LGBT+ History Month

LGBT+ History Month has been happening every February in the UK since 2005. The overall aim is to promote equality and diversity for the benefit of the public by:

  • Increasing the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (“LGBT+”) people, their history, lives and their experiences in the curriculum and culture of educational and other institutions, and the wider community.
  • Raising awareness and advancing education on matters affecting the LGBT+ community.
  • Working to make educational and other institutions safe spaces for all LGBT+ communities.
  • Promoting the welfare of LGBT+ people, by ensuring that the education system recognises and enables LGBT+ people to achieve their full potential, so they contribute fully to society and lead fulfilled lives, thus benefiting society as a whole.

If you are planning an activity for LGBT+ History Month, or an EDI event at any time of the year, please get in touch with the EDI Centre.

LGBT+ History Month in 2024

This year the theme is ‘Medicine – #UnderTheScope'. Here at Imperial, we are committed to creating a culture where LGBTQ+ people feel welcome, included and fully able to be themselves.

2021 events

Meet Imperial 600

Imperial 600 co-chairs Aneesha (she/they), Jen (she/her), Simon (he/him) and trans+ group lead Kassandra (she/they) are hosting meet-ups for you to get to know us and each other. No agenda, just drop in and say hello!

  • Friday 9 February, 12.00-13.00, online - Teams join link
  • Wednesday 14 February, 13.00-14.00, Senior Common Room at South Kensington campus
  • Thursday 22 February, 09.30-10.30, St Mary's Campus
  • Tuesday 27 February, 09.30-10.30, Hammersmith Camp

Imperial Lates: Romance & Reproduction

Thursday 8 February, 18.00 - 21.00 (in person)

The next Imperial Lates is a Valentine’s Day and LGBT History Month special, delving into into attraction, intimacy, and procreation. Explore the mysteries of human reproductive health and animal sexual selection through creative workshops, thought-provoking discussions, and interactive exhibits.

Register to see the full programme for the evening

LGBTQIA+ Careers Panel 2024

Tuesday 13 February, 18.30-20.00 (online)

Hosted by Imperial's Career Service with IQ student society, this panel will feature figures from the worlds of IT, finance, management consultancy, intellectual property rights and corporate intelligence. Panellists will discuss their career paths and their LGBTQIA+ identity in the workplace. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions during the session.

Imperial students and recent graduates can book via JobsLive

Queering the Gym

Monday 19 February, 12.15-13.00 (in person and online)

Move Imperial has invited Georgie Okell to talk about their work with the Non-Binary and Trans Masc Community through Pecs Education and BEND, as well as how we can make fitness spaces safer and more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community, including allyship.

Fill out this form to register

Finding Inclusive Employers

Monday 19 February, 18.00-19.00 (online)

Hosted by Imperial's Careers Service, this event will help you to find employment where you'll be comfortable and successful at work while being yourself, regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity.

College students and recent graduates can book via JobsLive

LGBTQ+ inclusion and mental health training

Wednesday 21 February, 10.00-16.30 (in person)

This course aims to give participants insights and skills in assessing and addressing the needs of LGBTQ staff/students with mental health issues, and gain confidence in dealing with heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.

Read further details and sign up

What's the 'A' in LGBTQIA+

Friday 23 February, 17.00-18.00 (online)

Join Imperial 600 and Imperial College Union in celebrating Aromantic Awareness Week. A LGBTQIA+ panel will be exploring the experiences of being Aromantic and Asexual. Imperial UG and PG panellists will be joined Yasmin Benoit, the Activist behind Stonewall's Ace in the UK report.

Sign up for this event

Chemistry LGBTQ+ event

Tuesday 27 February, 16.30-18.00 (in person)

This year Chemistry has invited Kip Erev (he/him, fae/faer), teacher and trainee Art Psychotherapist, to talk about his work in mental health and support, as well as faer own life experiences.

Email Chemistry to get a place

LGBTQ+ resources

Explore our online resources on LGBTQ+ equality for staff and students, including practical information on how you can act as an ally and guidance on pronouns.

We also offer further links to external resources to help support your learning on LGBTQ+ equality.

Previous years

We've seen a range of events at Imperial over the years to mark the month. In 2023, the Careers Service organised events to help explore and hear from inclusive employers. For 2020 we hosted a 'poetry, prose and plays' panel discussion with YA authors Darren Charlton, Cynthia So, and Kay Staples, about their experiences as LGBTQ+ writers telling LGBTQ+ stories for teenagers.

Events organised by Imperial 600 to mark LGBT+ History Month in the past include talks from people such as Amy Lamé, London's Night Czar, and Adam Zmith, co-host of "The Log Books" podcast.

Aneesha Bhumber discussion her journey to understanding who she is as an Asian member of the LGBTQ+ community and the impact on being her authentic self. Play video
Aneesha Bhumber discussion her journey to understanding who she is as an Asian member of the LGBTQ+ community and the impact on being her authentic self.

Belonging with Aneesha Bhumber

Don’t be afraid…Be your authentic self

For LGBT+ History Month 2023, Aneesha Bhumber, Laboratory Technician and co-chair of Imperial 600, discusses her journey to understanding who she is as an Asian member of the LGBTQ+ community and the impact on being her authentic self.

Imperial As One's Belonging series interviews minority ethnic students, academics and professionals, asking them to share their experiences and insights in finding their sense of belonging. All of the videos from the Belonging series can be found on the College's YouTube channel.