LGBT month underway in Birmingham

Southside celebrates LGBT History Festival.

Throughout February Southside venues The Nightingale and The Old Rep will be hosting a series of events in recognition of the internationally-celebrated LGBT History Month.

On Sunday 16th February, The Old Rep will host Leo & Hyde’s award-winning musical GUY. The show, which won the accolade of Birmingham’s Best Show at Birminghamfest 2018, is a story about trying to find love online with self-acceptance at the heart of it.

Later in the month and returning for its fourth year, Shout Festival will present Birmingham’s LGBT History Festival 2020: Looking Back, Moving Forward. Taking place from the 20th–23rd February, this year focuses on how stories from the LGBTQ+ community, as well as how individual empowerment and activism can help to shape the way we approach the future.

Over the weekend, there are film screenings and panel discussions around faith and the LGBTQ+ community, plus cult films Party Monster and Velvet Goldmine will be shown, all taking place at The Nightingale.

Jo Muskett, operations manager wellbeing services at Birmingham LGBT, said: “This month is a fantastic celebration of Birmingham’s proud LGBTQ+ heritage. The events hosted throughout Southside all highlight different elements of the culture, and we hope people from all across the Midlands come and join us.”

Julia Robinson, manager at Southside BID, said: “The LGBTQ+ community is such an integral part of Southside, it is fantastic to welcome such a range of events into the district to shine a light on LGBT History Month. Pride is the biggest event of the year in Southside and we’re happy to be part of the community.”

To buy tickets for events, visit shoutfestival.co.uk.