Reflecting on LGBTQ+ history month, we want to highlight this year’s featured historical figures.
Even if February has come to a close, it’s still important that we bring attention and chat about LGBTQIA+ History Month.
This annual event is dedicated to celebrating queer history, rights and civil right movements. Here in the UK this is celebrated during the month of February to honour the 2003 abolition of Section 28. Each year the event focuses on a diverse range of themes with this year’s focusing on Science and Innovation.
Each year, five queer historical figures get chosen in line with the theme to highlight, so we thought that showcasing them and their achievements would be the best way to reflect on this month.
Check them out!!
Barbara Burford
This brilliant figure was a British medical researcher, writer and diversity activist who worked at the NHS for the majority of her career. Within her specialisation in medical research, she noticed the flaws within the system that didn’t promote equality or inclusivity. Which is why when becoming the Director of Equality for the UK Department she helped develop policies that promoted fairness, inclusion and equal opportunities across the NHS. Additionally, she also contributed to feminist writing and activism, pushing conversations about quality, representation and identity.
Charles Beyer
Even though, he is from Germany, this engineer became an influential figure in Britain’s industrial history. He is the co-founder of Beyer, Peacock & Company, one of the world’s most important locomotive manufacturers, helping to establish the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He is recognised as an influential figure in the science and engineering community, and we must highlight figures like this to showcase the diversity of them in shaping the fields as we know them today.
Elke Mackenzie
This inspirational figure was responsible for conducting important research during Antarctic expeditions, as a pioneering botanist and expert in lichens. Her efforts led to the discovery and classifications of many new lichen species, with some of them named in her honour. She transitioned later in life, and faced many challenges due to this, reflecting the discrimination against transgender scientists. However, she still contributed to scientific knowledge through research and translation work, making her be recognised as an important transgender figure in history.
Jemma Redmond
This amazing figure was an Irish biotechnologist, known for her work in bioprinting (technology used to create living tissues and organs through 3D printing). Her research contributed to make this technology more accessible by using diverse kinds of tools and lower cost methods. Showcasing how new technologies could transform healthcare and medical research. She is an important figure as she represents how the LGBTQ+ community helps to shape the future of science and innovation.
Robert Boyle
This important English and Irish scientist is often considered one of the founders of modern chemistry. He helped establish the experimental scientific method known as Boyle’s Law, describing the relationship between pressure and volume in gases. This helped shape modern laboratory science, influencing generations of researchers. His contributions to science and innovation should be heavily recognised and highlight how LGBTQ+ people have always been present in the development of science through history.
And there you have it, the 5 historical figures that represent this year’s LGBTQ+ Month celebration!! It is always important for us to look back and remember the important people that helped shape society as we know it today, and acknowledge how they helped to bring the movement forward.