UCL to mark Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month

Press release Links:

ucl.ac.uk/hr/equalities/LGBT_history.php" target="_self">UCL events for LGBT History Month: February 2010

Schools OUT

LGBT History Month

UCL will mark Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month with a series of events, talks, film screenings and lectures from 8-12 February.

The majority of events will be open to the public and media.

Peter Tatchell, who has been campaigning for human rights, democracy and global justice since 1967, will be speaking on 'The global struggle for queer rights - fighting political and religious fundamentalism worldwide.'

John Johnston of the UCL Petrie Museum will launch a trail that looks at the evidence supporting the existence of homosexuality in ancient Egypt, and that considers the myths and stories about ancient Egyptian sexuality.

Watch John Johnston describe highlights of the trail below

Other events being held at UCL include:

• 'Backlash? the resurgence of homophobic violence in contemporary London': Recent high profile attacks in London and other UK cities have brought the presence of homophobia to the surface of urban life. Convened by Dr Ben Campkin this UCL Urban Laboratory workshop is aimed at postgraduate urban researchers, academics and practitioners and will examine homophobia from the perspectives of a range of disciplines and practices - including geography, architecture, art and crime science. Media reports of a resurgence of homophobia in London will be contextualised in relation to broader debates over citizenship, sexuality and urban space internationally. 

• Sexual attitudes and lifestyles of London 's gay East Europeans': Dr Richard Mole, UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies/UCL Centre for the Study of HIV, will talk on the experienceof gay East Europeans in London, examining their motivations for leaving their home countries, their attitudes towards life in London, their sexual behaviour and changes in their attitudes and lifestyles over time.
• 'Sexual health of sexual minorities in Pakistan: from analysis to action': Dr Sarah Hawkes,UCL Centre for International Health and Development, will present lessons learned from a survey of almost 2,000 sex workers and injecting drug users in Pakistan.
  

LGBT History Month was first initiated by Schools OUT in February 2005, following from LGBT History Month USA which started in 1994. Schools OUT is an organisation that works for LGBT equality in education to challenge ignorance and prejudice towards LGBT people. LGBT History Month is now run by a voluntary steering group. A UCL staff drinks soiree will also be held during the week.

Media contact: Dominique Fourniol

Image: Detail of relief featuring in the UCL Petrie Museum trail

To find out more and register for these and other events, follow the link at the top of this article.