Pre-launch of LGBT History Month 2009 announced

The Pre-Launch of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans History Month 2009 will be taking place on the evening of Wednesday, the 19th of November, 2008, at The Hackney Free and Parochial Church of England School in London.

The event is sponsored by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and is a part of The National Anti Bullying Week.

Our theme in 2009 is Education and Youth and the Pre-Launch is taking place in a school for the first time (in previous years the pre-launch took place at Tate Modern (2004), the Metropolitan Police's Empress State Building (2005), The TUC's Congress House (2006) and The Royal Courts of Justice (2007).

The Education Minister Kevin Brennan will be the key speaker for the evening. He told LGBT History Month:

‘I want homophobia to become taboo…from the flippant use of homophobic language to the deliberate bullying of people because they’re gay or ‘different’. Both are wrong, both need to stop.

‘And when we say that ‘every child matters’, we mean that every young person – straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, black, white, disabled – boy or girl matters.’

All schools now have a duty now to promote all the equalities, in all their diversities, with the arrival of the Single Equality Act. LGBT History Month is a tool to support work within that duty.

As such, the 19th of November will be a celebration of work done by teachers, youth workers and young people. It will be a chance to view exhibitions that have been made specifically for LGBT History Month from around the country and meet with other educators, youth workers, and people interested in the work.

Co-chair of History Month, Sue Sanders, commented:

‘It is wonderful to see the DCSF logo alongside the Metropolitan Police, the NHS, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Ministry of Justice.

‘We are thrilled the education system is now coming on board. We are honoured that Kevin Brennan will be attending the prelaunch at the Hackney Free Parochial Church of England School in November, as part of Anti Bullying Week.

‘The month is a crucial tool in raising visibility of LGBT identities, and thus challenging prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination.’

February 2009 will be the fifth edition of LGBT History Month in the UK. It will also mark the tenth anniversary of the Stephen Lawrence Report; we are proud to be a player in the work to challenge all forms of prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination.

The Pre-Launch puts LGBT History Month on the education calendar and makes the point that all schools - faith and secular - can celebrate the achievements of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans people, past and present, local and worldwide, famous and grassroots.

Also planned for the evening:

* a DVD of Students’ work
* pupils’ performances
* Two teachers demonstrating how to do LGBT History Month in schools
* No Outsiders work in primary schools.
* How to celebrate LGBT History Month within a religious context
* an exhibition by the Proud Heritage Museum Project
* a display by Gay Birmingham Remembered
* a Nottingham Heritage timeline
* Lesbian Gay Christian Movement resources

You will be inspired, and will take inspiration and support from others. You will be ready to design and develop your own events in February 2009!