Archive | LGBT History Month

LGBT+ History Month 2023: Behind the Lens 

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Claiming our past – Celebrating our present – Creating our future  The LGBT+ History Month 2023 #BehindTheLens celebrates LGBT+ peoples’ contribution to cinema and film from behind the lens. Directors, cinematographers, screenwriters, producers, animators, costume designers, special effects, make-up artists, lighting directors, musicians, choreographers and beyond. Here, lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk have selected four queer icons who perfectly […]

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The creative mind behind the infamous Thameslink LGBT+ train wrap

Pride Thameslink train at Brighton -credit Matthew Wilmhurst, GTR

From a design apprenticeship, to train dispatching and now conducting for Southern, Mags Luckhurst has gained experience in a range of roles since joining the railway in 2018. They’re sharing their story for LGBT History Month. “When we started planning for Pride Month at the start of 2019, I thought it would be really cool […]

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Anne Lister returns to Calderdale with Piece Hall Installation

Sunday 26th September 2021
Picture Credit  Charlotte Graham 
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Gentleman Jack star, Suranne Jones unveils a newly-created interpretation of the remarkable person she portrays, Anne Lister, at the stunning Piece Hall in Halifax.

Anne Lister returns to Calderdale with Piece Hall Installation
On 26 September, a landmark sculpture of prominent 19th century diarist, landowner, entrepreneur, scholar, traveller, and lesbian, Anne Lister, was unveiled in The Piece Hall’s 66,000 sq ft open-air piazza. The special unveiling ceremony saw Gentleman Jack star, Suranne Jones, series creator Sally Wainwright OBE and sculptor Diane Lawrenson – three women who have worked hard to bring the remarkable story of Anne Lister to life for contemporary audiences – come together to celebrate Anne’s life. The installation, called ‘Contemplation’, has been made possible thanks to the work of The Piece Hall Trust and is now on permanent display at the iconic Piece Hall.
In a ceremony, watched by hundreds of invited guests and onlookers, the sculpture was unveiled from beneath a traditional piece of cloth – as once traded at The Piece Hall - rounding off a special series of events to mark the 181st anniversary of her passing. 
Anne Lister (1791-1840) often described as ‘the first modern lesbian’, had strong connections to Halifax as a successful female entrepreneur and landowner from the West Yorkshire town. She notably wrote an estimated five million words detailing her life as a landowner and businesswoman and her liaisons with other women, as well as portraying the network of relationships between women of the gentry and aristocracy in early 19th century Halifax and beyond. 
Nicky Chance-Thompson DL, Chief Executive of The Piece Hall Trust, commented:
“This is a story of a woman that still holds such resonance today. It felt right that we, as The Piece Hall Trust, helped enable this remarkable new piece of art, commemorating a woman who continues to have such an impact locally, nationally, and internationally. We wanted to bring Anne’s story to life, by bringing together other extraordinary women who have given their own special interpretation of her life – Diane Lawrenson and Sally Wainwright, together with Jill Liddington and Helena Whitbread. I’m proud that The Piece Hall will pay homage in this way for visitors from around the world to visit and experience. It has been wonderful to have these remarkable women involved to celebrate Anne Lister’s remarkable and brave life.”
Gentleman Jack writer and Piece Hall Patron Sally Wainwright OBE said:
“Anne Lister is a huge inspiration. She is a source of inspiration to me and the fact that Gentleman Jack has resonated with audiences around the world has been very special for me. To be involved in the unveiling today is such a privilege and my thanks go out to Nicky, Sir Roger Marsh, and everyone at The Piece Hall Trust for enabling this; Diane for creating such a beautiful piece of art, and Suranne for helping me to tell Anne Lister’s remarkable story in such a sensitive and powerful way. It’s fantastic that we’re able to honour her legacy in such a beautiful and historical venue that would have been part of her day-to-day life here in Halifax.”
Suranne Jones added:
“What an incredible day! Anne Lister’s story is one that I have been privileged to play a part in telling and the response to Gentlemen Jack from audiences around the world has been astonishing. It’s vitally important that we continue to tell the story of strong women throughout history, whether it’s through our television screens like Gentleman Jack or works like this that will encourage people to delve deeper into her life. Halifax and Calderdale have played an important role in my own life since the first series of Gentleman Jack aired on TV, and I’m delighted that this new installation has a permanent home in such a stunning venue.”
The Piece Hall – a focal point of trade and commerce in Halifax during Lister’s lifetime, which she often referred to in her diaries - was also recently used as a filming location for scenes for the new series of Gentleman Jack, made by BBC/HBO. Visitors can now admire the sculpture, which sits on a stone plinth donated by Halifax-based stone merchants, Marshalls plc, along with other sculptures and art created by Diane Lawrenson now on view in The Piece Hall’s Gallery.

On 26 September, a landmark sculpture of prominent 19th century diarist, landowner, entrepreneur, scholar, traveller, and lesbian, Anne Lister, was unveiled in The Piece Hall’s 66,000 sq ft open-air piazza. The special unveiling ceremony saw Gentleman Jack star, Suranne Jones, series creator Sally Wainwright OBE and sculptor Diane Lawrenson – three women who have worked hard to […]

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COVID, Creativity, and Croquembouche Cones

Credit: Tanaka Mhishi

Credit: Tanaka Mhishi Tanaka Mhishi is a poet, playwright and performer who makes issue-based work. With a record of creating pieces which handle ‘tricky’ topics like sexual violence, masculinity, biphobia and race, Tanaka takes a bespoke, whole community approach; helping audiences have vital, difficult conversations one piece of art at a time. Ahead of his […]

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Schools OUT UK, launches a landmark competition to design the LGBT+ History Month Badge for 2022

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Every year since its launch in 2004, LGBT+ History Month raises vital funds for its work to make schools safe and inclusive for everyone through the sale of its iconic annual badge. Each year the design is distinctive, linking to the year’s National Curriculum theme. Until now the design has been created by university design […]

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A New Chapter for Brighton’s Queer Cultural Innovators

Photo: Rosie Powell

Marlborough Productions, the company behind the Marlborough Pub & Theatre’s renowned cultural programme have ceased management of the historic LGBTQ+ Brighton venue. The company will instead, present their internationally recognised performances, parties and community gatherings at venues and spaces in Brighton & Hove. Many events are to be held within the atmospheric surroundings of The […]

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20 Years on From Lift-Off

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In January 2000, the ban on gay personnel serving in the armed forces was lifted. Twenty years on from the abolition of the ‘gay ban’, we speak to Sgt Craig Rudyk-Smith, who joined the Royal Air Force after the ban was lifted, and Flt Lt Tamsin Wakeham, who joined before and re-joined shortly afterwards. Both […]

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I said “look, I’m trying to find lesbians…”

Sue Sanders, LGBT HM chair

LGBT History Month 2020: A Chat with the Chair Sam Bennett LGBT History Month has taken place in February since 2005. An initiative launched by charity Schools OUT – which aims to make educational institutions safe for LGBT people – its 16th incarnation launched at Oxford’s Pitt Rivers and Museum of Natural History in November. […]

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Catherine Bohart: Saying Something

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Saying Something Sam Bennett  “Who with?” I ask Catherine Bohart, on learning about her plans to move house. Fellow comedian and her partner, Sarah Keyworth, she tells me. They already cohabit but this move will mark the first time they’ve lived together without anybody else. “Imagine,” resumes the Irish stand-up, “if I was calling you […]

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Beau on Blackouts, Botticelli and Bohemian Rhapsody

Beau on Blackouts, Botticelli and Bohemian Rhapsody

Sam Bennett talks the queering of history and more with Dickie Beau. I first encountered Dickie Beau when he brought Blackouts: Twilight of the Idols to Liverpool’s Unity Theatre in 2012. He depicted Judy Garland, lip-syncing to the saddening Judy Speaks! tapes the singer recorded at home in London shortly before her death at the […]

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The Shortlist For The 2024 Gaydio Pride Awards

Gaydio has announced the shortlist for the Gaydio Pride Awards 2024 with Hilton, a ceremony dedicated to recognising and celebrating […]

Effective Swiping: Online Dating Strategies

While online dating may seem straightforward, achieving meaningful connections is often not so simple. Many factors come into play, from […]

We Need Your Help – Please Write to Your MP

Thank you for your amazing support to FWP’s campaign for restorative justice for LGBT+ veterans affected by the ‘gay ban’ and for […]

Gaydio Pride Awards 2024

Gaydio have announced that The Gaydio Pride Awards 2024 with Hilton will take place on Friday 16th February 2024 – […]

Diversity Choir’s Nautical Adventure

London’s foremost LGBT+ chamber chorus “Diversity Choir” has announced a brand new repertoire for its winter concert – inspired by […]

Addressing The Challenges Faced By LGBTQ+ Veterans

A Path Towards Inclusion and Care By Jonathan Buckerfield, Deputy CEO and Head of Income Generation at Opening Doors In […]

Meeting Myra Dubois

The self-declared ‘siren of South Yorkshire’, Myra Dubois is righting a historical wrong by returning to Oxford following a covid-induced cancellation […]

The Making of Pinocchio

A true tale of love and transition told through the story of Pinocchio but set in a fictional film studio. […]

MyGwork’s WorkFair 2023

Organised by myGwork, the largest global LGBTQ+ talent platform, #WorkFair 2023 will return on 18 October featuring hundreds of jobs […]

What Makes Me: K Flay

Singer, musician, songwriter, and rapper Kristine Flaherty – otherwise known as K. Flay – has had a busy year so […]