LGBTQ+ History Month 2024: Recommendations from our Pride Network
After what felt like the longest January this century, get ready to mark your calendars for a vibrant celebration: February welcomes the arrival of LGBTQ+ History Month in the UK. This annual commemoration of queer life and heritage throughout the ages serves as a delightful remedy to the winter gloom. The theme of LGBTQ+ History Month 2024 is 'medicine', highlighting the work and lives of historical LGBTQ+ people who worked in medicine, including healthcare.
For those who simply can't wait until the main Pride parades and festivals in the Summer, fear not – there's an abundance of events to populate your diaries in the meantime! Whether you are a member of the community, an Ally, or looking for family-friendly fun, there's an array of colourful activities to choose from.
Vogue Fem Workshop
What better way to mark the month than to dust off your dancing shoes and head to Pineapple Dance Studios for a Vogue Fem dance class. If you are familiar with the cult documentary Paris Is Burning, TV Show Pose or even the Madonna music video, you will know! This class is open to all levels, including beginners, and is inspired by the extravagant dance style that originated in the queer ballrooms of Harlem during the 1980s. This class is taught by the legendary Karteer Mugler, Father of the Kiki House of Louboutin. Who knows, you might discover you've got moves that make the Queen of Pop question her reign!
Where: Pineapple Dance Studio, 7 Langley St, London WC2H 9JA
When: Various dates throughout February
Pay a visit to the Gay's The Word bookshop in Bloomsbury
Welcome to Gay's The Word, the OG of the UK's LGBT book scene! Established in the fabulous month of January 1979 by a group of gay socialists, this bookstore is more than just a spot to snag great reads—it's a community hub. Picture this: a cosy space where all the bookish goodness you buy sends the love right back into the business. It's not just a bookshop; it's a glittering beacon for the wider LGBTQ+ community. Join the literary fun where the pages are as colourful as the people who fill the space!
Where: 66 Marchmont St, London WC1N 1AB
When: Whenever you want! The perfect bookstore to visit on your Sunday afternoon coffee and almond run.
Queer & LGBTQ+ History Tour
Have you ever found yourself in Heaven nightclub, wondering what it was like in the 80s? This tour explores the vast and complex history of gay and lesbian life in London and illustrates how we have evolved into the dynamic and thriving LGBTQ+ community enjoyed by many in London today. Learn about topics such as Roman Queer Influence, Oscar Wilde, Molly Houses, Tea Rooms, The Admiral Duncan and The AIDS Epidemic.
Where: The Clermont Hotel, Charing Cross, Strand WC2N 5HX
When: Sunday 18th February at 11am or 2pm
Queer Britain Museum
The UK's first and only LGBTQ+ Museum are running several events to celebrate the month, including: LGBTQ+ History Month Panel. Join Queer Britain and a panel of speakers from across the London health and medical community as they discuss trans+ healthcare in the UK.
Where: Queer Britain Museum
When: Sunday 25th February, 14:00 until 16:00
LGBTQIA+ Tours at Tate Modern
Tate Britain proudly hosts an ongoing series of LGBTQIA+ tours, and for the duration of LGBTQ+ History Month in February, additional sessions are available. These tours are skillfully led by volunteer guides who bring a unique perspective, drawing from their own lived experiences to engage with the artworks and themes under discussion. Not limited to contemporary pieces, the journey spans the entirety of Tate Britain's esteemed collection, encompassing works from 1540 to 1910 in its historic collection and extending to the present day in its contemporary collection.
Where: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
When: Throughout February.
Raze Collective
Raze Collective is a charity dedicated to nurturing and developing innovative queer performance in the UK.They create cultural opportunities for LGBTQIA+ artists, audiences and the wider public. They value the diversity of the queer cultural scene and work with artists, producers and organisations who share the communities' values and ethos.
They are running a Queering Poetic Form Workshop as part of their LGBTQ+ History Month Programme, which includes a drag makeup workshop & 2 movement-based workshops: using movement to connect with the emotional body and a dive into dancehall.
Where: Stanley Arts 12 S Norwood Hill, London SE25 6AB
When: Thursday 29th February
So, whether you're voguing through history, arting it up at the Tate, or lip-syncing for your life at karaoke, London's got your LGTBQ+ Pride History Month covered!
