LGBTQ+ History Month 2025
Wednesday 5 February
13:00-14:00
Seminar room, 2 Hope Park Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9NW
Organised by Dr Alice Parrinello
In recent years, and especially since the arrival on Italian shores in 1991 of the Vlora cargo ship, the Mediterranean has been constructed as a border. This view has fostered necropolitical policies, which create a strict divide between Central Europe and the Global South and reclaim an impossible ownership of the Mediterranean. Simultaneously, queer Italian films promote a different view of the Mediterranean, seeing it as a place of resistance and reclamation. The talk will investigate the films Il padre d’Italia (2017) by Fabio Mollo, La dea fortuna (2019) by Ferzan Özpetek, Misericordia (2023) by Emma Dante, arguing that they promote a porous and queer futurity from Mediterranean waters (Neimanis 2017).
Please join in-person, or click the link below to join the webinar:
https://ed-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/83015772676
Passcode: b1QpaAD7
Crochet and Craftivism
Tuesday 11 February, 12-2pm, Usher Engage (ground floor, Usher Building)
Join the Usher Community and the BioQuarter Pride Committee for a lunchtime drop-in session of crafting and community building. Our two activities will be an introduction to crochet (whether you’re a crochet newbie or an experienced yarn-lover) and LGBT+ activism-themed fabric painting (canvas, paints and brushes provided – just bring your enthusiasm and creativity!).
Open to staff and students.
If you have any questions about the event, you can email BioQuarter.Pride@ed.ac.uk
Staff Pride Network Central Coffee & Cake
Wednesday 12 February, 1-2pm, Canopy Cafe, Edinburgh Futures Institute (entrance from Middle Meadows Walk)
Join us for our central bi-monthly Coffee & Cake meetup at the Canopy Cafe, Edinburgh Futures Institute on Wednesday 12 February, 1-2pm. All University LGBT+ staff and allies are welcome to drop in for complimentary cake and conversation in our accessible venue. To find our table follow the pictures/description on the Eventbrite link below:
Link: Staff Pride Network Central Coffee & Cake
International Shorts: Queer Stories (18+)
Saturday 15 February, 8pm, French Institute of Scotland, West Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RF
Co-curated by Manipulate Arts and Sanctuary Queer Arts, this 90-minute programme showcases award-winning LGBTQIA+ animated shorts from around the globe. From tender tales of self-discovery to bold explorations of identity, the films range from a trans narrative within the Godzilla family to the complex life of a queer football hooligan. Animation proves the perfect medium for exploring rich inner worlds, transformation, and stories that might be unsafe to tell through live action.
Tickets £10/£8 through Manipulate Festival Box Office
Accessibility: Level access throughout, wheelchair accessible, closed captions [CC]. Accessible toilet on ground floor. Contact venue for access information: 0131 285 6030 or frenchclassesife@gmail.com
Content Warning: Contains strobing effects. Features themes of violence, smoking, swearing, homophobia, alcohol, drug use, racism, nudity, and sexual content across different films.
Staff Pride Network Kings Buildings Coffee & Cake
19 February, 1pm, The Nucleus Room 2.06 (Rowan)
February’s Coffee and Cake is this Wednesday, please come along to Room 2.06 (Rowan), The Nucleus at 1pm for some cake/biscuits and a chat with other SPN members! All LGBTQ+ staff and allies welcome to join!
‘We have always been here. And we always will be’ Exhibition
On display in Paterson’s land social space lower ground floor (Moray House) from the 14-28 February pay a visit to the exhibition. You can find details of the guided tour taking place on the 25 February further down this page.
A quote from Ash Scholz, one of the creators: “This exhibition is by no means exhaustive. It provides some glimpses into the incredible work of queer student activists and community members throughout a time of significant repression and discriminatory laws and policies. Without the work of student activists in the past, these successes would have not been possible at all, and we found a sense of intergenerational solidarity with the queer students that came before us through our research. The exhibition wants to take up space for an underrepresented community, with queer students being able to manifest their belonging at the University through having a visual reminder of their historical presence. Thank you to my amazing volunteer group, and all the support I have received from the School, without whom this would have not been possible!”
LGBTQuizzing Afternoon
Friday 21 February 4-6pm Paterson’s Land 1.26
Organised by UoE Staff Pride Network
We wanted to provide an extended social opportunity during LGBTQ+ history month that does not involve alcohol but features opportunities to get to know your colleagues better and also flex your quizzing skills on all things LGBTQ+!
Refreshments will be provided!
Please feel free to invite friends & colleagues from across the University, open to staff and students.
We will arrange teams on the day so you have a chance to mingle and meet new people.
LGBTQ+ History Month Our Tribe @Augustine United Church
Saturday 22 February at Augustine United Church, 41 George VI Bridge. Doors open at 1pm.
- Panel of speakers on LGBT Activism 1.30 pm – 2.30pm
- Drag Queen Bingo 3pm – 4.30pm
- Singer/Songwriter – Mike Mckenzie 4.30pm
- T Dance/Disco – 5pm -7pm
Please feel free to join us for all or part of the day. Refreshments and snacks will be provided. This is an alcohol free event. Changing space is available. The building is wheelchair accessible. Please ring the bell to the right of the main front door. This is a free event and ALL are welcome.
If you would like any more information please email ourtribe@augustine.org.uk
We look forward to seeing you! Maxwell and the Our Tribe Team
‘We have always been here. And we always will be’ Exhibition Tour
LGBT+ History Month Seminar and Social
Tuesday 25 February, 12:30-2pm, IRR South 1.05
Description: Join the BioQuarter LGBT+/ally community for a lunchtime seminar with speakers from across our staff and student community. The seminar will be followed by a social with pizza. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Discovery Day : Exploring LGBTQ+ History
Wednesday 26 February, Main Library, events throughout the day from 1000-1700
At University of Edinburgh, you have access to archival material digitised from around the world to explore centuries of stories and voices on sex and sexuality, community organisation, protest and the fight for equal rights.
Come to our Discovery Day. We’re exploring LGBTQ+ History Month with a day of themed events in the Main Library, featuring:
Deep dive sessions into our digital primary sources.
Stalls with information, freebies and advice on library resources.
Hands on session with our unique archival resources.
Open to UoE Staff and Students!
Exploring LGBTQ+ Resources: Navigating ProQuest and Alexander Street Platforms
10:00-10:50, In-person, Main Library ML1.07
In this session, we will focus on the historical challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community and the evolution of laws impacting their rights in the UK. We will explore a range of primary and secondary sources available on ProQuest and Alexander Street platforms, and will demonstrate effective strategies for searching and locating relevant documents to support your learning and research process.
“The barman was quite cute, and could never resist a dare…”: gender and sexuality in the archives (AM Digital)
11:10-12:00, In-person, Main Library ML1.07
In this session, Dr Laura Blomvall from AM [Adam Matthew] will present on two collections of digitised archival material – Gender, Identity and Social Change and Sex & Sexuality – to show material from diaries of Anne ‘Gentleman Jack’ Lister to photographs of a Victorian fetishist, from the fight for gay rights and the rights to legal sex change in post-war California to British coming out stories from the 1990s.
Insights into LGBTQ History with Gale Primary Sources
12:10-13:00, In-person, Main Library ML1.07
In this presentation Gale will illustrate the histories and stories contained within the Gale Primary Sources digital archives, as well as covering techniques for finding and interpreting LGBTQ primary sources. Given the unique collections that are contained within these archives, this session can benefit students from a variety of disciplines when it comes to their dissertation and thesis research.
Exploring LGBT+ Resources in Lothian Health Services Archive
16:10-17:00, Centre for Research Collections Teaching Room 2, Main Library 6th floor (Central Area)
Are you interested in finding out more about support services for LGBT+ people in the mid-twentieth century? In this session, you will discover how these services were initiated and developed, and how they supported the LGBT+ community, especially during periods of change and crisis. We will focus mostly on the archive of the Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard (LGLS), but will also highlight sources on LGBT+ activism during the HIV crisis of the 1980s and 1990s.
LGLS was the UK’s first gay helpline and Scotland’s first gay charity, and it was a key source of support to LGBT+ people across Scotland and the UK. They campaigned and advised on sexual health, mental health, and equality issues, as well as providing listening and befriending services to people about issues or difficulties relating to their sexuality, as well as passing on details of gay-friendly organisations, counselling professionals, and sexual health advice.
This session will introduce you to items from this fascinating collection, and let you know how LHSA sources on LGBT+ activism can help with research towards your dissertation. We will also cover how to access archive collections for yourself, and share some hints and tips for first-time archive researchers. You can find out more about the Lothian Health Services Archive collections from our website.
Open to staff and students.
Contact organiser: Louise Williams (Tel: 01316508379, Email: lhsa@ed.ac.uk)
Edinburgh Historic Walks
Wednesday 26th February, 12.30pm, King’s Buildings House
Our February theme is Activism, and in honour of LGBT+ History Month, we’ll be discussing the role of the student union in fighting for same-sex marriage. We’ll then discuss other forms of activism, including links to abolitionism at King’s Buildings, before taking the scenic route up to the Royal Observatory, where we’ll discuss the suffragette bombing of 1913.
Join us on Wednesday 26th February to learn about Edinburgh University’s ties to activism and fights for justice. We’ll be meeting outside King’s Buildings House at 12.30, and finishing at 1-1.15pm at the Royal Observatory.
Investigating How Societal Narratives and Social Networks Shape LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Risk
Wednesday 26th February 4-5pm,
As part of the Queer Minds Scotland Network (a collaboration between Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of Edinburgh) we are beginning an online LGBTQ+ mental health and wellbeing research seminar series. This is beginning this month with a talk from the brilliant Dr Kirsty Clark reflecting on LGBTQ+ youth suicide drawing from research projects in the US (and in particular the southern states) and Scotland. Dr. Kirsty Clark will share research from both the United States and Scotland examining how societal narratives and social networks can shape suicide risk among LGBTQ+ youth. She will discuss how the portrayal of LGBTQ+ youth suicide in media, education, and even research may contribute to risk. Dr. Clark will highlight perspectives from LGBTQ+ individuals who have survived suicide attempts and present new findings on how being exposed to the suicidal thoughts and behaviors of others may impact LGBTQ+ youth. This talk will encourage discussion on how we can reshape societal messages and strengthen support networks to promote resilience and well-being among LGBTQ+ youth.
The Future of Gender and Sexuality Data: Perils and Possibilities
Thursday 27 February at the Edinburgh Futures Institute.
To mark the launch of the University of Edinburgh’s Gender + Sexuality Data Lab, join us for a panel discussion: ‘The Future of Gender and Sexuality Data: Perils and Possibilities’ on Thursday 27 February at the Edinburgh Futures Institute.
From the laws that shape our rights to the algorithms that predict our behaviours, gender and sexuality data is everywhere – but who decides what gets counted and why?
The panel will explore how gender and sexuality data is collected, analysed and used – in policy and law, in technology and AI, and in our everyday interactions with organisations and institutions. The panel includes:
- Sharon Cowan (chair): Professor of Feminist and Queer Legal Studies, University of Edinburgh
- Reema Vadoliya: data professional, storyteller and advocate for inclusion in data
- Vic Valentine: Scottish Trans Manager, Equality Network
- Matthew J. Cull: author of What Gender Should Be (Bloomsbury Academic, 2024)
How does our approach to data enable and constrain people’s opportunities in day-to-day life? What are the wider effects of the datafication of identity characteristics – particularly for communities minoritised due to sexual orientation, gender identity, age, race, class and/or disability?
What lies ahead in 2025? Will changes to the design of data categories make decisions fairer for everyone or are we trapped in classification systems that are beyond repair? Where the only solution left is to rip it all up and start again?
The panel event will be followed by a networking reception.
The Future of Gender and Sexuality Data: Perils and Possibilities | Thurs 27 Feb, 3pm | Edinburgh Futures Institute | Open to all | Register here
The Love Hub on the Road: Edinburgh Edition
A series of 6 free workshops/events taking place in Edinburgh on 27 and 28th February, as part of a collaboration between the Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society and The Love Tank.
The workshops focus in on key issues that we’ve been grappling with – as researchers, and as community organisations/activists and we hope will create a safe and creative space to explore and reflect on some of these issues. These include but are not limited to HIV PrEP equity, inclusive abortion, DOXY-PEP/sexual health, disability justice and activism. They all take place in Edinburgh – at the Pleasance and at Lighthouse Bookshop. And we’re hoping to make a few available online: the PrEP Equity and Spoken word events will be streamed; disability justice workshop will be hybrid and interactive).
Please consider this an invitation to join some (or all!) of our events and to share widely with those you work and collaborate with.
Contact Dr Ingrid Young if you have any questions: ingrid.young@ed.ac.uk
