February marks LGBTQ+ History Month, an opportunity to celebrate and educate, learn about the challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces, and the history of those who have fought for the right to live in an inclusive society.
Here in Herts, we’re raising the rainbow flag and honouring the many residents who made an impact, big or small, in celebrating diversity and identity in Herts. What’s more, we’re also sharing some of the many ways you can celebrate in our county and help be a vehicle for change.
On 24th February, Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies will be hosting an online talk charting the history of the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement, taking us all the way back to 1965 and the decriminalization of homosexuality in England. Travel through time and learn about the shift in laws and attitudes, and the many individuals, protests and charities that have helped bring about change in Herts and further afield.
Forgive us, as we’re looking slightly beyond February here, but we reckon you’ll need to move quick to get tickets for this two-day festival held on 28th and 29th May in our very own St Albans. Billed as the UK’s first queer camping music festival, it’s set to combine three stages of House and Techno DJs and one big party, all set within 40 acres of woodland, perfect for camping. What’s more, the line-up promises to be made up entirely of underrepresented artists, 90% of whom are women, trans and non-binary – now that’s something to celebrate!
We’ll start at the very beginning with our Herts heroes and Arthur Gore. Yes, in 1965, this Bishop’s Stortford resident and 8th Earl of Arran used his position to take up the cause for homosexual rights in England. Following the suicide of his brother, believed to be because he was gay, in July 1965 Arthur presented a bill before the House of Lords which sought to decriminalise homosexuality. While the bill never made it into law because of the dissolution of parliament in 1966 for the election, it passed two readings, gained support from labour and conservative MPs, and both Archbishops, making him a major figure in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
While our next hero was originally from Leicestershire, we’re definitely claiming her for our list. After years of studying for her PGCE and degree in music, Elly came to Stevenage and completed her NQT here in Herts, all while studying for a Diploma in Music Technology at the University of Hertfordshire (some people just don’t do things by halves). Having travelled as a music teacher in Hertfordshire, Elly settled at a school in London. It was here that she strove to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month, helping other teachers incorporate LGBTQ+ history into their lessons. From this, Elly worked with other teachers to develop a programme for tackling homophobia in schools, Educate and Celebrate, PRIDE in Inclusion Award resource programme, which is used in schools up and down the country. Elly’s work has earned her an MBE, a no. 1 ranking in The Independent on Sunday’s Rainbow List, and now a place in our own little list of Herts heroes.
St Albans-born, Peter Frank Ashman carved out a career as a respected lawyer, who devoted his life to advocating for human rights and against legislation that discriminated against LGBTQ people. After working on some landmark cases, Peter’s excellent reputation led him and others, including Sir Ian McKellen, to set up Stonewall Equality Ltd. Among many high-profile campaigns, Stonewall sought to repeal Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 which prohibited authorities from promoting homosexuality. After years of charity and human rights work, he even went on to work as an advisor to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Now that’s quite a career!
Our final hero is known as one of the greatest British hockey players and was born here in our little town of Hitchin. The youngest female hockey player to appear in the Olympics for Team GB, a gold Olympic medalist, a bronze Olympic medalist, a silver and bronze commonwealth games medalist…Helen’s accolades go on and on! In her personal life, Helen went on to marry her GB and England teammate Kate Walsh, making them the first same-sex couple to win a gold medal on the same team. Helen’s successes continue to this day, with Helen and Kate both receiving OBEs at the same time, once again making history as the fist same sex married couple to receive them.
