LGBTQ+ History month is an annual time of celebration, remembrance and an opportunity to look forward. It was first celebrated in February of 2005 and was founded in 2004 by Schools OUT UK.  

The history of LGBTQ+ was hidden for years under the Section 28 clause which was banished on the 18th of November 2003. It’s an important opportunity to amplify the voices of the unheard and tell the stories of those who came before us.  

To honour this month, some of our Business West colleagues have answered the question... 

Who is your LGBTQ+ Historical Hero and Why? 

 Jessica Vallentine: 

Not quite so historical that the earth isn’t still blessed with his presence, Ted Brown is one of my LGBTQ+ heroes. He may be known to you (not least via a great profile of him in the Guardian), but if not, he’s a British gay rights activist who helped organise the UK’s first Gay Pride rally in 1972 and he co-founded Black Lesbians and Gays Against Media Homophobia.  

Born in New York to Jamaican parents, he, his mother and half-sister were deported to Jamaica and then later spent time in Canada until they moved to the United Kingdom in 1959 following the first of the Windrush arrivals. His experience reflects so much of the issues that are still at play in our world – nations’ treatment of immigrants, media portrayal (and non-portrayal) of diverse perspectives, lack of housing, discrimination, hate crime. Even as recently as 2021, his partner was mistreated in a nursing home due to his orientation – these are still live issues that even heroes have to suffer, despite the recognition for the impact they have had.  

He is still speaking out, still fighting, using his rich lived experience to continue to make the place better for all of us, no matter their ethnicity or where they fall on the sexual spectrum. For that, for Ted Brown, I am profoundly and eternally grateful. 

 Huw James: 

My LGBTQ Hero is Jan Morris (1926 - 2020). Jan was born in Clevedon, North Somerset, and as a journalist covered the Suez Crisis and Eichmann Trials. 

Morris was part of the first expedition to scale Mount Everest. She began transitioning to a woman in 1964, and her memoir "Conundrum" was one of the first to ever discuss the first-hand experience of gender reassignment. In her later life, Jan became well known for her history and travel books. Jan Morris was a pioneer, and truly a Trans Icon - a positive role model not just for trans children growing up, but for us all. 

Jan was not an amazing person because she was transgender, however she achieved greatness whilst living her realness and paved the way for future generations to do the same. 

Louise Holland: 

My LGBTQ+ Historical Hero is Alan Turing (1912-1954.) Alan Turing is one of the most influential figures in the development of computers. He is often referred to as the ‘father of modern computer science.’  

Alan was accomplished as a mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher, physicist and biologist who was awarded an Order of the British Empire for his contributions to the war.  

Despite the list of accomplishments, Alan was arrested and punished for being gay. He had been afraid that his sexuality would discredit his ideas, writing:  

“Turning believes machines think 

Turing lies with men 

Therefore, machines do not think.” 

Today, we celebrate his work and how important his identity was to him. We celebrate both and recognise his accomplishments in the technology we use daily.