Contents
- Celebrate your LGBTQ+ child
- Spend time learning more about famous LGBTQ+ people in the UK
- Try a fun craft
- Your child understands more than you think
LGBTQ History Month is celebrated in the UK every February. 🏳️🌈 It’s an opportunity to honour and celebrate LGBTQ members of our community, while also recognising the struggles they have faced, both historically and today.
LBGTQ History Month was started in 2005 by activists and educators Sue Sanders and Paul Patrick. They created it as part of Schools OUT UK, an education charity that aims to make schools inclusive for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Now, LGBTQ History Month is celebrated not only by schools but also workplaces and cultural institutions.
LGBTQ History Month is a chance for children to learn more about LGBTQ people and how to fight against the prejudice and discrimination they often face. We’re here to share some ways you can teach your children about LGBTQ History.
Celebrate your LGBTQ+ child
If your child identifies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, use this month to further show support for their sexuality and/or gender identity. Spend time with your child doing things that affirm their gender identity, and tell your child how proud you are of them for expressing who they really are.
This month is an opportunity for them to learn more about important LGBTQ people in history, too, and to see that their gender identity and sexuality don’t have to stop them from achieving any of their dreams. Likewise, if you are not LGBTQ yourself, you can use this month to learn more about the community and become more connected to your child.
LGBTQ History Month is also an important opportunity to engage in political and social action to advance the rights of LGBTQ people. Throughout the years, the UK has become a more positive and inclusive place for LGBTQ people. This includes the historic 2019 ruling by the government mandating LGBTQ-inclusive sex and relationship education in schools. Unfortunately, LGBTQ children and adults, especially transgender folks, still face discrimination in all aspects of life. Charities like Schools Out UK, Stonewall, and Mermaids are great resources to learn more about how you can take decisive action to create a safer and more inclusive UK for LGBTQ folks.
Spend time learning more about famous LGBTQ+ people
LGBTQ people have contributed so many great things across science, technology, politics, business, art–really any industry you can think of! Whatever your child’s interests are, there’s sure to be an LGBTQ history-maker who they’ll enjoy learning more about. For example, if your child loves music 🎶, you can spend time learning more about Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, or modern artists like Janelle Monae or Kim Petras. With teens, you can watch films 🎥 and shows that celebrate more mature LGBTQ stories too, such as “Pose,” “Moonlight,” “Love, Simon” or “Call Me By Your Name.” If your child loves to read, your local library or bookshop is sure to have a selection of great LGBTQ books 📚 for your child to enjoy, regardless of their age. You can also check out your local museums and galleries–many are likely to have exhibits especially celebrating the work of LGBTQ artists and commemorating important events in LGBTQ history.
Try a fun craft
Most people know the rainbow flag celebrates LGBTQ people, but did you know that there are nearly 20 specific flags celebrating different sexualities and gender identities? 🏳️🌈 Learning about these different flags can be a great opportunity for fun crafts. You can make flags yourself to display in your home, or bake cookies and decorate them with all the fun colours of the rainbow! 🍪
There are plenty of other crafts your child can do, too. Ask them to draw a picture of their favourite LGBTQ history-maker. If your child identifies as LGBTQ, encourage them to make art that celebrates their identity, and be sure to display it proudly at home.
Your child understands more than you think
Many parents worry about how to explain LGBTQ issues to their children. However, kids are often more perceptive than we give them credit for, and there are age-appropriate ways to teach your child about these important issues. By preschool age, children understand bullying, and that it isn’t right to exclude someone or be unkind to someone for who they are. You don’t have to explain grown-up sexual topics to your child to teach them about LGBTQ History. Rather, you just have to teach them that some people are different, and they still deserve the same love, respect, kindness, and opportunities as everyone else. ❤️
LGBTQ History Month is an annual reminder that all people have the power to do great things and create change, regardless of how they express themselves or who they love.
