LGBT+ History Month is now, the whole of February is dedicated to rememberance, education and awareness of the LGBT+ community.
It's a deeply important thing to remember the past, so that we might look to the future of life in the community, I myself have been out for over six years, in this time I have learned so much and regardless of what some might think, this month is vital.
LGBT+ History Month this year is themed around those 'behind the lens', LGBT+ people working in film, television, on the stage etc. This might seem to some to be a futile concept, but the power that LGBT+ filmmaking and art has is staggering.
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I want to talk about why the month is important to me, but also focus on what I hope to see happen going forward, consider it my 'New Queer Resolution'. Over the past few years, we have seen ground-breaking programmes and films about the LGBT+ community, done in a way that is correct and doesn't shoehorn in the tropes for the sake of it.
Despite this, people always take 'offence' that queer themes are being 'shoved down their throats' or its unnecessarily boastful, blah, blah, blah. Not true, it's only now reaching the mainstream like it should have done a long time ago.
I have spoken to generations of LGBT+ people, each with different stories to pass down to the younger generations. I spoke with those who grew up during the AIDS crisis, who stood at the back of partner's funerals, watched their clothes and possessions burned and lost countless friends.
So what if we have representation? What difference does it make to you? We have shows like Hearstopper, It's a Sin, most recently the Last Of Us which caught people off guard - it was heart-breaking and put in not to stir or fan flames, but to provide a touching story, they happened to be gay.
I am a big believer in educating, if you have people who are not aware of why LGBT+ communities find it difficult, talk to them, find out why, really invest in their community - please do not just quota fill.
Education on Trans rights is vital, the absolute scorn that part of the community has seen is sickening. The media pile-ons, the various anti-trans groups, history is repeating itself.
In the 1980s, gays were in the media being portrayed the same, yet people do not seem to realise it is happening again. Or they are and are just waiting for 30 years to pass and another issue to crop up.
Generations passed paved the way for people like me to have an easier time, it's still not easy, I still find myself conscious of my sexuality and we have seen horrific attacks on the community, most recently with the nightclub shooting in Colorado Springs.
Let's not walk idly by like it doesn't happen, it does, and will continue to do so and that's the scary part. This is why a month of learning is needed, look back at the past to work out how to prevent that from happening again in the future.
It's not all doom and gloom, aside from the negatives, the bigotry and the vilification from some groups, we do so much good. LGBT+ are getting their spotlight and getting it good.
I know some people reading this will leave their usual comments, go for it, makes no difference. I am what I am, the community is what they are and to be quite honest, I'll prove a point - not that it needs doing.
All I ask is that regardless of whether it is LGBT+ History Month, do some learning, I won't vilify people for not being educated, I will if you are woefully ignorant or unaccepting, that's just plain wrong.
The community in Leeds and across the country and the globe will keep on going, growing in spirit and size and I can't wait for the day that we feel truly accepted with who we are. For those that are not accepted, I hope you find the support you deserve and for those that are not publicly out yet, it's entirely on your terms when you choose to tell people, or don't, one day the 'rule' to come out will hopefully be gone - no one needs to ask or know, we can just exist.
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