Preview: LGBT History Month Events In London

Rachel Holdsworth
By Rachel Holdsworth Last edited 134 months ago
Preview: LGBT History Month Events In London

February is LGBT History Month, to mark and celebrate the lives and achievements of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans people. LGBT people and issues weren't talked about openly until relatively recently, so there are lots of stories that remained shrouded in silence. The hope is that this month will allow those stories to be told to a wider audience.

Here's a snapshot of what's going in London, but you can see all events on the LGBT History Month website.

FILMS
1-3 February: Investigate a weekend of queer cinema at the V&A's Sackler Centre.

2 February: Catch artist and performer Wu Tsang's film Wilderness, a portrait of the Silver Platter, a historic bar on the eastside of Los Angeles, at The Tanks at Tate Modern. 8pm, £5.

13 and 27 February: Deptford Film Club have two screenings. On the 13th, catch Taxi Zum Clo, a German low-budget, hardcore gay sex comedy; less R-rated is Co-Dependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same, adventures and romance between aliens and humans. Both at Big Red Pizza, 7.30pm, £5 / £3.

16 February: Terry Sanderson lovingly curates a tribute to Marlene Dietrich at Conway Hall. 7.30pm, £12.

17 February: Hither Green Cinema presents The Celluloid Closet, a documentary showing how Hollywood has both reflected and defined how we think about homosexuality. Plus a fair before the screening with local LGBT groups. From 5pm (free), film from 6.30pm, £5.

28 February: The Phoenix Artist's Club hosts a showing of the Channel 4 documentary Soul Survivor, about catholic priest Father Bernard Lynch, plus a Q&A with Bernard. 7.30pm.

BOOKS
8 February: Gay's the Word celebrates a collection of stories from older gays and lesbians, Gateway to Heaven. 7pm, £2.

11 February: LGBT stories from collections Stations, London Lies and Lovers' Lies at Deptford Lounge. 7pm, free.

18 February: Jonathan Kemp reads from and talks about his books London Triptych and Twentysix at Islington Museum. 1pm, free.

19 February: Roz Kaveney reads from her bestselling novel Rhapsody of Blood - Rituals at Gay's the Word. 7.30pm.

25 February: Neil McKenna talks about Miss Fanny Park and Miss Stella Boulton, who scandalised Victorian Britain, at Islington Central Library. 6pm.

28 February: Discover occultist Mary Butts at Treadwell's with Lou Hart. 7.15pm, £7, book in advance.

ART
1 February
: Take elements from different portraits and create a glamorous new gender-fluid identity in this drawing workshop with artist Sadie Lee at the National Portrait Gallery. 6.30pm, £10.

1 February-27 March: Loudest Whispers showcases LGBT artwork from more than 25 artists who are either professional or self-taught outsiders from Camden and Islington.

1 February-14 April: See Ajamu's photos of under-35 Black British-born LGBTQ people including, among others, artists, activists, poets and designers at the Guildhall Art Gallery. £5 / £3, free on Fridays.

24 February: Sadie Lee and David McAlmont talk about their favourite pieces in the Wallace Collection. 2.30pm, free but booking essential.

TALKS
4 February
: Frederick the Great and Prince Henry of Prussia are the subject of the annual LGBT History Month lecture, at the Wallace Collection. 6pm, free but book in advance.

5 February: The 11th Stonewall lecture is about protecting gay refugees and takes place at the Law Society. 5.30pm, free but register in advance.

8 February: The brilliant David Morgan hosts as Bright Club takes its mix of comedians and academics to Bloomsbury Theatre. The theme is 'OUT'. 7.30pm, £8.

12 February: Historian Rictor Norton talks about the gay scene in 18th century London at the Henderson Court resource centre. 7pm, free.

21 February: David Rooney, curator at the Science Museum, talks about Alan Turing's life and legacy at the National Portrait Gallery. 1.15pm, free.

22 February: Find out how austerity and the rise of facism could affect the LGBTQ community. At Clapham Library, 7.30pm.

26 February: Egyptologist John J Johnston presents objects of LGBT significance from the Petrie Museum. 6pm, free but register.

WALKS
3, 10, 17, 24 February
: Meet outside the Admiral Duncan pub for an LGBT History Month walking tour of Soho. 2-4pm, £5.

24 February: Take a ramble across Hampstead Heath with Camden LGBT Forum. Meet in Jack Straw's car park at 12pm. Free, but book ahead.

Last Updated 24 January 2013