Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month

The PGR representatives launch our newsletter celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month within the School of Physics and Astronomy.

Last October, the PGR Reps, led by Emma Thomas, launched the Black History Month newsletter. In each of the nine editions, we aimed to celebrate Black scientific and historical figures and share media, events, and charities pertaining to anti-racism and Black history in the UK. Not only was the newsletter well received across the School, but we also thoroughly enjoyed the research that went into each edition, and felt excited to highlight the stories of so many inspiring people.

Following the success of the newsletters in October, we decided to re-launch the initiative for February, which is LGBTQ+ History month in the UK. Again with the help of the previous Mental Health and Wellbeing Rep, Emma Thomas, we’re creating four editions filled with a mixture of LGBTQ+ profiles and media recommendations, including books for children and older readers, podcasts, (virtual!) events, and livestreams. It’s also important to us that, through these newsletters, we ensure that we include and celebrate all aspects of the LGBTQ+ community.

In the first two editions of the newsletter, we’ve highlighted transgender and non-binary astronomers, podcasts about queer identity and history, a co-founder of the Stonewall charity, and even a charming children’s book about a non-binary guinea pig. You can read these at the links below, and upcoming editions will also be linked here in the future.

We hope you enjoy learning more about LGBTQ+ history with these newsletters, and of course if you have any recommendations for future editions, please feel free to email me (rht6)!