Wednesday 25 January 2012

Welsh Dignitaries Make LGBT History

From the LGBT Excellence  Centre in Cardiff:
For the first time in Wales, leading dignitaries will declare their support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people at the opening event of LGBT History Month Cymru 2012.

Every February the contribution that LGBT people have made to history will be acknowledged by a series of celebrations throughout Britain.

In only its second year, LGBT History Month Cymru will see leading names from the world of politics, heritage and the arts attend the Senedd in Cardiff.

The 2012 launch will be held on February 1 at the Senedd, from 12.45pm to 3.30pm with Welsh government minister Huw Lewis opening proceedings, followed by speeches by Kirsty Williams AM, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Lindsay Whittle, AM for Plaid Cymru.

The event will be concluded by Gillian Clarke, National Poet for Wales, who will read a new poem written specially for the occasion. This is the first time anywhere in the world that a national poet has celebrated LGBT people in a nation’s history.

The events at the LGBT Excellence Centre will be followed by an exhibition from March 7 to 27  at Cardiff Bay’s Pier Head, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, where visitors will be able to see a celebration of notable Welsh LGBT people.

Housing, Regeneration and Heritage Minister, Huw Lewis commented: “LGBT History Month is an opportunity to reflect on how lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have contributed to Welsh culture and heritage. I am delighted to be asked to speak at the launch event in February and look forward to meeting members of the LGBT Excellence Centre.”

John Davies, a leading authority on Welsh history, will also be speaking at the event. He said: “After the mute centuries, it is an honour to have the opportunity to stress that LGBT people are part of the story too.”

For more information about the launch event and the exhibition, please visit the LGBT Excellence Centre at www.lgbtec.org.uk where ten pages of LGBT Heritage in Wales, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, can be viewed at or call 029 20451868.

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