LGBTQ+ History Month 2026

LGBTQ+ History Month is celebrated every February in the UK.

It’s a time to learn, share, and celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s also an opportunity to promote understanding, acceptance, and rights for all people inclusive of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

This page has more information about events, resources and support at the University of Exeter and beyond. It may be updated throughout the month, so do check back so you don't miss out. If you have anything you would like listed here, or you want to organise an event and need our support, please email EDI@exeter.ac.uk.

Theme

2026’s theme is Science and Innovation.

From the LGBTQ+ History Month webpage:

Science and innovation impacts our daily lives, from the technology we use to developments in healthcare, as well as helping us to address global challenges such as climate change and access to clean energy.

Diverse teams are essential for the development of solutions which benefit everyone, yet we might often struggle to name LGBT+ scientists and innovators. The 2026 theme for LGBT+ History Month aims to highlight the contributions of LGBT+ people historically and today, and to raise awareness of the people behind them.

Alongside celebrating LGBT+ people, it is important to highlight the harm that LGBT+ people have historically faced as a result of the ways in which science has been explored and misapplied in the past, such as through the medicalisation and pathologisation of LGBT+ identities, and how we still need to address this today.

Each year we choose five LGBT+ historical figures in line with the theme to highlight. This year we have chosen:

Barbara Burford, a medical researcher who established NHS equality and diversity guidelines
Charles Beyer, a locomotive engineer and a founding member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers
Elke Mackenzie, a botanist who researched lichens in Antarctica
Jemma Redmond, a biotechnologist who developed 3D bioprinters to create tissues and organs
Robert Boyle, a founder of modern chemistry and of the modern scientific method

This list will be updated as more event details are confirmed, so check back for more events or updated information.

The following events are open to University of Exeter students and staff, and are free unless otherwise specified.

Students' Guild and Students' Union

Students may wish to visit the University of Exeter Students' Guild and Students' Union websites for more events and resources for LGBTQ+ History Month as they are announced.

LGBTQ+ History Month at the Library

When: All February
Where: Book displays on Streatham at St Luke's, resources available to all staff and students on all campuses.
Who: All items freely available to all staff and students

The Library will be celebrating and raising awareness of our LGBTQ+ History Resources by promoting our LGBTQ+ Collections Guide.
This guide also leads to the LGBTQ+ History Month Reading Film and TV List.

You can also enjoy the Special Collections Archival LGBTQ+  Research Resource material.

There will be a book display up at the entrance to the Forum Library, and St Luke's library.

All items are freely available to University students and staff, so if something takes your interest, check it out!

Wellbeing and Inclusion Fair (Penryn)

When: Wednesday 4th February, 12-3pm
Where: Penryn Campus, Upper and Lower Stannary
Who: All staff and students welcome

Meet LGBTQ+ organisations, student societies, and staff networks at our Wellbeing and Inclusion Fair. This event is open to LGBTQ+ staff and students, and allies.

No registration necessary, just drop in.
For more information, contact: EDI@exeter.ac.uk

South West Queer Research Network Peer Review Session

When: Wednesday 4th February, 15:00-17:00
Where: Hybrid event: Pearson Room, Business School Building 1, Streatham Campus; or online link available on registration.
Who: LGBTQ+ PGRs and Researchers.

Queer Researchers and PGRs are warmly invited to our next South West Queer Research Network event, a peer review session held in collaboration with the University of Exeter. Please join us to play some play-doh and share your work and provide feedback with other queer researchers. In this event, we will be partnering queer researchers in pairs to share a short piece of writing together for feedback. This is an open and supportive space for queer researchers at any stage, and you are welcome to bring something polished or something still taking shape.

Please sign up here via Eventbrite so that we know you are coming.

Please bring with you a 500-word piece of your work to share with another queer researcher for ideas, inspiration, and feedback. This session ensures everyone has a chance to receive feedback on their writing and give feedback to a fellow researcher.

Catering will be provided.

We have a limited number of travel bursaries of up to £50 available for those attending in person. We strongly encourage as many people to apply as possible. Deadline to apply is Friday 30th January at 5pm. To apply for the travel bursary please complete this short form.

Eddystone Trust HIV Testing Pop Up

When: Friday 6th February, 12:00-15:30
Where: Guild Reception, Devonshire House, Streatham Campus.
Who: All welcome.

The Eddystone Trust will be hosting a free, fast, and confidential HIV testing pop-up on campus, organised with the Exeter Students' Guild. This is a great opportunity to take control of your health, get informed, and break down the stigma around HIV testing.

No appointment needed - just drop by for a quick and simple test with friendly, non-judgmental professionals. Whether you're testing for peace of mind or just want to learn more about sexual health, all are welcome.

Your health matters - come along and get tested!

LGBTQ+ History Month: Journal Club with the Department of Health and Community Sciences

When: Tuesday 3rd February, 13:00-14:00
Where: St Luke's Chapel (Kitchen area)
Who: All staff and students welcome

To mark this year’s LGBTQ+ History Month, the Department of Health and Community Sciences are holding a journal club. This is an opportunity to learn about an important area related to research inclusion.

The discussion will be led by Kristin Liabo and the paper will be: McDermott, E.; Nelson, R.; Weeks, H. The Politics of LGBT+ Health Inequality: Conclusions from a UK Scoping Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 826. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020826

We hope that many people will be able to join us.

There is no need to register, just show up and join us. If you have any queries, please contact Kristin Liabo: K.Liabo@exeter.ac.uk

Kernow Piskies LGBTQ+ Inclusive Rugby Taster Sessions

When: Weekly throughout February, every Friday, 18:00-20:30.
Where: MUGA, Penryn Campus, Penryn. TR10 9FE. ( What 3 words///swept.rebounded.lakes )
Who: Open to all, including externals, all abilities welcome.

Kernow Piskies RFC are Cornwall's first LGBTQ+ inclusive rugby team. Founded in January 2025, they are proud to welcome players of all levels of skill, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Rugby is a sport for everyone and they are committed to our slogan that Rugby Is For Onen Hag Oll - 'One And All'

Throughout February they are running a number of free taster sessions, hosted on Penryn Campus, all abilities and all identities welcome.

Check out their FAQ section for more info about what to wear/bring.

Further details available on their events calendar and on the Kernow Piskies website

Usualising LGBTQ+ identities in Secondary School Science and Maths Webinar - With Pride In Education, and Exeter PRISM

When: Friday 13th February, from 16:00
Where: Online, register below for the link.
Who: Open to all, including the public. Aimed at secondary school teachers; leaders of science clubs, STEMM ambassadors, outreach practitioners and LGBTQ+ groups for secondary school-aged students, or those interested in teaching or education in this space.

To combat the lack of visible LGBTQ+ role models across science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM), University of Exeter academics from Exeter PRISM have collaborated with UK LGBT+ education charity Schools OUT to create a classroom resources pack containing slides, videos, posters, careers profiles and experiments/activities. Launched to coincide with UK LGBT+ History Month and its theme for 2026 of 'Science & Innovation', these resources support the usualisation of LGBTQ+ identities within the Key Stage 3 and 4 science and maths curricula. They are free to download from https://lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk/prism/.

In this webinar, the project leads will explore their roles as LGBTQ+ educators in UK higher education and their wider outreach work that acted as important motivations for creating these resources. They will showcase the contents of the resources and facilitate discussion on how these may be utilised during LGBT+ History Month and beyond.

By the end of this session, you will:

· Appreciate the benefits of greater visibility of LGBTQ+ role models across STEMM subjects

· Learn about the life and work of trans neuroscientist Ben Barres, lesbian astronaut Sally Ride, bi GP Hannah Barham-Brown, gay mathematician Ron Buckmire, trans ecologist Joan Roughgarden, and lesbian astrophysicist Nergis Mavalvala.

· See how the PRISM Exeter / Schools OUT resources can complement teaching of Key Stage 3 and 4 science and maths curriculum content

The speakers for the event are our wonderful colleagues from the University and PRISM coordinators:

Dr Claire Davies (she/her) an award-winning astrophysicist and LGBTQ+ advocate. She is a Senior Lecturer in Physics & Astronomy at the University of Exeter and founder of the PRISM Exeter network of LGBTQ+ STEMM professionals and students in Southwest England.

Dr Eleanor Townsend (she/her) is a Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Exeter, co-chair of the University of Exeter LGBTQ+ staff network, and coordinator of PRISM Exeter.

Dr Andrew Griffiths (he/him) is an award-winning educator and Senior Lecturer in Biosciences at the University of Exeter and coordinator of PRISM Exeter.

Science and Innovation Drop In Activities at the RAMM

When: Sunday 15th February, 10:30-15:00
Where: The Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM), Exeter, Queen Street
Who: All, open to the public, and designed to be suitable for families and children.

To celebrate LGBT+ History Month 2026’s theme of ‘Science and Innovation’, museum visitors will have the opportunity to explore the work of LGBTQ+ scientists through a variety of table-top activities.

Follow in the footsteps of:

trans masculine neuroscientist Ben Barres and create a brain hat to discover the different parts of your brain and what they do;
queer astronaut Sally Ride and lesbian astrophysicist Nergis Mavalvala and create a spectroscope to uncover all the colours of light;
trans feminine ecologist and biologist Joan Roughgarden and create your own bilateral butterfly to explore the fascinating phenomena of gynandromorphism.

Each activity will be led by LGBTQ+ scientists from the local PRISM Exeter network, who partnered with Schools OUT to develop schools resources for UK LGBT+ History Month 2026. These resources are available to download (for free) from https://lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk/prism/.

Both general entrance to the RAMM, and participation in this event are free, though donations to the museum are always welcomed.

All are welcome to explore the rest of the museum. You can find out more about what the RAMM offers here, including the 'Out and About: Queering the Museum' display that you might be interested to interact with during your trip.

Information about accessibility at the RAMM is available on their Access page.

Pride in Leadership - The Courage to Connect: How Belonging Builds Better Leaders Online Talk

When: Tuesday 3rd March, 11:30-12:30
Where: Online, via Zoom. Register below for link.
Who: All welcome

In a world where isolation affects so many LGBTQ+ individuals, The courage to connect is a powerful, personal, and inspiring talk about the importance of community, courage, and connection. Join Dr Claire Davies, University of Exeter Senior Lecturer, Director of EDI for Physics and Astronomy, and founder of PRISM Exeter – a small-but-mighty regional network created to bring together LGBTQ+ individuals and allies from the South West STEMM sector – as she shares the story behind building a movement that fosters belonging and visibility.

In her talk, Claire will explore the transformative power of finding your people: the ones who understand your journey, amplify your voice, and remind you that you’re never alone. Drawing from her own lived experience of starting with a single idea and growing it into a meaningful collective, Claire will unpack the challenges, lessons, and triumphs of creating safe and empowering spaces for queer professionals and communities.

Attendees will gain practical insights into how to:

Build authentic networks that celebrate diversity and inclusion.
Lead with vulnerability, empathy, and purpose.
Foster belonging within their own teams and communities.
Inspire the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders.

Expect an honest, engaging, and uplifting session that combines storytelling with actionable advice—perfect for anyone passionate about strengthening connections, championing representation, and shaping a more inclusive future.

There is a range of support available both internal to the University and externally.

The University of Exeter LGBTQ+ Equality pages provide support, advice, and information for LGBTQ+ staff and students, as well as friends, colleagues, and allies.

If you have experienced or witnessed harassment, bullying or discrimination, you may wish to report this via the University Support and Report for Students, or our Support and Report for Staff.

External support includes:

The Trans and Nonbinary Cafe is a social and peer support space, with a permanent online space (via Discord) open to trans, nonbinary, intersex and/or questioning people in the region, and regular in person meet ups in Exeter.
Eddystone Trust provides HIV and sexual health services across the South West.
Galop is an LGBTQ+ anti-abuse charity. They work with and for LGBTQ+ victims and survivors of interpersonal abuse and violence.
Intercom Trust is an LGBTQ+ charity offering one-to-one support, counselling, training, and consultancy, covering Devon and Cornwall.
It's All About You Wellbeing supports LGBTQ+ communities in South West England and wellbeing professionals working alongside them.
Mermaids supports trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse children and young people, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care.
MindOut is a mental health service run by and for LGBTQ+ people.
Stonewall is an LGBTQ+ charity and the largest LGBTQ+ rights organisation in Europe.
Student Space is text, webchat, 'phone, and email service for students.
Transparent Presence is a transgender and non-binary support group in Cornwall. They specialise in supporting gender diverse people, their partners, parents and families, recognising that everyone has their own journey to take and deserves to have this validated.

You might also be interested in getting involved with Pride events in your area, volunteering your time, or putting them in your calendar. You can find more information on their webpages and social media pages, and more details for the coming year are likely to be added down the line.

Cornwall Pride(s) Page

Exeter Pride Page

Trans Pride Exeter Page

Why wear the University of Exeter Progress Pride lanyard?

The University of Exeter’s Progress Pride lanyard is a collaboration with our LGBTQ+ staff networks and is based on the Progress Pride design created by Valentino Vechietti in 2021. This shows our support for all people and parts of the LGBTQ+ community.  

We encourage anyone who would like to demonstrate their support for our LGBTQ+ community (as a member of the community or an ally) to wear a lanyard to signal you’re a safe person for others to be themselves with.  

Where can I order lanyards?

University of Exeter staff can order Progress Pride lanyards through the Design team. Please check and confirm that your team/department has the required budget. You can then upload the design file and complete a brief on the job tracking system. You will also need to include your budget code.

Please note that to minimise costs and environmental impact, the Design team may collate orders based on location (for example, if there are several separate orders for Penryn) and volume (for example, to meet our minimum order of 100).

There is usually at least two weeks of lead-in time for printing lanyards. If you need your lanyards by a certain date, you can request that on the brief.

Please contact designenquiry@exeter.ac.uk if you have any questions.