February is LGBTQ+ History Month and this year’s theme is Body, Mind, Spirit – very topical! This February also marks the first anniversary of the launch of CILIP’s LGBTQ+ Network.

It’s been a busy and successful year as our new webpages testify. There, you can also join the Network if you’re an LGBTQ+ library, knowledge and information (LKI) worker. Soon, we’ll have our LGBTQ+ Allies Forum up and running.

In November, CILIP LGBTQ+ Steering Group handed over the reins to the first elected CILIP LGBTQ+ Committee and we’re now developing our three-year plan. We hope to see many new and current LGBTQ+ members at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in February as it’s a major opportunity to share experiences and knowledge, and influence what’s in the plan, how best to make it a reality and activate oneself to make this magic happen!

Impetus is building as we collaborate with others like CILIP’s BAME Network and those working to launch a new Disability Network. We wholeheartedly share their and others’ passion and goals to ensure our profession reflects the full diversity of the society and communities we serve. Our Network, we hope, will provide an authoritative voice on LGBTQ+ issues within our LKI communities by developing and making visible and heard LGBTQ+ role models at all levels of the profession, including students and retired folks.

We can’t wait to engage members and allies, meeting old and new friends, all vital for our wellbeing in these tough times. Some CILIP Regional Groups have approached us already seeking to co-create and/or co-host exciting, engaging online events and socials.

Of course, LGBTQ+ History Month initiatives ideally should extend beyond this month. Encouraging and energising LGBTQ+ people and allies, and advancing equality is a continual process.

Our Network itself has not been lying idle this past year. Led by committee members Ash Green and Steven Dryden, we’re working with The British Library helping to develop the LGBTQ+ Lives Online project which focuses on curating, collecting, tagging and categorising UK websites with an LGBTQ+ focus, as part of the UK Web Archive initiative. A British Library Bitesize talk about the project is planned, although yet to be confirmed at the time of writing.

Stepping up and getting active, network member Ashleigh Weir participated in CILIP Conference 2020, and has written an insightful report about it (see our news page). It was with great pleasure we were able to provide an LGBTQ+ Network bursary to Ashleigh, thanks to CILIP.

At the conference’s session New Voices – Big Ideas our Chair, Deborah Varenna, spoke. In summary: “My lightning talk pointed out the criticism within the LKI profession that LGBTQ+, BAME and disabled LKI workers are only approached to be speakers when equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) panels/conferences are being held, where they’re asked to talk about the inequalities they face within the profession. I proposed a series of events where those same people are asked (and paid) to speak about a topic of their choice within their area of professional expertise.” Breaking down barriers means thinking outside the box, not just ticking it. Better still, squash the box, recycle or reuse it imaginatively and courageously!

As a profession, we need safe spaces online/physically to listen to and learn about the lived experience of LGBTQ+ LKI students and professionals, to better understand and tackle structural inequalities and individual prejudices like homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. Have courage, talk openly, respectfully about LGBTQ+ matters, however ‘new to it all’ you might be or think you are. Be noisy about the importance of continual staff EDI training and advocate for LGBTQ+ equality, services and collections. Our webpages and padlet of resources are a healthy place to start.

Please activate yourself today by doing these five simple suggestions:

1. Join the Network if you’re an LGBTQ+ LKI worker/student. You don’t need to be a CILIP member.


2. Get in touch e.g. share your LGBTQ+ History Month events, ideas for celebrating Pride season or find out how to get involved: cilip.lgbtqnetwork@cilip.org.uk @ciliplgbtq


3. Fully complete your equality and diversity data via the CILIP website.


4. Check out our padlet and CILIP’s Libraries, Information and Knowledge Change Lives.


5. Free resources/suggestions: https://lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk/.

Carl Banks (@CarlbLib) is Library Assistant at The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, CILIP LGBTQ+ Committee member, CILIP London Committee member, and Co-Secretary of the Consortium for Independent Health Libraries in London (CHILL), and undertaking chartership.

Banner image: new Pride flag available to download from the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans + History Month website.