Bristol has been chosen as one of six UK cities to host a National Festival of LGBT History in February 2016. The festival will present a series of talks at Bristol’s M Shed museum, films and theatre performances.
It aims to promote research into past attitudes towards sex and gender diversity, provide a showcase for local research into LGBT history, and acknowledge the rich diversity of our community.
The festival is co-ordinated by Schools OUT as part of LGBT History Month. Events will occur over the four weekends of February 2016 in six cities – Bristol, Shrewsbury, London, Manchester, York and Tyne & Wear. Bristol events will be held on the weekend of 19th and 20th February and are being organised by OutStories. Click here to see some of the planned events.
The festival follows on from the success of the first held in Manchester in February 2015. Speakers then included Stuart Milk, LGBT activist and nephew of assassinated pioneer Harvey Milk, veteran campaigner Peter Tatchell, and History Professor Charles Upchurch who flew in from Florida especially for the event. The highlight of the weekend was a three-part immersive theatre production A Very Victorian Scandal which dramatised the events of Britain’s own ‘Stonewall’ event which happened in Hulme in 1880.
This 16-minute LGBTv programme gives a flavour of the event.
What they said about the First National History Festival:
“It is wonderful and important that our real history as individuals and organisations is captured by us rather than others.”
Linda Bellos
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“The LGBT History Festival is a fascinating, inspiring, uplifting event that reveals and celebrates the often hidden histories of the LGBT communities.”
Peter Tatchell
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LGBT History Festival: www.twitter.com/lgbthistoryfest #LGBTHistoryFestival
LGBT History Month: www.twitter.com/LGBTHM #LGBTHM16
Event calendar: www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk/event-calendar/