What's on
From family support, fitness classes and learning to art exhibitions, festivals and talks, our activities are wide and far reaching.
Keith Winestein gives a personal tour through decades of progress.
Growing Up in a Shadow of Prejudice
My childhood in the 1960s wasn't painted in rainbows, but in harsh strokes of prejudice. Media "propaganda" portrayed us, gay individuals, as objects of ridicule, fuel for bullies' taunts, and even a supposed "threat." The tabloid headlines in the 1980s and 1990s like "Britain Threatened by Gay Virus Plague" were horrific. It felt like growing up in a shadow, constantly fearing exposure and rejection. Even my parents, shaped by the ignorance of that era, reacted to my coming out in 1984 with fear and contemplated "fixing" me with a psychiatric intervention.
From Shadow to Activism
Fast forward to my adult years, where inclusivity and diversity are cornerstones of my workplace. Seeing colleagues embrace LGBT History Month, with Oxo Tower bathed in rainbow hues and the Progress Flag flying proudly on South Bank, and the way my colleagues at Coin Street publicly celebrated my winning of the National Diversity Award for LGBT Role Model in 2021, brings warmth to my heart. As did the rainbow coloured changes to the corporate logo for London Pride, which was added to all staff email signatures. These small gestures are victories in themselves, testaments to how far we've come.
The Scarring Legacy of Section 28
This year, the 21st anniversary of Section 28's repeal holds a bittersweet weight. This draconian law, silencing LGBTQ+ voices in schools and fuelling discrimination during the AIDS epidemic, left a deep scar on my generation. Headlines like the aforementioned "plague" still sting, a stark reminder of the fear and misinformation that poisoned public discourse. It fuelled the discrimination at the time as there was no protection in law for gay people in employment, services and housing. My partner and I were evicted from our home in 1990 for ‘being gay’. Getting a mortgage was extremely difficult.
Fuelling My Passion for Change
But adversity also ignited my passion. During the AIDS crisis, I joined the National AIDS Trust, one of countless men and women who refused to be silenced. I coordinated World AIDS Day for 13 years, campaigned against HIV stigma and discrimination, participated in protests, distributed safer sex information, produced campaigning materials including television and radio adverts, hosted Candlelit vigils and fought for acceptance. It was a time of immense challenges, but also of remarkable resilience and community spirit.
It's a Sin
It's a Sin is the BAFTA award winning TV series by Russell T Davies is one of the best depictions of gay life in the UK during the AIDS crisis. It follows a group of gay men who move to London in 1981. They form a friendship group but the fast developing HIV and AIDS crisis in the United Kingdom impacts their lives. Over five episodes the group are shown living through an entire decade until 1991, as they become determined to live fiercely despite the threat HIV poses to them. You can watch the five episodes for free on My4 Channel Four.
Claiming Our Past, Shaping Our Future
For me, the creation of UK LGBT+ History Month is a triumph. It's a platform to reclaim my narratives, celebrate my accomplishments, and pave the way for a future where acceptance is the norm, not the exception. Inclusive education (which was denied to me when I was at school), is key to this. Recent RSHE mandates ensuring positive discussions about diverse families are a step in the right direction. Yet, challenges like anti-LGBTQ+ protests, the disturbing rise in Tran-phobia and discriminatory laws in countries like Hungary and Poland remind us that vigilance is still needed.
A Vision for a Welcoming World
I dream of a future where every child, regardless of their identity, can grow up free from fear and discrimination. That's why I wholeheartedly support initiatives like LGBT History Month. They're opportunities to share our stories, educate others, and recognise the immense contributions of our community.
The theme of this year, "medicine," resonates deeply with me, highlighting the countless LGBTQ+ individuals who have shaped the healthcare landscape and contributed to the the support for people living with HIV and AIDS.
Here are four amazing LGBT Britons that changed medicine and twelve additional LGBT icons from history you should know about.
Learning from Our Past, Empowering Our Future
This LGBT History Month let's not just look back, but actively build a future, where rainbow flags fly not just in June, but every single day, like the one on my desk. We can all do this by supporting organisations promoting LGBTQ+ rights, speaking out against discrimination, and creating safe spaces for open conversations. I want to ensure that everyone knows they are valued, welcomed, and worthy of a vibrant and inclusive future.
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