Queen Mary is proud to be celebrating LGBTQIA+ History Month with an exciting programme of events to highlight the history, experiences and achievements of LGBTQIA+ communities.
LGBTQIA+ History Month is an annual celebration held during February in the UK, that highlights the contributions, success, and achievement of the LGBTQIA+ community.
This year, we are proud to showcase a programme of LGBTQIA+ History Month events, activities and resources that are open to our staff and students to mark this important month.
For 2026 the national theme is Science and Innovation.
At a time when LGBTQIA+ lives are often debated and sensationalised, we encourage you to listen to LGBTQIA+ peoples’ lived experiences and find out more about the contributions and history of the community. Take a look at our Media Recommendations for some inspiration!
Queen Mary University of London seeks to be the most inclusive university of its kind, anywhere, by 2030. We are proud to be a university that opens the doors of opportunity to anyone with the potential to succeed. Queen Mary's work to create an inclusive environment for our LGBTQIA+ staff and students is underpinned in our People, Culture, and Inclusion Enabling Plan.
At Queen Mary we champion the welfare and wellbeing of all our LGBTQIA+ staff and students. I am pleased to introduce Queen Mary’s programme of events and activities that will take place throughout February 2026, to highlight the history and achievements of LGBTQIA+ communities as we mark and celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month.
The 2026 theme of ‘Science and Innovation’ recognises that throughout history LGBTQIA+ people have played important roles in driving scientific progress and developing our understanding of the world.
I encourage you all to take time during the month to learn more about the many contributions made, both past and present, by LGBTQIA+ people and to continue to raise awareness of the lived experiences of those within the LGBTQIA+ community. We all have a role to play in the creation of an inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ people at Queen Mary and beyond.
- Dr Philippa Lloyd, Vice-Principal (Policy and Strategic Partnerships)
LGBTQA+ support for staff and students
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Advice and Counselling - Advice and Counselling provide a range of specialist, professional and confidential services to support students with financial, welfare, legal, emotional and psychological issues.
Togetherall - Queen Mary University of London offers all its staff and students access to an online support service called ‘Togetherall’. Togetherall offers unlimited, 24/7 accessible online support – you can connect with peers, chat online to clinicians, use self-help resources, join groups or take self-assessments. To join Togetherall follow this link and sign up using your Queen Mary University of London with your university e-mail address.
Employee Assistance Programme - The employee assistance programme is a free, confidential service that provides a wide range of support for staff around help balancing work, family and personal life. Available anytime, any day, by phone, email or online, the service provides information, resources, referrals and counseling on any issue that matters to you.
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Tower Hamlets LGBT Community Forum - a project that aims to bring together LGBT+ people (and allies) who live, work, study or socialise in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to discuss and have an influence on issues which affect the local LGBT community, as well as network, socialise and meet other local LGBT people.
MindOut - MindOut is a mental health service run by and for lesbians, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people.
East London Out Project (ELOP) - ELOP is a local charity to QMUL. It is a lesbian and gay centre that offers a range of social, emotional and support services to LGBT communities, with core services including counselling and young people’s services.
London Friend - London Friend is the UK’s oldest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans charity. We are here to support the health and mental wellbeing of the LGBT community in and around London.
Mermaids - Mermaids supports gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care. Transgender and gender-variant children and teens need support and understanding, as well as the freedom to explore their gender identity.