We are a community!

As February comes to a close we finish celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month. Often History Month is used as a reminder about those LGBT people that played a part in our mainstream history. But for me it is more important to remember that as LGB&T people we have a shared history which is so important.

In 1969 a small bar in New York, the Stonewall Inn was raided by Police. A group of Trans women and a lesbian were the first to say 'enough is enough'. They were quickly joined by many others from the Gay Community and the Stonewall Riots were born.

In 1978 gay men started to die in San Francisco and no one really new why, it would be during the 80s that the impact of AIDS was truly felt all across the world.

In 1988 the Conservative Government created Section 28 which banned the promotion of homosexuality in schools.

In 1992 Brighton holds it's first ever Pride.

In 2004 Civil Partnership became law.

These are just a few key events in our history.

History is important. It gives us a shared sense who we are and we learn from it to find out where we are going. Those of us who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender have a history of pain but also a history of triumph. A history of overcoming obstacles put against us, of fighting for our rights, of celebrating our sexuality, our gender and saying 'this is me' - respect me, respect who I am and who I want to be. Respect my right to love who I want to love.

This history - our own very distinct, very separate history that perhaps others won't understand - reminds me that we are a community for a reason. No we may not all have the same ideals, the same politics, the same taste in music! BUT we are drawn together in times of crisis and in times of joy, we know what it feels like to hide a part of ourselves. We know what it's like to be called disgusting, evil, abhorrent and abnormal. We know what it's like to watch friends be bullied, beaten, attacked and in some cases die. We know what it's like to turn to your friends and call them your family because your own family have rejected you.

And that's what we are - the LGB&T community, a family. Not always fitting, not always seeing eye to eye but knowing we've been on the same journey, we've got here in roughly the same way and that our history - our wonderful vibrant, colourful, eclectic history has helped us get here. So celebrate it, remember it, share it and tomorrow make some more!

After all that great gay rights activist Gandhi told us 'be the change you want to see in the world' - so that's what we've been doing year after year and long may it continue!