LGBTQ+ History Month

With February being LGBTQ+ History month in the UK, it’s important to take this opportunity for all of us to celebrate and remember lesser-known aspects of our LGBTQ+ history.

The contribution of LGBTQ+ individuals to our shared story is still often unrecognised, largely because it was swept under the carpet for so long. This month offers us a chance to reflect on some of the difficult aspects of our community’s history – to remember some of the struggles and issues we faced so we can better understand the struggles and issues we face today.

But this is also a time for celebration. To reflect on the progress we – and those who came before us – have made.

We can think of Britain’s legalisation of homosexuality in 1967, or its abolition of Section 28 prohibiting “the promotion of homosexuality” in 2003. We can be thankful that so many prominent business leaders, politicians, artists, authors, and sportspeople can not only be public about their sexualities and identities but act as role models to others.

We can also recognise the huge contributions of well-known LGBTQ+ people from history since it is only by understanding the past that we can shape and influence the future.

In this spirit of celebrating the past and looking forward to a brighter future, 2021 was a year of great success for Link, so we’d like to list some of the key achievements of last year, with thanks to all our volunteers, our sponsors, our partners, and everyone in the LGBTQ+ Insurance community and our allies who helped to make the year such a success.

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of some of the fantastic events we ran:

• LGBT+ History Month: HIV Testing Week- Lunchtime Virtual Interactive Quiz
• LGBT+ Mindfulness
• 1000 years of Kings, Queens and in-betweens
• LGBT History Month 2021: How safe are LGBTQ+ legal rights?
• Using LinkedIn as a networking tool
• The L Chat (lesbian visibility week)
• Exploring and discussing the innate power of Queer Leadership
• Seeing things differently with Sarah Stephenson-Hunter, looking at the intersection of LGBTQ+ and Disability
• Non-Binary Day event
• Coming out and mental health with former Olympic Swimmer Mark Foster
• Several DiveIn events
• How to be an LGBTQ+ inclusive employer of choice (Link / CII)

We ran some great social events too, including a Summer and Christmas party, wine tasting, chocolate tasting, pride party and more!

Our #LinkPride2021 competition raised over £20,000 for LGBTQ+ charities while also supporting a number of insurance firms with their internal LGBTQ+ initiatives.

We also collaborated with several firms to support their employee resource groups throughout the year. We established our Advisory Board, were highly commended by the Insurance Insider for the Insider Honours Award, featured in Corporate Queer, and launched a new Link Chapter in Los Angeles. We’re working to launch another chapter in Boston/New York very soon.

Again, thank you to everyone who worked with, volunteered for, partnered with, and sponsored Link in 2021, and here’s to a great 2022 which we’ll be able to look back on with as much pride this time next year.