A project to educate youngsters about the history of the LGBT+ community will launch in Cumbria this week.
The project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is being run by Cumbria Pride.
It aims to educate secondary age children and young people about the history of the LGBT+ community and encourage them to share the information positively with their peers.
It will be launched on Sunday at Harraby Community Campus in Carlisle from 11am to 4pm. A host of activities are planned for the free event, including guest speaker Jude Guaitamacchi and music Miss Pearl. A free screening of the film Love, Simon will also take place.
Jane-ann Clark, chair of Cumbria Pride, said: “Following the success of Make with Pride, our project for families with younger age children, we kept being asked by lots of people and organisations if we could do a project for older children.
“There’s little out there for this age group to engage with when it comes to LGBT+. We do have LGBT+ youth clubs throughout Cumbria, but attendance often involves sharing their identity and separating from friends. Our project is something for both those who identify as LGBT+ and allies, so it removes the anxiety of disclosing their identity and friends can attend together.”
Create with Pride will provide a safe space where young people can learn about the history of the community and how it has evolved over time, Cumbria Pride said.
The project will be delivered via workshops that will cover a range of topics related to LGBT+ history. Participants will learn about key events, figures, and milestones that have shaped the community, from the Stonewall Riots to the fight for marriage equality. They will also have the opportunity to explore the diverse experiences of LGBT+ people, including those from underrepresented groups such as people of colour, transgender individuals, and disabled people.
In addition to learning about history, participants will be encouraged to get creative and explore different ways of sharing the information with their peers. They will have the opportunity to work on a range of projects, from creating posters and displays to producing digital media.
Karyn Wood, project co-ordinator, added: “We’re thrilled to be able to offer young people the opportunity to learn about LGBT+ history and explore ways of sharing this information creatively. We believe that by engaging young people in this way, we can make a real difference in promoting understanding of the LGBT+ community.”
