Ideas for events

Join with friends and colleagues and organise an event in your neighbourhood or workplace. On this page are just a few general suggestions. If you have any more, or would like to tell us about an event, let us know.

Don't forget to tell us about your event, so we can publicise it on our calendar (submit your event by clicking here).

You can also see previous events calendars to give you inspiration for your own event.
Click here to see the 2006 calendar.
Click here to see the 2007 calendar.

• arrange for a specialist historian or biographer to give a public talk
• arrange an evening of readings from memoirs, biographies, poems and fiction
• find older people in your area who are prepared to take part in an evening of talks and questions about LGBT life in the twentieth century
• if you live in a city, find someone who can conduct a guided walk round places of historical interest
• organise a pub quiz (we have lots of LGBT themed quizzes here)

Here are some more specific ones:

• schools and colleges hold a themed assembly
• teach about LGBT people in lessons: History, English, Religious Education, Citizenship, Sex and Relationships etc.
• put up a display in university departments of History, English, Drama, Gender Studies, Social Studies
• arrange a public lecture
• hold a seminar
• hold a day conference
• organise an arts event
• museums, art galleries and archives put on an exhibition
• hold a history workshop
• arrange a public talk
• libraries put on a display of books and pictures
• theatres and arts centres, dramatic societies and music groups put on a play or performance
• hold a concert of work by LGBT composers
• arrange an evening of readings, or readings with music
• film clubs and independent cinemas show a film with an LGBT theme; or a short season

Here are some more unusual suggestions:

• stage a re-enactment of the ceremonies, Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic, by which same-sex couples used to be blessed in churches. Visit the Same Sex Unions site for more information and to be put in touch with someone who can supply liturgies, costumes and props.
• arts organisations — why not hold a poetry or short story competition with an LGBT theme?
• debating societies in universities and elsewhere — why not hold a debate on a controversial LGBT-related motion?
• organise a gay Valentine's dinner for staff at your workplace (with attendance open to non-gay colleagues and their partners too, of course)