Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month in Brighton & Hove

With the LGBTQ+ History Month 2021 theme being Body, Mind, Spirit, Brighton & Hove City Council LGBTQ+ Workers’ Forum has zeroed in on intersectionality and the importance of platforming other voices for its annual celebration of the event, which runs throughout February

The two-pronged approach sees locallybased life coach Sam Adams bringing to life seven statements or single words that especially resonate with her in a series of 90-second online shorts, alongside a portrait exhibition entitled ‘Who do YOU think we are?’.

The exhibition will feature 33 portraits of LGBTQ+ people, which it is hoped will be framed in the main windows of Jubilee Library. However, if that is not possible due to the ongoing pandemic restrictions, a portrait will be released each day on the LGBTQ+ Workers’ Forum social media @LGBTQiWF.

The Forum says: “Selective documenting of history and culture has been a pervasive issue for centuries, and the stories of LGBTQ+ people of colour are notably underrepresented; not least within the LGBTQ+ community itself. To tell the story of LGBTQ+ activism, our triumphs and our tragedies, we should seek out and share these stories, as there is empowerment in representation.

“There is a lot to be learned from other parallel movements striving for equality. For many people, intersectionality is an appreciation that movements for equality and justice are more effective when they learn from one another and collaborate.”

“For decades I wasn’t really me, life didn’t look how I want it to be. But how can it when your lens is blurred when you smear it with lies and other people’s words”

The photo exhibition is aimed at giving “us an opportunity to see and also get scrutinised by the unblinking eyes of the subjects”, exploring ideas around age, ethnic background, gender identity, activism, trans lives and the Brighton & Hove & wider LGBTQ+ community.

Taking part in the exhibition are people from all walks of LGBTQ+ life, from 17 to 87 years old; from teenage musician to elder statesman. The inclusive photos are described as “a lighthearted examination of our diversity, and who we are in a changing world”.

The Forum continues: “Asking people to think about who they think WE are? Raising awareness and emphasising that every single person has the right to experience any gender identity in freedom and that the public space belongs to all citizens. Gently highlighting the influences of our infinite variety of intersecting communities on each and every one of us.”

Segueing into the importance of the short films, the Forum says: “We remind ourselves that without our own writers writing our own stories, we get written out of history completely and Sam asks us directly this LGBTQ+ History Month to reflect on what, and who we are.”

Sam’s connection to the project originally came out of an idea for 2020 Pride month, which, for all too obvious reasons, was unable to go ahead in the projected format. Sam had broadcast a Facebook Live segment talking about Black Lives Matter and her “experience of growing up in a white community and having a black mum”.

Forum worker Shanni Collins – also an artist who illustrated the words used by Sam in the films – had seen the broadcast, along with thousands of others, been moved by it and felt Sam would be an inspiration to others.

“I was asked to choose six to eight words and the focus was me because of intersectionality – black, female, gay. It’s about sharing things that are inspirational to me, giving some positive messages from my perspective on life.”

Sam was also asked to come up with a sentence to support each or her chosen words and phrases, all of them ending with her trademark call to action: “It starts with you.”

With filming taking place all around Brighton & Hove, the shorts feature some of the city’s best-known areas, with Sam holding Shanni’s illustrative homages to her words – Identity, Privilege, Be Real, Self-Awareness, Responsibility, Resilience and Intersectionality – while she delivers her messages.”

While Sam is the first to admit that it’s only been in recent years that she has fully embraced her identity, she is adamant that she doesn’t want others to miss out on years of doing the same. “I am not an activist, I’m not the best spoken, but I hope that people take a positive look at themselves and start accepting things.

“Self-awareness is for me all about being aware of your own personality your quirks and foibles, who you are as an individual. Knowing consciously who you are and understanding you character, desires, feelings and the like”

“It’s taken me a long time to really love myself and to know that I’m OK. I’m a bit lairy, a bit sweary, but I’m embracing myself, my crazy hair, the colour of my skin, and I would like other people to get here. I am 53 and it’s only been in the last 18 months, whereas before I would struggle to tell people I was gay or show public affection. The colour of my skin affected going into a room. I hope people will be themselves, become self-aware, know who they are and embrace that to live a happy, fulfilled, content life.”

She says when she was initially asked to get involved in the project she wondered: “Why me? I’m sure there are plenty of other gay black females out there you can talk to.” But ultimately she really enjoyed doing it and is proud of the whole enterprise.

So what does she hope will come of her participation in this LGBTQ+ History Month focus?

“[Intersectionality] means I’m less likely to earn as much as others, be heard as much as others, be given the same opportunities as others”

“There are two things. I want people to have that self-awareness of who they are. Being the real you is the way to be happy and fulfilled. I want to get people to tap into that a lot quicker.

“The second thing is about healing. I have healed all my hurts. We are where we are because of what we have been through previously and often it’s a bit of a repair job – even doing this project has helped me.”

The films will be released on the LGBTQ+ Workers’ Forum Twitter feed @LGBTQiWF throughout the month accompanied by links for further reading, research or ways to learn more about the subjects covered. Once all the films have been shared, all seven will be available on the Brighton & Hove City Council website and Sam’s own website: www.sam-adams.com