Hounslow is marking LGBTQ+ History Month with a free public event that brings celebration, reflection and forward-thinking discussion.
Residents are invited to Hounslow House on Wednesday 11 February for an evening dedicated to the borough’s LGBTQ+ community, hosted by Hounslow Council in partnership with the West London Queer Project. This year’s national theme – science and innovation – shapes a programme that looks not only at past struggles, but at how progress continues to be driven today.
The event will feature a series of guest speakers exploring how science, healthcare and social innovation have intersected with LGBTQ+ lives. EJ-Francis Caris-Hammer, from the University of Essex, will examine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on LGBTQ+ communities, while representatives from Sexual Health Hounslow will discuss advances in HIV care and the pioneering role LGBTQ+ activists have played in building support networks for people living with HIV.
Adding a cultural note to the evening, students from performing arts school ArtsEd will provie a musical performance.
Councillor Ajmer Grewal, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Support, Communities and Equalities at Hounslow Council, said:
“LGBTQ+ History Month is not only a celebration of the countless voices who helped shape the LGBTQ+ community but it also focuses on the future and how we can ensure the LGBTQ+ community can thrive in Hounslow.
“We are proud to work closely with our LGBTQ+ residents to make Hounslow a fairer, more equal place for all, and this event stands as both a celebration of that progress and a renewed commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.”
The event also reflects the council’s wider equality agenda. Two years ago, Hounslow launched its Fairer More Equal strategy, aimed at tackling systemic inequalities across the borough. Since then, the council has strengthened partnerships with community organisations to ensure policy translates into practical support.
On the night, representatives from the NHS, the West London Queer Project and the council’s Community Safety Teams will be available to offer advice and information on local services, making the event as practical as it is celebratory.
The event is free to attend, but advance registration is required. Residents can sign up via the council’s event page.
