through this online festival which celebrates the stories and experiences of LGBT+ people, past and present. We are still adding to the online programme and are hoping to add more in-venue elements once we can reopen.
The exclusive works in the programme will include insightful interviews and opinion pieces inspired by NML’s rich collections and commitment to sharing the experiences of Liverpool’s long and diverse LGBT+ history. The online programme is still growing but highlights already confirmed include:
- New poetry from local writer Felix Mufti-Wright.
- Insightful interviews with leading figures in Liverpool’s LGBT+ community including Detective Sgt. Christian Owens of
- Merseyside Police and Caroline Paige, the first openly Transgender Officer in the British Armed Forces
- A digital display of artistic responses from members of the public who were invited to submit works representing LGBT+ people, places and events that mean something to them
- Exploration of ‘Hidden Histories’ including Polari, a coded language historically spoken by gay men
- Focus on figures such as gay codebreaker Alan Turing and his contribution to Artificial Intelligence.
- A back-to-basics guide with a mini-LGBT+ Dictionary, timeline of LGBT+ history and round-up of famous activists and scientists to follow.
- An exploration of LGBT+ Art History across National Museums Liverpool’s venues, including classics such as Simeon Solomon’s ‘Mystery of Faith’ from the Lady Lever Art Gallery’s collection and the work of Rosa Bonheur at Sudley House.
For more details about the programme visit: https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/lgbt-history
Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU)
The LJMU Together LGBT+ Staff and Student Networks have prepared a list of events to take place virtually throughout February and beyond, to celebrate LGBT+ History Month. The feature event this year is LJMU LGBTIQ+ Event – In conversation with Nancy Kelley, Stonewall CEO which will take place on the 2nd March 2021.
The virtual event aims to address curiosities around gender-identity, gender fluidity and sexual orientation, whilst sharing best practice for how to support others who may be struggling with their own identity or those who may currently be living in isolation.
There are also a whole host of other events planned, including workshops and Q&A sessions, which are listed in the Eventbrite link below.
Many of the events are open to people outside of LJMU and in the wider LGBT+ community. Full details can be found here.
