February is LGBT History Month, and The University of Nottingham is taking the opportunity to celebrate LGBT culture with the local community by hosting academic lectures, discussions, film screenings and much more.

These exciting events will run throughout the month, and almost all are both free and open to the public. Whatever your interests, there’s something for everyone.

Film, performance and expert insight

Highlights from the programme include:

• The B word? Dr Christina Richards discusses the visibility and inclusion of bisexuality, Wednesday 3 February
• Upendo – in partnership with Stella Vision, explore the LGBTQ community in Africa and issues of human rights, religion and philosophy, Saturday 6 February
• Lesbian pulp fiction: then and now with Dr Kaye Mitchell, Wednesday 10 February
• Hate crime in Nottingham and beyond – the University’s Rights and Justice Research Priority Area and Five Leaves Bookshop are joined by Rainbow Heritage, local activists and Nottinghamshire Police, Thursday 11 February
• Polari: the lost and found gay language is examined by Professor Paul Baker, Wednesday 17 February
• Discipline and punish – Dr Max Biddulph gives an insight into Foucault, BDSM and his philosophy of power, Thursday 25 February

For a full gallery of events and links to register, visit the University’s LGBT History Month blog.

Flourishing links with the community

This year’s celebrations follow a hugely successful LGBT History Month programme in February 2015, and are a collaboration between the University’s Human Resources and Professional Development departments, the LGBTQ Staff Network, and schools and departments across the institution.

As well as in venues on University of Nottingham campuses, many events will take place in popular community venues around the city, including the New Art Exchange, Nottingham Contemporary, Five Leaves Bookshop and Nottingham Writers’ Studio. By both welcoming guests onto campus and bringing events out into the community, the University hopes to make it easier than ever for the public to get involved.

Dr Max Biddulph, Chair of the University’s LGBTQ Staff Network, said: “Our programme is incredibly rich this year, both in genres and in venues and it is really encouraging to see relations between the scholars and departments in the university and our partners in the community flourishing.

“Everyone is welcome at our LGBT History Month events, so please come along to interrogate, question, philosophise… and enjoy!”

The University’s People and Culture Team added: “It is fantastic to see such an extensive events programme covering a range of topics to celebrate LGBT History Month 2016. The University of Nottingham values and benefits from the rich diversity of identities, backgrounds, experiences and talents brought by all members of our community and we very much look forward to welcoming staff, students and the wider community throughout February to these exciting and thought-provoking events.”

Keep up to date

Many of the events will be live tweeted on Twitter from @UoNresearch. Follow the account for updates.

The University of Nottingham is also marking LGBT History Month with a dedicated blog, which will regularly share news, events and comment from University staff and students. For updates throughout February, visit the blog.

Image: Rainbow flag flying over the Trent Building, University Park in May 2015 for IDAHOBIT.