LGBT+ History Month 2022 | Edinburgh College Students' Association

LGBT+ History Month 2022

Over the month of February, there are a variety of things that you can check out, be it some events going on in Edinburgh or the surrounding areas or even things you can check out from the comfort of your own home.

So whether you're a member of the LGBTQ community or just looking to be a good ally to the community we have compiled a list of all the things you can check out over this LGBTQ history month.

Events in Edinburgh

Film screening

  • LGBTQ Health and Wellbeing, with the support of LGBT Youth Scotland, will be hosting a screening of the 1959 comedy classic Some like it hot. This event is free, for more information please check out the website to get more information.

Community events:

  • GO GREEN ECSA- We go green Hub has its own swap shops that run every Monday to Friday on campus but will be also be hosting a specific gender-neutral swap shop later in the month with our stalls in Granton the 22nd and Milton road on the 24th, more advertising will be posted on our social media in the run-up to the event.
  • This swap shop will give priority to those who are looking for clothes that are more appropriate fit for their gender presentation, this will be hosted in a safe space where all are welcome.
  • Kafe Kweer Free clothes market- Featuring clothes donated by the local community, for the local community, with all clothes entirely free! Priority is given to transgender individuals searching for new clothes to fit their gender presentation, but is open to all! For more information click here.
  • Gender-neutral swap event (SHRUB CO-OP) - This is a Gender Affirming clothes swap in partnership with SHRUB Coop, The Equality Network and Scottish Trans Alliance, this swap event Does require you to bring down some clothes to swap in exchange for some clothes to take away from the event, the organisers encourage anyone to come down and swap any clothes they may have that is not gendered appropriate for themselves and take something a bit more appropriate. For more info click here

Watch list:

Movies:

  • Carol (2015) - an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's seminal novel The Price of Salt, CAROL follows two women from very different backgrounds who find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. As conventional norms of the time challenge their undeniable attraction, an honest story emerges to reveal the resilience of the heart in the face of change. A young woman in her 20s, Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), is a clerk working in a Manhattan department store and dreaming of a more fulfilling life when she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), an alluring woman trapped in a loveless, convenient marriage.
  • Pride 2014 - a Comedy/ drama centring around gay activists working to help miners during their lengthy strike of the National Union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984. Facing down a conservative; Government; police & media out to villainize them. 
  • Prom 2020: this musical romance sees a group of Broadway stars who are navigating a tough point in their carers rally behind a girl from a small town, who is fighting for the right to bring her girlfriend to prom as her date.

Series:

  • Queer eye (Netflix) - queer eye is a Netflix reboot of the Bravo reality series of the same name. This reality show follows a group of Gay men who are experts in various lifestyle area’s, who travel around Atlanta U.S.A transforming the lifestyles of various individuals some of whom hold very different values and beliefs but all of whom are in desperate need of some changes for their lives.
  • Love alarm (Netflix): For those wanting a bit of a different viewing experience Love Alarm is a Korean comedy/drama about a phone app that alerts people if someone in their vicinity likes them and the relationship chaos that ensues. between all of the romantic entanglements, the show turns a critical eye toward social media and its impact on our mental health. It also features a subplot about a boy who reveals his feelings for another boy via the app, handling the narrative in a more tasteful way, which is unusual in a Korean drama and is a breath of fresh air for the genre
  • Banana (channel 4 or on-demand): Heartfelt and interlinked and stand-alone unique stories that tell the story of various aspects of life as an LGBT+ person.
  • Its a sin (Channel 4): A British drama following 5 friends as they grow up in the shadow of the aids epidemic, determined to live their lives to the fullest regardless.


Podcast and music recommendations:

  • Getting Curious with Jonathan Van ness: this podcast is hosted by the American activist, hairdresser, and queer eye guru JVN. as the title implies this show has a variety of topics with each week a new specialist being invited to the show to discuss the weeks topic. Previous topics have ranged from history & renaissance painters/ paintings to Lizzo, Bee’s, artificial intelligence and many more, so there really is something for everyone here.
  • Making Gay History: hosted by Eric Marcus Author of a 2002 book of the same name, this podcast focuses on the lesser-known historical figures in the LGBT+ movement. Pulling from his own records and interviews shines the spotlight on these figures and their stories.
  • Queery: hosted by Cameron Esposito, this podcast has the stand-up comedian Cameron hosting hour-long interviews with diverse members from the LGBT communities sharing some of their highs and lows really exploring the lives of the LGBT+ members, who, some of us look up to, showing them in a more down to earthlight.

Social media to follow:

LGBT youth Scotland Instagram  Facebook, Twitter

LGBT history month: Instagram (UK)  Facebook, Twitter,  

Edinburgh College: Instagram   Facebook Twitter

We have also created a quick resources page that everyone can check out this complies with some local support organisations as well as some materials to help someone who is looking to start being more inclusive, we encourage everyone to have a little read over it here.

Support organisations:

  • LGBT Health and wellbeing: Promoting the health, wellbeing, and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT+) adults (16+)
  • Rape crisis : The wellbeing team within the college has a rape crisis referral system within the college to access this please go onto the wellbeing hub on your moodle account.
  • Mermaids Support line: Mermaids support transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care. We also currently offer web chat support to students up to the age of 25.
  • Mindout: a specific Mental health origination   ran by and for the LGBTQ community
  • Waverly Care: a sexual health organisation based in Edinburgh
  • The Equality network:  An online dictionary that lists hundreds of organisations that are involved in the LGBT+ community if you are looking for an organisation that works in a specific area such as an inclusive sports team or support around a specific area of LGBT+ life this is a fantastic way to look.
  • Galop: a support service for members of the LGBT+ community who have experienced abuse or violence
  • LGBT Youth Scotland: LGBT Youth Scotland also offers a set of support services featuring an online live chat service, text chat, and a local youth group search feature to name a few.

ECSA support list: this page on our website has a list of multiple organisations that offer support in various areas

Resources for allies:

  • Come out for LGBT (stonewall.org.uk)
    This page on the surface breaks down how individuals can start their journeys to become an ally to the LGBT+ community by breaking the abstract idea of being and ally down into 5 key area’s that we could all do with working towards being better around.
  • The BBC Pride and Joy show:  A page giving 10 fantastic examples of ways in which you can do small changes in your life that can make a big difference for members of the LGBT+ community. Reading through this list, some of our favourite points would be around parents diversifying their family bookshelves, supporting small local LGBT+ businesses, and finally accepting that we all will still make some mistakes. Hopefully, if we do make mistakes, we will be shown and taught better by the community.

Resources for learning more about the community and its history:

  • LGBT+ history month: A page with its own resources page that includes some resources for parents, teachers, students, and having a watch list. 
  • LGBT+ Foundations recommended reading list: For those who are more into buying and reading books, the LGBT Foundation has created a recommended reading list for LGBT+ history month, this includes The Stone Wall reader & AIDS: Don’t Die Of Prejudice.

Some resources for everyone:

  • Understanding Pronouns:  The LGBT life centre has made a handy page that explains pronouns and why they are important to people of the LGBT+ community, this page also explains some of the terms you may have heard such as gender fluid and explains them. Bonus points to this page as it shows that not everyone wants to use a pronoun and would prefer to refer to by their name only.

We have also created a check it out list that compiled a list of things going on in and around Edinburgh as well as some LGBT+ related shows and activities you can do from the comfort of your own home for more information please visit the page here.