The 23rd of November saw the Pre-Launch of LGBT history Month 2006.

This was sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Metropolitan Police Service and held in their magnificent Empress State building in Earls Court. They did us proud. Whilst people arrived large screens either side of the podium, displayed slides from the LGBT history Month Website and a list of the organisations who are supporting this year’s venture, many of whom appeared in person to express this support.

In no particular order they were:

Stonewall; Amnesty International; National union of Teachers; Galop; Gires; Schools OUT; Big Up; GMFA; Europride London 2006; Camden LGBT Forum; Norfolk Constabulary; ACAS; Drill Hall Theatre; Consortium; Crown Prosecution Service; OUT everywhere; A Place at the Table; BGMAG; Kirklees Safer Communities; Dti; DfES and of course: Metropolitan Police Authority and the Metropolitan Police Service. A Powerpoint of the accompanying presentation, which includes logos of organisations supporting the event can be seen here.

We were also flanked by large banners, expressing the massive diversity of our communities.

As guests arrived, they were greeted by live music from:

Blow the Fuse.

They were also served light refreshments and became the first people to get a chance to wear the very stylish LGBT History Month 2006 badges.

Proceedings were kicked off by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Rose Fitzpatrick, who has just taken over Diversity and Citizenship at the Met. She welcomed us all and talked of the importance of the celebration of diversity to all aspects of police work opened the afternoon welcoming everyone to the event . She was proud to be there and felt is crucial that the police in London took a proactive stance on LGBT issues and were there to celebrate the achievements and realities of LGBT life.

Sue Sanders co Chair of Schools OUT who instigated LGBT History Month thanked her and recognised the massive strides that the Police have made for the event to be hosted by the MPS and MPA. She led a moment of reflection in memory of all those, not all of whom LGBT, who have suffered homo/Transphobia some to the extent of being murdered. She hoped that the month would be a tool with which to educate people to dispel ignorance, prejudice, stereotypes and irrational homo/transphobia.. She then introduced her Co-Chair Paul Patrick, a colleague of over 30 years.

Paul was clearly thrilled at the event and the realisation that an idea that Sue voice only two years ago had come to such fruition. He paid tribute to the police and recognised that we still had a long way to go until all LGBT people were treated as complete human beings, equally and respectfully, and that homo/Transphobia was banished.

He then introduced Dr Rictor Norton academic, historian and scholar.

Dr Norton’s work can be seen and appreciated by going to his website - www.infopt.demon.co.uk. He gave a fascinating speech about what is meant by LGBT history and how we now interpret it. He felt that when we spend over long on seeing our oppression as our history when there is much within it to celebrate.

Sarah Weir was next to speak. She is the executive director of the Arts Council and talked about the importance of the arts in playing in exploring the diversity of our community and finding our own identity. It was refreshing that she mentioned such a variety of our artists as Jackie Kay and Clare Summerskill, the Drill Hall and Queer Up North. She also gave out crucial information as to how to apply for grants for artistic endeavours – check the Arts Council website!

Jeffrey Weeks, historian, sociologist and writer, was the next to speak. He too talked about the importance of history in understanding who we are, where we are, how we got here and how we can use all that knowledge to help us mone forward. He reminded us of the struggles of the past and urged us to continue the fight for true equality.

Kirsten Hearne is a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority and Chair of their diversity board. She gave a rousing speech reminding us of the old days when the police could be counted on to give us a hard time - quoting Tom Robinson’s song “Glad to be Gay”. Her passion about wanting the police service to be accessible to all is one of her many driving forces. Kirsten demonstrated her knowledge and experience in setting up LGBT disabled groups, working with Transport for London, and showed herself a worthy champion. She also declared her concern that there are LGB organisations that have not become inclusive and embraced the issues of our transgender community.

Persia West spoke movingly about her journey as a trans woman. She talked movingly and, often, hilariously, of the highs and the lows and the problems she had faced. She then shared with us that historic moment when she received her Gender Recognition Certificate and was able to own a new birth certificate in her real gender. Her presentation was heartfelt and illuminating and clearly enabled may people to understand the issues more fully.

Cyril Nri, actor, director and writer closed our incredible bill of speakers. He talked moving about his own life and reminded us that, after all, history is just stories – stories that illuminate, that warn, that celebrate. He then proceeded to share with us one of his own. – a warm, amusing and affectionate account of a black boy (you felt a lot like him) realising his gay sexuality. He summed up by saying, “There are many labels that can be attached to me, but when it comes down to it – I’m just Cyril.

As if this celebration wasn’t enough Susan Paterson, a member of the Galop Management Committee presented Sue Sanders, on behalf of LGBT History Month, with a silver plate engraved with MPS and MPA who co hosted LGBT HM Pre- Launch 2006 in the hope that another organisation in would come along host it in November 2006 and add their names to the plate. We have already had some interest for this, but if your organisation would like to be hosts of next year’s pre-launch please be in contact.

Paul Patrick.