Celebrating LGBT Youth
February is widely known through the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) community as LGBT History Month.
LGBT History Month is about celebrating the lives and achievements of LGBT People. LGBT History month is also about celebrating the diversity within the UK.
It is an opportunity for all of us to learn more about the histories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Britain and Northern Ireland.
Until recently, most LGBT people preferred to avoid attention. Many still do. Even today, the penalties for those who refuse to conceal themselves, or fail to do so, can be severe. They can range from ostracism and victimisation to assault and even murder.
In the past, the silencing of LGBT people was often reinforced by legislation. The most recent example was Section 28, passed in 1988 and repealed in 2003, which was intended to restrict debate on homosexuality, particularly in schools.
Cardiff County Council Schools & Lifelong Learning Department has been holding an LGBT History Month conference over the last three years and this year is all about celebrating LGBT youth. If you’re interested in this conference then please read below.
Celebrating LGBT Youth - All Wales Education & Youth Conference 2011
The third annual All Wales LGBT History Month education and youth conference will be held at Cardiff’s City Hall on Monday 7 February 2011.
As part of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender History Month which takes place every year in February and celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community, Cardiff Council and its partners will be hosting the event once again to promote equality for young people, highlight and share good practice and provide support of the inclusion agenda in schools.
Organised with Safer Wales, LGBT Excellence Centre, Cardiff Against Bullying and the All Wales Hate Crime Research project, this year’s event is being supported by pupils from Cardiff High School, Cantonian High School, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr and Radyr Comprehensive School alongside young people from Loud & Proud (LGBT) Youth Provision.
The all-day event is suitable for teachers, youth workers and other professionals who work with young people and will include workshops to share good practice and improve services.
The cost for the event is £30 and there will be a host of presentations, dramas, film and workshops by pupils, teachers, youth groups and youth workers as well as professionals in the field to celebrate the work undertaken by LGBT young people and their supporters, and share good practice across Wales.
Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway said: “It’s great to hear that young people themselves will be taking part in next year’s conference. The Council takes the issue of inclusion in our schools very seriously and we have a number of initiatives to ensure that the LGBT community receive the support and guidance they need.”
Any parties interested in attending or in contributing should contact Shaun on shevanspask@cardiff.gov.uk or telephone: 07800 572600.
If you want to know more about LGBT History Month then please go to this website http://www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk/aboutus/main.htm
Organisations Loud and Proud: Cardiff LGBT Youth Provision
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