LGBT+ History Month
LGBT+ History Month Events
Week 1 (2-8 February)
LGBT+ Mental Health and Wellbeing Event (students only)
4 February 2026, 10.00am-3.00pm
Location: SU Square, Percy Gee Building
A support showcase event with representatives from the University’s support services and local charities, raising awareness for students and the support available to them. The Students’ Union’s Liberation Council, Trans and Non-Binary Officer, and LGBT+ Officer will also be in attendance to engage with students.
School of Arts, Media and Communication – LGBT+ History Month Film Series: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
4 February 2026, 1.30pm-3.45pm
Location: Attenborough Film Theatre
Join the School of Arts, Media and Communication for a series of film screenings and workshops as part of LGBT+ History Month.
The first screening will be Stephan Elliott’s 1994 cult classic ‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’. The screening will be introduced by Dr Anna Claydon (Associate Professor in Media and Film), with a short audience discussion post-screening.
Details on future screenings for the series will be shared at this event.
LGBTea (Students Only)
4 February 2026, 2.00pm-4.00pm
Location: Liberation Room, Percy Gee Building (Students' Union)
The LGBTQ+ Society's weekly queer tea and coffee catch-up, with free hot drinks and a real community feel. Whether you have been coming for years or it's your first one all are welcome at LGBTea!
Ride Leicester: Joe Orton Ride
7 February 2026, 10.00am-1.00pm
Location: Bike Park, Town Hall Square
Join Ride Leicester during the Comedy Festival to discover where acclaimed 1960s playwright Joe Orton grew up, explore his local library and find out what books he borrowed, stop at the theatre that inspired his passion for drama, hear extracts from his unpublished teenage diary and uncover his legacy in the city. Dr Emma Parker, University of Leicester, will explain how growing up in Leicester shaped Orton’s life and work.
The ride ends with a chance to delve into the Orton archive at the University of Leicester.
Riders completing this ride will also receive a free, limited edition, Joe Orton tote bag.
Please bring a bike lock with you if you have one.
First timers welcome!
Week 2 (9-15 February)
National HIV Testing Week: Trade Sexual Health Drop-In Testing Session
9 February 2026, 10.00am-2.00pm
Location: Percy Gee Building (Students’ Union Building)
As part of National HIV Testing Week (9-15 February 2026), the LGBT+ Society and Students’ Union will be hosting Trade Sexual Health at the Percy Gee Building, to provide confidential and free rapid HIV tests to staff, students and anyone who needs them.
Additional information will also be available on knowing your HIV status, effective treatment, as well as information on PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).
Take the opportunity to know your status and raise awareness of the importance of HIV testing, increase early diagnosis, as well as increasing opportunities for people to get tested and end the stigma of HIV.
More about Trade and their services
LGBT+ Staff Forum Social
9 February 2026, 6.00pm-8.00pm
Location: Attenborough Arts Centre
Join the LGBT+ Staff Forum for a relaxed social at the Attenborough Arts Centre, allowing members and those interested to meet and talk in a relaxing environment. Board games will also be available.
LGBTea (Students Only)
11 February 2026, 2.00pm-4.00pm
Location: Liberation Room, Percy Gee Building (Students' Union)
The LGBTQ+ Society's weekly queer tea and coffee catch-up, with free hot drinks and a real community feel. Whether you have been coming for years or it's your first one all are welcome at LGBTea!
LGBT+ Trivia Night (students only)
11 February 2026, 4.00pm-5.00pm
Location: Liberation Room, Percy Gee Building
Join the Students’ Union’s LGBT+ themed trivia night, with the chance to win a £30 gift card for a local LGBT+ friendly bar, while runner ups will receive £10 and £5. Attendees are encouraged to wear rainbow colours for the night.
Week 3 (16-22 February)
Gendered Intelligence - Trans Awareness Training Session: The Basics
17 February 2026, 11.00am-12.45pm
Online (Zoom)
Delivered by Gendered Intelligence, a trans-led registered charity that works to increase understanding of gender diversity.
The training will be delivered by Gendered Intelligence, a trans-led registered charity that works to increase understanding of gender diversity and to improve the lives of trans people, and aims to increase confidence and understanding around trans identities and ways that we can all ensure we are being trans inclusive in our activities and services.
This session will be delivered online via Zoom, attendees will be contacted with the link to join the session as we draw near.
Register your interest in the training
Beginners Yoga Session (Students Only)
17 February 2026, 11.30am-1.00pm
Location: Union Studio, Percy Gee Building
Focusing on breathwork and movement to help focus the mind, this yoga session is an inclusive and welcoming space for individuals to experience the benefits of yoga.
LGBTea (Students Only)
18 February 2026, 2.00pm-4.00pm
Location: Liberation Room, Percy Gee Building (Students' Union)
The LGBTQ+ Society's weekly queer tea and coffee catch-up, with free hot drinks and a real community feel. Whether you have been coming for years or it's your first one all are welcome at LGBTea!
Week 4 (23-28 February)
‘Know Your Rights’ Workshop
25 February 2026, 2.00pm-4.00pm
Location: TBC
Join lecturers from Leicester Law School, School of History, Politics and International Relations, and the School of Arts, Media and Communication, in exploring knowledge and opinions on LGBT+ rights within the fields of law, history and English.
There will opportunities for students to ask questions in relation to these fields, and to speak with the Students’ Union’s LGBT+ Officer and Trans and Non-Binary Officer.
LGBTea (Students Only)
25 February 2026, 2.00pm-4.00pm
Location: Liberation Room, Percy Gee Building (Students' Union)
The LGBTQ+ Society's weekly queer tea and coffee catch-up, with free hot drinks and a real community feel. Whether you have been coming for years or it's your first one all are welcome at LGBTea!
‘Paint The Rainbow’ Event (students only)
27 February 2026, 12.00pm-2.00pm
Location: Liberation Room, Percy Gee Building
An inclusive and LGBT+ focused crafts session, offering students a chance to explore their artistic and creative side with provided craft materials. Attendees are free to bring their crafts and projects if they wish.
Apittame x Queer Coffee Linkups: Art for Freedom
28 February 2026, 2.00pm-5.00pm
Location: Attenborough Arts Centre
‘Art For Freedom’ is an exciting, all-ages showcase event happening in February 2026 in Leicester.
It’s a celebration of community, connection, the many ways we find our sense of belonging in the world and express freedom. We invite you to experience an inspiring mix of, spoken word, and performances—each uniquely capturing the theme of finding your tribe and embracing the power of community.
All month
Villiers Revealed – Digital Exhibition
1-28 February 2026
Archives & Special Collections, David Wilson Library
On behalf of Culture Leicestershire, the David Wilson Library will be hosting the virtual exhibition “Villiers Revealed”, which tells the story of George Villiers, the First Duke of Buckingham, and his close relationship with King James VI and I.
The exhibit was an output of a larger project during 2024/25 that included a physical exhibition at Melton Carnegie Museum, and was co-created with LGBTQIA+ communities in and around Leicestershire, the exhibition explores LGBT+ histories more broadly through storytelling, artwork, and interpretation of objects from the Leicestershire Museums collections.
Villiers Revealed – Collections Display
1-28 February 2026
Exhibition Zone, David Wilson Library
As part of the David Wilson Library’s hosting of the virtual exhibition “Villiers Revealed”, a display of items from the Archives & Special Collections relating to Villiers and James VI and I will be on display.
To learn more about the Library’s exhibitions, please visit Archives and Special Collections
LGBT+ History Month Represent Display
1-28 February 2026
Exhibition Zone, David Wilson Library
Curated from recommendations from University students through the Represent campaign, the David Wilson Library will be promoting and showcasing the recommend titles to highlight the incredibly diverse range of voices in the Library's collection. These titles will be available and on display in the Exhibition Zone, with a full list available online via ReadingLists@Leicester.
To find out more information, please visit LGBTQ+ History Month reading list
Resource and reading list
Curated by the David Wilson Library, this list provides a catalogue of titles that are available from the David Wilson Library that predominantly feature LGBTQ+ subject matter.