LGBT+

A word that substitutes a noun; in this case, this is in relation to gender. For example, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘they’, ‘her’, ‘him’ etc. Most are allocated based on the gender an individual is assigned at birth; however, many choose to identify using different pronouns.

Bi is an umbrella term used to describe a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards more than one gender. Bi people may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms, including, but not limited to, bisexual, pan, queer, and some other non-monosexual and non-monoromantic identities.

A term used to describe a person who may have the biological attributes of both sexes or whose biological attributes do not fit with societal assumptions about what constitutes male or female. Intersex people may identify as male, female or non-binary.

This was used in the past as a more medical term (similarly to homosexual) to refer to someone whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth. This term is still used by some although many people now prefer the term trans or transgender.

This might be considered a more medical term used to describe someone who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards someone of the same gender. The term ‘gay’ is now more generally used.

Refers to a woman who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards women. Some non-binary people may also identify with this term.

An umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth.
Trans people may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms, including (but not limited to) transgender, transsexual, gender-queer (GQ), gender-fluid and non-binary.

An umbrella term used to describe a variation in levels of romantic and/or sexual attraction, including a lack of attraction. Ace people may describe themselves as asexual or aromantic.

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably with ‘man’ or ‘woman’. Non-binary identities are varied and can include people who identify with some aspects of binary identities, while others reject them entirely.

Refers to a man who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards women or to a woman who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards men.

Refers to a man who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards men. Also, a generic term for lesbian and gay sexuality - some women define themselves as gay rather than lesbian.

Queer is a term used by those wanting to reject specific labels of romantic orientation, sexual orientation and/or gender identity. It can also be a way of rejecting the perceived norms of the LGBT+ community (racism, sizeism, ableism etc). Although some LGBT+ people view the word as a slur, it was reclaimed in the late 80s by the queer community who have embraced it.

Refers to a person whose romantic and/or sexual attraction towards others is not limited by sex or gender.

Someone whose gender identity is the same as the sex they were assigned at birth. Non-trans is also used by some people.

A (typically) straight and/or cis person who supports members of the LGBT community.

1951 - The first known British Trans woman to have reassignment surgery.

Roberta Cowell, a racing driver and World War II fighter pilot, was born in Croydon and studied engineering at University College London (UCL). She underwent a secret procedure in order to get a certificate stating that she was intersex, which in turn enabled her to undergo surgery and gain a new birth certificate.

1957 - The Wolfenden Committee Report.

The Wolfenden Committee (chaired by Sir John Wolfenden) publishes a report over 150 pages long after a three-year enquiry, recommending that ‘homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private should no longer be a criminal offence’. Supporters of this recommendation include the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Geoffrey Fisher, and the British Medical Association. Despite this, the recommendations are rejected by the Government.

1967 - The decriminalisation of sex between two men over 21.

The Sexual Offences Act decriminalises sex between two men over 21 and ‘in private’. However, this didn’t extend to the Navy, the Armed Forces, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man, where sex between two men remained illegal.

1969 - The Stonewall riots take place in the USA.

During June 1969, the “Stonewall riots” took place because of a police raid on The Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. Following discriminatory treatment of the LGBT+ individuals during this raid, people took to the streets in sporadic and intense protests to demand a change within the establishment, and to make a change to LGBT+ rights. Individuals such as Stormé DeLarverie, a gay civil rights icon and entertainer born in New Orleans, and Marsha P. Johnson, a transgender rights activist and self-identified Drag Queen, were reported to have been central figures in the Stonewall uprising. As a result of this event, many Pride celebrations take place in June as an opportunity for everyone to celebrate, march and bring attention to LGBT+ rights.

1971 - The Nullity of Marriage Act.

The Nullity of Marriage Act was passed, explicitly banning same-sex marriages between same-sex couples in England and Wales.

1972 - The first Pride march takes place in London and attracts around 2000 people.

Today, London Pride is thought to be the biggest in the country and aims to provide a platform for those within the LGBT+ community, to raise awareness of current issues, and campaign for freedoms that will allow all to live on equal footings.

1975 - The first political party support for LGBT+ rights occurs.

The Liberal Party (now the Liberal Democrats) became the first UK political party to support LGBT+ rights, passing a motion at conference to support ‘full equality for homosexuals’, including equalising the age of consent.

1982 - Terry Higgins Dies of AIDS in St Thomas' Hospital.

Higgins’ partner Rupert Whittaker, Martyn Butler and friends set up the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK’s first AIDS charity. A year later, the Government banned men who have sex with men from donating blood due to the AIDS crisis.

1984 - The first openly gay male MP is seen in British politics.

Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, speaks openly about his sexual orientation and becomes the first openly gay MP, 10 years after Maureen Colquhoun came out as the first lesbian MP.

1988 - Margaret Thatcher introduces Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988.

The Act stated that councils should not "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”, meaning teachers couldn’t speak about same-sex relationships with their students. This included students coming out to their teachers or tackling homophobic bullying.

This prompted Sir Ian McKellen to come out as gay on BBC Radio. He formed Stonewall with Michael Cashman CBE, Lisa Power MBE and others to lobby against Section 28 and other barriers to equality.

1992 - The World Health Organisation (WHO) declassifies same-sex attraction as a mental illness.

It wasn’t until 1992 when the specialised agency of the United Nations (UN), established in 1948 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, declassified same-sex attraction as a mental illness.

1996 - A landmark case rules that an employee who was about to transition was wrongfully dismissed.

The ‘P vs S and Cornwall County Council’ case was a pivotal moment in LGBT+ history. It was the first piece of case law anywhere in the world which prevented discrimination in employment or vocational education against a trans person. The case took place when a UK trans woman (named as P for the case) was wrongfully dismissed after informing her employers she was going through gender reassignment surgery.

1999 – Former British National Party member, David Copeland, bombs the Admiral Duncan, one of Soho’s oldest LGBT+ bars.

The nail-bomb attack killed three and wounded at least 70; according to the BBC reports at the time, it was thought to have been linked to two previous bombings which had taken place in the three weeks prior in Brick Lane and Brixton.

Following the attack, a large open-air meeting took place in Soho Square and thousands attended. The Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner delivered a speech at the event, marking a turning point in the relationship between the LGBT+ community and the Metropolitan Police. 

2000 – Lesbians, Gay men and Bi people can serve in the armed forces for the first time.

It wasn’t until 2000 when the UK Government finally lifted the ban on lesbians, gay men and bi people serving in the armed forces.

2004 – The Civil Partnership Act passes, granting civil partnership in the UK

The Civil Partnership Act passed 46 years after the Homosexual Law Reform Society was founded in 1958 to campaign for the legalisation of same-sex relationships in the UK. It gave same-sex couples the same rights as married heterosexual couples and almost a decade later in 2013, the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act was also passed, legalising same-sex marriages. The Gender Recognition Act also passed in 2004, giving trans people full legal recognition in their appropriate gender. Currently gender options are still limited to ‘male’ and ‘female’, so non-binary and gender-fluid people are not currently recognised under the Act.

2005 - The Adoption and Children Act 2002

The Adoption and Children Act 2002 comes into force allowing unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, to apply for joint adoption.

2016 – Orlando Nightclub shooting takes place.

49 people are killed and 53 people injured after a gunman opens fire in the LGBT+ nightclub Pulse, in Orlando. London and other major cities across the world hold vigils to show solidarity with the victims.

2017 – Changes in UK Education.

Amendments made to the Children and Social Work Bill, which will make relationships and sex education (RSE) mandatory in all schools in England and Wales from 2019.

December 2020 – Further changes made to blood donation rules for Gay men.

According to the BBC, the new criteria focuses on individual behaviours, lifting a blanket ban for any men who have had sex with men in the last three months; such bans have been in place since the AIDS crisis began in the 1980's. The changes mean men who have sex with men in a long-term relationship will now be able to donate blood at any time. Previous rulings saw a 12-month celibacy period had to be maintained to give blood, which was gradually reduced to the 3-month celibacy ruling. The changes will be implemented by summer 2021.

The fear or dislike of someone, based on prejudice or negative attitudes, beliefs or views about lesbian, gay or bi people. Homophobic bullying may be targeted at people who are, or who are perceived to be, lesbian, gay or bi. (Blatant).

The fear or dislike of someone who identifies as bi based on prejudice or negative attitudes, beliefs or views about bi people. Biphobic bullying may be targeted at people who are, or who are perceived to be, bi. (Blatant).

When a lesbian, gay, bi or trans person’s sexual orientation or gender identity is disclosed to someone else without their consent. (Blatant and can be a microaggression).

If someone is regarded, at a glance, to be a cisgender man or cisgender woman. (Microaggression).

The fear or dislike of someone because they are or are perceived to be a lesbian. (Blatant).

The fear or dislike of someone based on the fact they are trans, including denying their gender identity or refusing to accept it. Transphobia may be targeted at people who are, or who are perceived to be, trans. (Blatant).

Calling someone by their birth name after they have changed their name. This term is often associated with trans people who have changed their name as part of their transition. (Can be blatant or a microaggression).

In college, homophobia and other forms of LGBT+ abuse can be reported to one of your lecturers, any nearby member of staff or to the College Welfare service on: 07881 379 252 for Redditch and Bromsgrove campuses, and 07789 754 161 for Worcester and Malvern campuses.

However if the situation is an emergency, always call the police on 999.

If you are outside of college and the situation is an emergency, always contact the police on 999. For non-emergency reports always contact the police on 101. You can also report crime anonymously through the True Vision platform (https://www.report-it.org.uk/your_police_force), and via the Stop Hate UK website (http://www.stophateuk.org/).

• Stop Hate UK: http://www.stophateuk.org/ - can report hate crimes against LGBT+ individuals (as well as other forms of hate crimes).
• Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline: https://switchboard.lgbt/
• MindOut: https://mindout.org.uk/ - LGBT+ Mental Health service
• LGBT Foundation: https://lgbt.foundation/helpline - has a helpline, resources and links to other areas to help find support for your specific need.
• Being Gay is Okay (BGIOK): http://www.bgiok.org.uk/ - Advice and information service for those under the age of 25.
• AKT: https://www.akt.org.uk/ - An organisation which supports LGBT+ young people aged between 16 and 25 who are facing/experiencing homelessness or are living in a hostile environment.

• Homo Sapiens: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/homo-sapiens/id1257514825 - A weekly podcast where Alan Cumming and Chris Sweeney speak with new guests about LGBT+ topics. (Available on Apple, Spotify and other streaming platforms).
• Prejudice and Pride: https://soundcloud.com/nationaltrustpodcasts/sets/prejudice-and-pride - 6 part podcast series from the National Trust which looks into British LGBT+ History; hosted by Clare Balding. (Available on Apple and Soundcloud).
• Attitude Heroes: https://play.acast.com/s/attitudemagazine - A podcast series from 2017 created to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales. The series ran for a whole year and features incredible guests, including Tom Daley, Ian McKellen, and Gok Wan.
• The Diversity Trust Podcast: https://www.diversitytrust.org.uk/2019/05/the-diversity-trust-podcast-1-christine-burns-transgender-activist-part-1/ - Podcast with Christine Burns MBE, Transgender activist, covering different topics surrounding transgender rights.

• The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (Netflix): “When transgender activist and drag performer Marsha P. Johnson was found dead in the Hudson River in the summer of 1992, friends and fellow activists were shocked. But her death was ruled a suicide by New York City police, and the national media paid little attention. Years later, The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson explores her little-investigated death while celebrating her legacy as a pioneer, in the 1960s and beyond, of what would come to be called the LGBTQ rights movement.”
• A Secret Love (Netflix): A documentary following the relationship of two women who kept their love a secret for decades, and the challenges they faced when coming out later in life.
• Disclosure (Netflix): “In this documentary, leading trans creatives and thinkers share heartfelt perspectives and analysis about Hollywood’s impact on the trans community.”
• Do I Sound Gay? (Amazon Prime): “David Thorpe embarks on a journey to explore the origins of his voice; which society has deemed "gay sounding." Embarking on speech therapy and interviewing friends and other gay men about their relationship with their voices, what starts as a quest to make his voice more palatable — for himself and, he believes, those around him — eventually becomes a quest to see why Thorpe's voice makes him feel so self-conscious in the first place.”
• Before Stonewall (YouTube and Amazon Prime): “This documentary investigates national cultural perceptions of homosexuality before the event of Stonewall, looking back on previous decades, particularly in regard to conflicts with police and censorship. In addition to interviews with activists and scholars, the film includes the reflections of renowned writer Allen Ginsberg.”