News
LGBTQ+ History Month and LGBTQ+ workstream spotlight
Posted on behalf of: EDI Unit
Last updated: Monday, 2 February 2026
LGBT+ History Month is celebrated in schools, universities, workplaces and communities across the UK every February. Launched in the UK by Schools OUT in 2005, LGBT+ History Month celebrates our rich and diverse histories.
The theme for this year is Science and Innovation. Schools OUT has highlighted five British LGBT+ historical figures who align with this theme: Barbara Burford, Charles Beyer, Elke Mackenzie, Jemma Redmond and Robert Boyle.
Look out for the Pride flag, which will be flying over Sussex House throughout February.
LGBTQ+ workstream at Sussex
At the University of Sussex, work towards LGBTQ+ inclusion is led by an EDI Consultant and advised on and steered by the LGBTQ+ Steering Group.
Last year, the LGBTQ+ Steering Group recruited several new members from across the University. Lilith Whiley, Associate Dean for Culture, Equality and Inclusion in the Business School, also took up her position as Chair of the Steering Group.
The LGBTQ+ Steering Group has recently provided feedback on draft Codes of Practice in the areas of Trans and Non-Binary inclusion and Religion and Belief. It has also fed into the new LGBTQ+ inclusion action plan, which is nearing completion.
LGBTQ+ History Month Events at Sussex
For students
The Students’ Union are holding a queer prom on 17 February. This event is open to all queer students—whether you missed prom, didn’t feel seen, or just want to relive the magic in a way that truly represents you.
For staff
A Queer Night At The Museum
To mark LGBTQ+ History Month, a limited number of free tickets were made available for LGBTQ+ and Trans & Non-Binary Network members to attend A Queer Night at the Museum on 6 February. Enjoy an after-hours LGBTQ+ celebration with exclusive access to the Gender Stories exhibition, plus performances, DJs, dancing, and tours.
Know your Rights: A Training by Gendered Intelligence
This 60-minute Know Your Rights session, delivered by Gendered Intelligence on 28 January in a collaboration between the LGBTQ+ and the Trans and Non-Binary Staff Networks, supported network members to better understand trans and non-binary identities, inclusive language, relevant legislation, allyship, and their rights at work and in wider society.
Brighton and Sussex Medical School
To commemorate LGBTQ+ history month the EDI team at BSMS have organised a short film screening event, showing the Judith Butler talk: 'On Gender' which goes on an in-depth exploration of gender, identity and its definitions in a modern world. Alongside this talk, we will have two PhD students sharing their fantastic LGBTQ+ research as well as an opportunity to network and chat with colleagues.
In Brighton
Brighton Museum and Art Gallery are holding two exhibitions relating to LGBTQ+ history. The Sussex Lancers: Tailor-made Leather Lovers is a photography display about the Sussex Lancers Motor Sports Club, active from 1980 to 2001 across Brighton’s nightlife and the Sussex countryside. Through leather, fetish gear, clubs, motorbikes and the open road, the Lancers formed a community which navigated prejudice, HIV, and AIDs. New photographs by Antony Edwards present a contemporary view of the Sussex leather scene and its lasting cultural legacy.
Gender Stories is an exhibition that sensitively begins to examine the fluid, multifaceted world of gender across cultures, eras, and personal experiences. It asks: What is gender? How do we experience it? Who defines it? What could its future look like?
Both exhibitions run until 12 April 2026.
Support for Staff
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LGBTQ+ staff members can join our LGBTQ+ Staff Network by contacting lgbt-staff@sussex.ac.uk. The LGBTQ+ Staff Network arranges events and activities through the year, and provides an informal network of LGBTQ+ staff. Many of their events are open to all staff, and some events are also open to students. To find out more, see the Staff Networks webpage.
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Our Trans and Non-Binary Staff Network at Sussex is a confidential and fully inclusive group open to all Sussex staff who identify as trans and/or non-binary. You can join the confidential mailing list by contacting: transnonbinarystaff@sussex.ac.uk. The mailing list is monitored and accessed solely by the Co-Chairs of the Trans and Non-Binary Staff Network.
Support for Students
Our Sussex community has several groups for LGBTQ+ staff and students:
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Students who identify as trans and/or non-binary, or who are intersex, can contact the Students’ Union Trans and Non-binary Group by emailing transnonbinary@sussexstudent.com. They can also get involved with Transcend, a SU-affiliated Campaign and Network aimed at uplifting the lives of trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming students at the University of Sussex and beyond: transcend.sussex@sussexstudent.com
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Students who identify as LGBTQ+ can join the Students’ Union’s LGBTQ+ Society and contact the Students’ Union officers for support.
Other resources and support
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The University of Sussex is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for every member of its community. If you or someone else has experienced behaviours such as bullying, harassment, a hate incident, sexual violence, domestic abuse or discrimination, you can let us know using Report and Support.
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The University’s Wellbeing Support Guidecontains a dedicated section signposting to a variety of LGBTQ+-specific resources