February 2025 Is LGBT+ History Month

18th February 2025

This month marks the twentieth anniversary of UK LGBT+ History Month, initiated by the Education charity ‘School’s Out’ in 2005 as a way of profiling all the incredible things that LGBT+ people have achieved throughout history in all areas of life.

Interestingly, here in Derbyshire we have our own piece of historical LGBT+ activism, located a mere seven miles from our DRCS base in Chesterfield. In the late nineteenth century Edward Carpenter and his partner George Merrill lived together in a cottage in the village of Millthorpe writing about same sex desire.

Whilst this might not seem as radical as the protests which came later, Carpenter’s work was surprisingly influential in liberal circles at a time when England was in the grip of the hysteria that surrounded the trials of Oscar Wilde. Many ‘celebrities’ of the day visited Millthorpe, ranging from artist William Morris to first world war poet, Siegfried Sassoon.

Fast forward one hundred and fifty years to the present day and it would be wrong to assume that all the battles are won. LGBT+ people still face discrimination and marginalisation in everyday life, with loneliness and isolation remaining challenging issues. At DRCS we welcome all individuals irrespective of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. It’s a safe therapeutic space to express his-story, her-story, their-story without fear of judgement.

If it would help to talk, there is a warm welcome at DRCS and a quick response time to requests for therapy, plus help to find the right kind of therapy for you. Browse our website at https://drcs.org.uk/ for information about our talking therapy services, it is just a click away.

#DRCS #CounsellingServices #Supervision #Workshops #Training #Derbyshire #MentalHealth #LBGTQ

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