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Disclaimer
Posted on: May 16th, 2011 by History Month

Part of the development of this project is to assign an LGBT identity to famous historical figures, who have had it robbed from them.

This is an activity fraught with difficulty. Firstly what we would now consider an LGBT identity is a very modern construct and is therefore not always appropriate to assign to people in history. Secondly history has conspired to keep our lives hidden, much like the Hollywood machine and Rock Hudson et al; heterosexuality was the identity projected on all those who could possibly be described that way. This, of course, invisibilises and disempowers us and distorts reality for everyone.

Often in correcting this we rely to some degree on circumstantial evidence. We do however feel that this is better than, when any doubt appears, heterosexuality is automatically assumed. Only anyone who found LGBT identities themselves offensive would do other than accept that false identifying was nothing other than human error. If we get it wrong we will obviously correct our mistake on receipt of evidence.

Please tell us where you think we have got it wrong, or about people we have missed.

If copyright is claimed in any photograph which appears on this website, please contact us and we will happily remove it.

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LGBT History Month Patrons:
John Amaechi, former international basketball player, broadcaster and psychologist, Christine Burns, Equality and diversity specialist, podcaster, campaigner, Dr Harry Cocks, social historian and writer, Angela Eagle MP Shadow Leader of the Commons, Professor Viv Gardner, Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, Professor Martin Hall, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Salford University, Sir Ian McKellen, actor, Cyril Nri, actor, director and writer, Ian Rivers, Professor of Human Development; Subject Leader for Sports Sciences, Brunel University, Professor Sheila Rowbotham, lecturer and campaigner, Labi Siffre, poet, songwriter and singer, Professor Melanie Tebbutt, Director, Manchester Centre for Regional History, Senior Lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan University, Gareth Thomas, rugby international, Jeffrey Weeks, historian, sociologist, author and LGBT activist, Stephen Whittle OBE, Professor of Equalities Law in the School of Law at Manchester Metropolitan University