During LGBT+ History Month, we celebrate the stories, contributions, and resilience of people who have made a significant impact to legislation, healthcare, identify, social inclusion and more!
During LGBT+ History Month, we celebrate the stories, contributions, and resilience of people who have made a significant impact to legislation, healthcare, identify, social inclusion and more!
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender are the core identities that most people are familiar with, however the + represents a wide spectrum of identities that have often been overlooked in history and today.
When celebrating the national theme – Activism and Social Change, it is important to recognise + identities. The + is crucial because it recognises a range of experiences that exist within the community, such as pansexual, asexual, non-binary, intersex, genderfluid, and many more. Even if they haven't always been well known, these identities have existed throughout history and the erasure of + identities result in several issues such as lack of legal rights, awareness and gatekeeping of LGBT+ spaces. Many wonderful people who identify with the + identity have participated in activism to create social change in support of the representation of their identity and tackle these issues. We at the RHSU, want to celebrate + identities and celebrate this activism and have therefore created this blog to showcase individuals and signpost key resources for awareness and support.
>> KEY ACTIVISTS WITH + IDENTITIES IN THE MOVEMENT
The Plus Importance Project is an amazing project that is highlighting the voices of + identities. This UK-based charity aims to improve understanding and inclusion of people in the "+" of LGBT+. They work to eliminate discrimination and promote equality for identities such as asexual, genderfluid, intersex, non-binary, and pansexual individuals. Their work seeks to discredit the belief that LGBTQ+ history is restricted to a small number of narratives by sharing personal stories and empowering lesser-known identities. In their history resource, they identify several histories of identifies in the + to recognise and celebrate activism and social change.
Some of the LGBT+ Historical Figures they include:
1. Janelle Monáe (she/they): In a 2018 interview, Janelle Monáe came out as pansexual, leading to a significant increase in public interest and understanding of pansexuality with an 11,000% increase in lookups for the term ‘pansexual.’
2. David Jay: Founder of the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), David Jay has been a prominent advocate for asexual awareness and rights. AVEN provides resources and community support for asexual individuals.
3. Nemo (they/them): In 2024, Nemo became the first openly non-binary artist to win the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "The Code," which discusses their journey of accepting their non-binary identity. Following their victory, Nemo advocated for Switzerland to recognize a third gender option on official documents, highlighting the need for legal recognition of non-binary individuals.
4. Ncuti Gatwa (he/they): An openly queer actor, Ncuti Gatwa made history as the fifteenth Doctor in "Doctor Who," bringing queer and "+ identities" into mainstream media and increasing visibility.
Asexual and aromantic identities, while not always highlighted in mainstream LGBT+ history, have played a vital role in advancing discussions around the diversity and complexity of human identity. These identities challenge traditional narratives of relationships and attraction, opening up space for broader conversations about inclusion and acceptance. The history of the LGBT+ community is rich, multifaceted, and deeply personal—an evolving tapestry shaped by countless voices and experiences. By continuing to foster these conversations, recognizing the unique contributions of each identity, and celebrating the often-overlooked histories within the spectrum, we can work towards a future where everyone’s identity is validated, respected, and supported. Afterall, there is no LGBT+ without the +!
>> PEOPLE WORKING TO SUPPORT YOU
The Plus Importance Project: Improving understanding and inclusion of people in the + of LGBT+ - Plus Importance Project Pride Hub Egham: Pride Hub from Pride in Surrey or check out their Instagram @hubpride Barnardo’s: Positive Identities– Gender Space: Positive Identities - Gender Space | Barnardo's Stonewall: Homepage | Stonewall RHUL Wellbeing Support Team: Student Wellbeing - Royal Holloway Student Intranet