LGBTQ+ people have a long history of making incredible contributions to the UK. From King James VI of Scotland and I of England, whose romantic feelings for men are well-documented, to the Ladies of Llangollen whose home became a cultural hotspot in Regency society to Justin Fashanu who broke boundaries as the first professional footballer to publicly share that he was gay – there is no shortage of fascinating and inspiring stories to be found if you know where to look.

However, those stories have often been missing from the history books, which could give the impression that LGBT+ people have only come along in recent years. Those who identify as LGBTQ+ might struggle to find historical figures they relate to, leading them to feel isolated and uncertain about their future. The truth is that LGBTQ+ people have always been here, in every society and time period around the world. By telling the stories of LGBTQ+ figures from history, we hope to spread the message that these identities aren’t going anywhere, and that LGBTQ+ people are valued and vital members of society. Explore The Proud Trust’s “People Like Me” project and discover the stories of LGBTQ+ people in music, film, sport, literature, politics and more.

LGBT+ History Month was founded in the UK by Paul Patrick and Professor Emeritus Sue Sanders. Paul and Sue were co-chairs of Schools OUT, an LGBT+ education charity and they spearheaded the first UK LGBT+ History Month in February 2005. From then on, the movement has grown, with more and more schools taking part every year. It has even expanded beyond schools, with people from all walks of life marking the month in their own way. It’s now an event for everyone to learn, reflect and expand their horizons.

LGBTQ+ Pride Month, which is celebrated every year in June, is a time for the community to join together, usually at in-person festivals featuring a pride march, to highlight LGBTQ+ causes. The Pride movement was born from the Stonewall riots of 1969 and the early gay liberation movement, and as such from its inception has had a strong political drive. It is different from LGBT+ History Month because it usually focuses on the present and the future of the community rather than the past.

Past themes have included everything from film and television to social justice. In 2025, the theme which has been set by Schools OUT is Activism and Social Change. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the contribution of LGBTQ+ people to making the world a better place for all of us.

It’s also an important theme because LGBTQ+ people have faced significant challenges throughout the years which have been overcome through community and individual effort. This year’s LGBTQ+ History Month celebration aims to shine a spotlight on several activists in particular – Octavia Hill, Ivor Cummings, Annie Kenney, Charlie Kiss and Olaudah Equiano.

The Proud Trust has produced a free downloadable pack for schools to celebrate LGBT+ History Month, including PowerPoints and lesson plans developed by our expert Training and Education team. The lesson plans are written with the National Curriculum in mind, with activities which can tie in to History, Relationships and Sex Education, Media Studies and English lessons. If you are passionate about supporting LGBTQ+ young people in your school, why not take this as your cue to sign up for the Rainbow Flag Award and commit to making your school a safe, supportive and inclusive space for all students.

In recent years, the celebration of LGBT+ History Month has spread beyond schools and is now marked in many workplaces. Possible activities could include hosting a film night for a movie focused on an LGBTQ+ person from history, starting an LGBTQ+ book club or fundraising for an LGBT+ charity such as The Proud Trust. You could also take this opportunity to invest in training sessions for your staff, such as the online and in-person courses offered by The Proud Trust.

This is a collection of books which touch on themes of activism from an LGBTQ+ perspective. All of these books are available from our friends at Queer Lit, Manchester’s LGBTQ+ bookshop and many are available to borrow from from our own library at The Proud Place.

Important note: Due to the nature of many of these histories, these books are not suitable for all ages. If you are an adult who is thinking of giving any of these books to a young person, you may wish to review them yourself first.

• Queer: A Graphic History by Meg-John Barker and Jules Scheele
• Pride by Matthew Todd
• A Little Gay History of Wales by Daryl Leeworthy
• Prejudice and Pride by LGBT Youth Northwest (That’s The Proud Trust’s old name!)
• The Little Book of Pride by Lewis Laney
• Pride 123 by Michael Joosten
• What Was Stonewall? by Nico Medina
• Have Pride by Grace Stewart
• Queer Heroes by Arabelle Sicardi

The library at The Proud Place, Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community centre