LGBTQ+ History Month - Week 1

LGBTQ+ History Month takes place annually to raise awareness of the ongoing struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community. Join us in this article to learn about those that fought and still fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

  • Posted Sat, Feb 1, 2025 7:00 AM

LGBTQ+ History Month takes place annually to raise awareness of the ongoing struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community and to educate about historic figures and events that have contributed to the fight for equality.

LGBTQ+ History Month is celebrated in February due to its historical significance in 2003, when Section 28 was abolished, ending the policy that prohibited the 'promotion' of homosexuality.

In 2025, the theme for LGBTQ+ History Month is Activism and Social Change. This article highlights the efforts of individuals who have worked to bring about significant improvements and advancements in society for the rights and equality of the LGBTQ+ community.

A word from Connor Sutherland, Welfare Officer:

"LGBTQ+ History month is really important to me as a Queer person. It shines a light on the fact that we do have a history and queer people have always existed. Understanding and talking about this history is radical resistance - there are those in the past, and present, who have tried to hide, erase, or twist our history to fit their narrative.

Learning our history has helped me accept myself. Even though I’ve known my sexuality since around 16, looking back now I see the ways I denied how I felt, or lacked the language to describe it as a child. Over the years, I’ve never stopped learning and probably never will.

Back when I was in college, I remember very vividly when my friends at the time told me that I was actually pansexual, not bisexual, because I could be attracted to, and would date non-binary and/or trans people. While generally I don’t like to get bogged down with labels, I really disagreed with this. How could someone tell me who I was? I ended up reading online about other bisexual people who shared my sentiment, and discovered the bisexual manifesto (yes, a real document) which explicitly states that being bisexual is trans inclusionary. Learning this helped me explain how I felt to those friends and hopefully they remember that to this day.

Since then, I have always tried to call out bi-phobia whenever I can, as sadly it is pervasive, even within the Queer community. This is one of the ways I became more involved in activism and while I was studying here [UoP] I attended several marches/protests in support of all Queer people - this was how I learnt about Marsha P Johnson. At one such demonstration, members of a local organisation chanted: “We remember history, black trans women fought for me”. 

This referred to people like Johnson, who were at the Stonewall uprising - learning this helped me understand that the progression Queer people have experienced and live with now is thanks to people of colour, trans people, and others often marginalised by our own community. We would do well to remember this and fight for them in the same way they have fought for us."

Read more about LGBTQ+ activists and how they helped make a change!


Harvey Milk (1930-1978)

The first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California that served 11 months in office before being assassinated.

In his early life, Milk was raised in New York City and he developed a passion for opera in school. He majored in mathematics at the State University of New York at Albany, where he also contributed to the college newspaper.

After graduating, he joined the United States Navy during the Korean War. Despite his contributions, in 1995 he was pushed out of the Navy because of his sexual orientation, which was seen as a violation of military policy at the time.

Milk thought about moving to Miami to marry a lesbian friend to “have a front and each would not be in the way of the other” but he decided to remain in New York for a bit longer and pursue gay relationships secretly.

Eventually, he moved to San Francisco where he began his political career driven by the experiences that led him to feel he had reached a crossroads: "either push for change or stay silent."

As a politician, Milk pushed the city’s gay leaders to be more assertive in demanding equality for homosexuals. He also sponsored a bill banning discrimination in public accommodations, housing and employment on the basis of sexual orientation.

His devotion to make change in politics was appreciated by many gay bar owners who were frustrated by the lack of support in dealing with police harassment.

Milk became an icon in San Francisco and a martyr in the LGBTQ community and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.

Sources: LGBTQ+ activists you should know & Harvey Milk


Marsha P Johnson and Sylvia Rivera

Co-founders of the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR). They also opened the first LGBTQ+ youth shelter in North America, becoming the first Trans women of colour to lead an organisation in the United States. 

Sylvia Rivera (1951-2002)

Rivera was born and raised in New York City. Her father abandoned her and her mother died by suicide when Rivera was only 3 years old. She was under the care of her grandma until the age of 10, when she left home. Rivera’s grandmother disapproved of her behaviour. She had to engage as a sex worker while she struggled to live on the streets. Eventually, she was taken in by the local drag queens, where she met her best friend - Marsha P. Johnson. 

Marsha P. Johnson (1945-1992)

Marsha P. Johnson was born Malcolm Michaels Jr. and was raised alongside 6 siblings. In their early life, Johnson was sexually assaulted and harassed and the idea of being gay was more of a dream at that stage. Johnson graduated from Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical academy and left home for New work with no money. After spending time with street hustlers, Johnson left like her life changed. Johnson decided on the drag queen name “Marsha P. Johnson” and was known to wear crowns of fresh flowers assorted with shiny dresses and heels. She performed and sang.  

In 1969, the Stonewall uprising was sparked by the government-sponsored persecution of sexual minorities and the riots marked a new beginning for the gay rights movements around the world. It is said that Johnson was at the Stonewall uprising - but details remained vague, perhaps to protect Johnson from opponents. However, her role in the uprising is seen as a key turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. 

After the Stonewall uprising, Johnson was active in marching at the Gay Pride rallies and co-founded STAR with Rivera.

STAR House 

Opened in 1972 by Johnson and Rivera, the STAR House provided shelter for homeless gay and transgender youth. They provided the children with food, clothing, emotional support and a sense of family. 

In 1973, they were banned from participating in gay pride parades because the committee organising it didn’t want to “allow any drag queens”. This did not stop Johnson and Rivera - they marched ahead of the parade!

Sources: LGBTQ+ activists you should know, STAR, Sylvia Rivera & Marsha P. Johnson


Lisa Power MBE (1954-present)

Sexual health and LGBTQ+ rights campaigner. She addressed gay and lesbian issues and co-funded Stonewall. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for “services to sexual health and to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community”

Power came out as lesbian in the 1970s, when homosexuality was still controversial in British society. She became Secretary-General of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (now the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) in 1988, a UK publication addressing gay and lesbian issues. 

Power also co-funded Stonewall and Pink Paper. Stonewall was co-founded in 1989 to repeal Section 28, end the ban on LGBTQ+ people in armed forces, equalise the age of consent and extend adoption and IVF rights to same-sex couples, and introduce civil partnerships. Pink Paper was co-founded in 1987 and it is a UK publication covering gay and lesbian issues. 

At Terrence Higgins Trust she became the policy director. The charity campaigns and provides services relating to HIV and sexual health in order to end transmission of HIV, eradicate stigma and discrimination around HIV and promote good sexual health.

In 2020, Power worked with Dan Vo and the National Museum Cartiff to create ‘Queer Tours’ which aimed to uncover hidden LGBTQ+ histories in Cardiff.

Sources: LGBTQ+ activists you should know & Lisa Power

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