Celebrating LGBT+ History Month

For so long LGBT+ people’s history was hidden. In the UK, LGBT+ history month is held in February to mark the abolition of Section 28, which had banned the ‘promotion and teaching of homosexuality’ in schools and public life. The indistinct boundaries of the law created a climate of fear and fostered stigmatisation. 

Marking LGBT+ history is an opportunity to reflect on the past, celebrate the present and create a more equitable future. Despite continued progress since the abolition of Section 28, inequalities remain. The theme for 2026, ‘Science and Innovation’, demonstrates the contributions LGBT+ figures have made to technology, healthcare, sciences and industry. 

Schools OUT, the founders of LGBT+ History Month, have highlighted five historical LGBT+ figures: 

Barbara Burford, a medical researcher who championed initiatives to promote diversity and equality within the NHS. Burford was a keen voice for equality and was active in feminist politics, contributing to Spare Rib magazine and publishing a collection of short stories. 

Charles Beyer, a German immigrant to the UK who found success as a locomotive engineer and became a founding member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. In his will, Beyer left money to what is today the University of Manchester to develop education opportunities, particularly for working class students. 

Elke Mackenzie, a trailblazing botanist who participated in Antarctic expeditions where she collected many new-to-science species of lichen. Two genera of lichen and nine lichen species are named after Mackenzie. Her work as a researcher suffered following people’s responses to her transition later in life, yet she continued to contribute to the field by translating botanical texts. 

Jemma Redmond, a biotechnologist who pioneered bioprinting to create tissues and organs from organic matter. Redmond worked largely with open-source software, reducing the cost of the technology so that it could be used in research more widely.

Robert Boyle, a natural philosopher and theological writer. Boyle championed the experimental method and is known for Boyle’s Law, and for introducing the litmus test to tell acids from bases.