For the whole of June, we’re celebrating along with the rest of the country LGBTQ+ Pride. We’re a big advocate at KC  for inclusivity, free expression and supporting students and their choices. We pride ourselves on creating a safe space for our students and welcoming anyone from the LGBTQ+ community, whether they are a staff member or student.

June is Pride Month because it coincides with the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. In the 1980s, “Gay Freedom” became “Gay Pride,” and from 2009 to 2016, President Obama officially declared June the month of LGBT Pride.

We’ve put together some helpful information that may benefit someone who’s interested in learning more about the LGBTQ+ community, looking for advice or helpful resources.

You are part of #TeamKC and we support you!

A Quick Understanding

Sexual Orientation VS Gender Identity

Sexual Orientation: A way to describe the feelings you have for someone you fancy, want to date or be in a relationship with. You might fancy people of a different gender, the same gender or more than one gender. You might not fancy anyone at all and that’s fine too!

Gender Identity: A way to describe how you feel about your gender. You might identify your gender as a boy or a girl or something different. This is different from your sex, which is related to your physical body and biology. People are assigned a gender identity at birth based on their sex.

It may be helpful to look through Stonewall’s glossary of terms to better understand the terms and language used within the LGBTQ+ community.

Books

There are so many books out there that have been written by LGBT people, books that educate, inspire and inform are readily available to you. Favourites include: Love Simon by Becky Abertalli; Stonewall by Martin Duberman, Untamed by Glennon Doyl; The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar and Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo. 

• Check out Educate and Celebrate’s book list from Early years to Adults and everything in between. 
• Penguin Random house on The Ultimate LGBTQIA+ Pride Book List
• Goodreads have also highlighted their LGBTQ+ Reads
• Last year Good Housekeeping did an article on 35 Fantastic LGBT Books to read this Pride Month
• Keep up with Book recommendations on Insta with @Queerbooklife

Instagram – Who to follow

There are so many advocates out there for the LGBTQ+ community and they are all over social media.

• Glamour have published their list of The most inspiring LGBTQ+ people you *need* to follow on Instagram
• The Hill.com published their list The top 14 LGBTQ+ activists and icons to follow on social media which includes the likes of RuPaul Andre Charles, Jonathan Van Ness and Billy Porter. 
• Livepool Queer Collective have published their 5 LGBTQ Instagrammers to follow

Movies, TV & Documentaries

There is a great collection of LGBTQ+ movies, television programmes and documentaries currently out there.

Esquire have published their list on 17 Best LGBTQ Movies you can stream on Netflix…

Indiwire have released their list of The Best LGBT Shows to watch right now…

Time have put together their iconic list of documentaries: 8 LGBTQ Documentaries to Watch During Pride Month

Podcasts

Attitude have put a great list of important LGBTQ+ Podcasts to listen to (read the list for a full synopsis), they are;

• Nancy
• Getting Curious With Jonathan Van Ness
• #QueerAF
• Attitude Heroes
• Gay and a Non Gay
• Homo Sapiens
• Making Gay History
• RuPaul: What’s The Tee? With Michelle Visage
• The Log Books
• Queery Podcast
• Food 4 Thot
• Gay Travel Podcast by Out Adventures
• The Read
• The Dorothy Project

Reach out

There is lots of help out there and resources at your disposal. Here are just a few websites and charities that can help support you.

LGBT Foundation

LGBT Foundation exists to support the needs of the diverse range of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans. “We believe in a fair and equal society where all LGBT people can achieve their full potential. #EqualityWins underpins much of what we do and we aim to be; ‘here if you need us.’

Birmingham LGBT 

“Our vision is a vibrant, diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community in Birmingham, UK in which individuals can realise their full potential and have equal access to what the city has to offer”.

Stonewall Youth

“We’re here to let all young lesbian, gay, bi and trans people – as well as those who are questioning – here and abroad, know they’re not alone. We want to empower all young people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, to campaign for equality and fair treatment for LGBTQ people, and against discrimination”.

MindOut

MindOut is a mental health service run by and for lesbians, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people who work to improve the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ communities and to make mental health a community concern.

The BeYou project

Help and advice for LGBTQ+ young people.

Mermaids

Helping gender-diverse kids, young people and their families.

Mind 

Information about mental health support for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer or questioning (LGBTIQ+).

akt

akt supports LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-25 in the UK who are facing or experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment.

GIRES

GIRES is a UK wide organisation whose purpose is to improve the lives of trans and gender non-conforming people of all ages, including those who are non-binary and non-gender.

IMMAN

The UK’s leading LQBTQ+ Muslim charity

LGBT HERO

LGBT HERO is the parent organisation of GMFA, FS magazine and OutLife. Set up in 2011, HERO was designed to improve the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ people by offering trusted information and advice so LGBTQ+ people can create personal and social change in their lives and our community.

MindLine Trans+

“We are a national helpline, you can call us from anywhere in the UK –0300 330 5468“.

The MindLine Trans+ provides a safe place to talk about your feelings confidentially. We don’t record calls nor ask for any personal details. Our listeners will try understand the multitude of feelings and concerns that may be going on for you. We are here to listen and offer our support.

Pink Therapy

Online directory of qualified therapists who identify as or are understanding of minority sexual and gender identities.

Switchboard

“We’re here to help you with whatever you want to talk about. Nothing is off limits, and we understand how anxious you might feel before you pick up the phone”.

Kidderminster College

As a college we are committed to helping you as best we can, if you need to talk to someone we have teachers, councillors and resources available to you.

College Counsellor:

Tel – 01562 512 023

Mobile – 07876 350440

Learner Services:

Tel – 01262512000

Email –STUDENTSERVICES@KIDDERMINSTER.AC.UK

Pride Inside

Due to the current Coronavirus pandemic, Pride has understandably been cancelled. However, Pride Inside has launched, it’s an online festival between Sunday 28 June – Sunday 5 July. Click for the latest press release.

Read Condé Nast’s post; How to virtually celebrate pride around the world.

Just because Pride has been cancelled this year, this doesn’t mean that the celebrations have to stop. Whether you choose to celebrate at a social distance with friends, online or instead choose to research and educate yourself during the month. However you decide to celebrate we wish you a happy Pride Month!

If you have any suggestions for more resources and material, please contact marketing@kidderminster.ac.uk. We are constantly striving to improve the information and resources that we put out there.