Buildings at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust lit up in rainbow colours to mark LGBT History Month
The Queens Medical Centre and the City Hospital at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust are lit up in rainbow colours every evening for the whole of February to mark LGBT History Month.
The month is a celebration and remembrance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history. The main aims of the month is to promote equality and diversity.
LGBT History Month raises awareness and educates the wider population about matters that affect the LGBT+ community. They work towards improving institutions and educational facilities so that all are safe places for LGBT+ people.
Finally, LGBT History Month promotes the welfare of the community, that all who belong to the community contribute to society, lead fulfilled lives and benefit themselves and others.
Scott Turner, vice-chair of the NUH LGBTQ+ Staff Support Network, said: “We are delighted to showcase as a Network our commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community by having a number of LGBT themed visual aids at both City Hospital and Queen’s Medical Centre campuses – this includes coloured banners at the main entrances of both campuses referencing the trans and race inclusive colours and demonstrating intersectionality.”
Railings and curb stones have also been painted as a mark of support.
Alongside this, an inclusive virtual LGBT History Month conference will take place on Wednesday 24 February.
The conference will see speakers from Nottingham Rainbow Heritage and Notts Trans Hub.
Irene Juurlink, vice-chair of the NUH LGBTQ+ Staff Support Network, said: “This month recognises and celebrates the achievements and the legacy of history’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer leaders and trailblazers.
“It reminds us where we have come from and that the fight is not over – there are still inequalities and injustices both at home and abroad, that we need to continue to call out and tackle. This is also why I am very happy with how NUH is marking LGBT History Month.
“I believe these changes constitute a clear and very visible statement of inclusivity; they are a demonstration by the Trust, that we love, welcome, and support diversity, both amongst our staff as well as in the community that we serve.
Iain McGregor, chair of the NUH LGBTQ+ Staff Support Network, said: “As an organisation I believe that we are doing good work in this area.
“We need to remain supportive of everyone, especially at these difficult times that we are being faced with, just be mindful that people within the LGBTQIA+ community may have had some of their extended support systems limited because of the restrictions that are being placed on us, due to Covid-19.
“This isn’t to say that we don’t all require support, but many people in the community are estranged from their families and rely on friends to support them.
“We encourage our staff to wear the Rainbow Badge with pride – these are very visual signs that you are supporting patients and staff.
“We would also like to encourage our staff to ask patients for their preferred pronouns to make their treatment more personable and also for our colleagues to have their pronouns available so that patients can use the correct pronouns for them.”