LGBT+ History Month

This year’s national theme is #BehindTheLens and celebrates LGBT+ peoples’ contribution to cinema and film – with a focus on claiming the past, celebrating the present and creating a positive future towards social justice and fairness. 
 
The NHS People Plan recognises the urgency of NHS leaders acting and creating an organisational culture where everyone feels that they belong – in particular, improving the experience of staff from diverse and minority backgrounds.

During LGBT+ History Month trusts across England have the opportunity to demonstrate how they are taking action to support LGBTQ+ equality in the workplace. 

What's happening in the NHS during LGBT+ History Month

• The NHS Confederation's Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network will be actively sharing details of events via Twitter and will be launching some new resources. Follow them on Twitter @NHSC_LGBTQ for regular updates and tweet using the hashtag #LGBTplusHM. 

• NHS South East Leadership Academy are hosting a number of free online sessions during February and March:
  
  - LGBTQ+ affirmative practice 1 February, 10-11.30am
  - LGBTQ+ history 6 February, 10-11.30am
  - LGBTQ+ identities and mental health 17 March 12-1.30pm
   
• NHS London Leadership Academy are also hosting a number of sessions:
  
  - LGBTQ+ Everyday Transphobia 10 February, 10-11am
  - LGBTQ+ Mental health inequalities 15 February, 10-11am
  - LGBTQ+ Service user involvement 28 February, 10-11am

If your network or trust is hosting an event, a blog or a specific resource, let us know and we can promote it.

Access LGBTQ+ resources and information

• The Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network  has produced a comprehensive set of resources to improve the experiences of LGBTQ+ staff. Find out more about the free network and access their resources, including their LGBTQ+ Inclusion Framework in October 2022. The framework is built on six pillars to enable health and care leaders to ensure their working culture and services are LGBTQ+ inclusive. 

• The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published census data around sexual orientation and gender identity data – a useful tool to support LGBTQ+ healthcare and a workforce that is inclusive and representative.  

• The Royal College of Psychiatrists have committed to twelve actions for an LGBTQ+ friendly workplace. This follows their survey of College members in 2022, which revealed that one in two psychiatrists has experienced hostility at work because of their sexuality or gender identity. 

• The BMA has a range of resources which explore the experiences of LGBTQ+ doctors and medical students in education, training and the workplace. A BMA report in partnership with the Association of LGBTQ+ Doctors and Dentists (GLADD), has found that fewer than half of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer respondents feel able to be open about their sexual orientation where they work or study. A little over a third feel able to be open about their gender identity. 

• Peter Molyneux, chair of the Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network shares the challenges of being authentic while in a leadership role, and what it means to be an authentic leader.  

• NHS Employers has developed a summary of information, tools, resources, and best practice to help you create a culture and environment that welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender staff, allowing them to be themselves at work and to contribute fully to the wider organisation.

• NHS Employers and the Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network held a webinar in December 2021 'Embedding and empowering LGBTQ+ staff networks webinar'. This session covered the latest good practice on LGBTQ+ staff networks in the NHS and what can be done to ensure they operate effectively, access the recording.

• Unison has developed a page detailing resources and key historical moments that have contributed to LGBTQ+ rights and continue to do so.

Get involved  

Keep an eye on our website and Twitter using hashtag #LGBTplusHM as we and our Health & Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network join in the celebrations, share stories and resources. 
 
Should you have any queries please contact diversityandinclusion@nhsemployers.org