Marking LGBT+ History Month

January 2025

WAY is a diverse and inclusive community of over 4,500 members and has established Diversity Working Groups made up of member volunteers who represent different communities within WAY. 

WAY’s LGBTQIA+ Diversity Working Group has been busy planning for LGBT+ History Month in February.


WAY volunteer and 2022 Helen Bailey Blog Award Winner Suzanne will be sharing what she discovered when she delved into the archives of the LGBT Switchboard. During her research, she discovered the Lesbian and Gay Bereavement Project, created in the 1980s by Dudley Cave, which offered “support at a time when it might seem that all friends had deserted”.

We will also be sharing stories from other WAY members, including our Chair of Trustees Joanna Sedley-Burke, who will be sharing a recording of her story as a LGBTQIA+ activist and her personal story of being an LGBTQIA+ young widow; and WAY member Andrew, who also campaigned on behalf of same-sex marriage.

We are also running an online quiz that’s open to all WAY members and supporters. There will be the prize of a Pride T-shirt and £30 towards the WAY shop for the winner. The quiz closes on Thursday, 13 February at 5pm.  Take part in the quiz*

* Please note the language used in the quiz is representative of language used through history and is not intended to offend.

Members of WAY’s LGBTQIA+ community will be invited to a Social Zoom event during the month. 

And WAY volunteer Griffyn has created a Time Capsule Group on WAY’s member-only website for LGBTQIA+ folks and those who love them.

“Every February (LGBT+ History Month), this group will be open for members to contribute their thoughts and memories about their experiences and current issues. In future years, it will form an archive that will reopen during the month for members to look through and enjoy.

Think classic time capsule: screenshots of news articles, personal photos, letters to your future self/community/special person. It can be as serious or silly (or both!) as you like.

Let’s make this a place for LGBTQIA+ widows to document our own (hi)stories, and to share with future members.”

We hope that all WAY members will engage with some of the activities during this month in support of WAY’s LGBTQIA+ community - and that you will help us to raise awareness of our charity’s peer support network while learning about LGBT+ history.