The Brighton & Hove Libraries Service have a number of events and activities taking place in February 2012 to mark LGBT History Month and is marking Holocaust Memorial Day January 27th with an exhibition (now until 30th Jan) tracing the way Germany’s Nazi Party changed the world for male and female homosexuals and transvestites. 

LGBT Exhibition for Holocaust Memorial Day January 27th

Jubilee Library are holding an exhibition at this time until January 30th: Behind Our Story – For Holocaust Memorial Day January 27th. 

Called The Third Sex in the Third Reich, it traces the way Germany’s Nazi Party changed the world for male and female homosexuals and transvestites, from the very beginning of its reign to well beyond the end.

It has been compiled by Brighton Ourstory, Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual History Centre with the support of Brighton & Hove City Council’s Equalities and Inclusion Unit. The exhibition includes poems written by members of Allsorts Youth Group, with the help of Queer Writing South, inspired by the famous “First they came for…” poem by Pastor Martin Niemoller.

Over 50,000 gay people were arrested and imprisoned by the Nazis

Eighty years ago, Germany’s capital city, Berlin, led the world in its liberal attitudes towards same-sex love. Within three weeks of the Nazi Party taking power in 1933, Berlin’s gay clubs were being closed down and its gay organisations and publications banned. The Nazis wanted to cleanse German society of people it didn’t approve of. When the first concentration camps were opened gay men were among the first to be interned.

Although few in number by comparison with other groups persecuted by the Nazi Party, gay men were treated particularly harshly. Unlike the Jews, homosexuals were not targetted for extermination but their treatment meant they died in larger numbers than some other groups.

Linda Pointing from Brighton Ourstory said, “It’s been an emotional experience for us, researching this profoundly dreadful aspect of LGBT history. The exhibition isn’t always a comfortable read but Brighton is not unlike Berlin at that time and we should take note. One of the quotes we’ve used is Thomas Jefferson’s ‘The price of liberty is eternal vigilance’.” The theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is ‘Speak Up Speak Out’.

LGBT History Month 2012 @ Brighton & Hove Libraries

LGBT Film Screenings

Jubilee Library will be hosting two special film screenings in celebration of LGBT History Month. Film screenings will take place on Sunday 19 and Sunday 26 February at 1pm. Film screenings are free and no advance booking is needed.

Due to their film licence they are not allowed to externally advertise the titles, so you will need to phone them to ask or pop in and look at the posters for what and when.  For further information please contact Jubilee Library on 290800.

Shhhhh but This Sunday, January 29th, Jubilee Library is showing: Bent (18 and over) and at 11:15am Aimee & Jaguar (15 and over) at 1:30pm.

LGBT Police Liaison Team

Jubilee Library is pleased to be welcoming the LGBT Police Liaison Team to a host a drop in session. PC Rachel Piggott will be on hand in the library foyer on Thursday 7 February 10am-4pm to offer understanding and advice in relation to reporting hate crime and safety tips for the prevention of hate against our local community.

PC Rich Bridger, Claire PC Rachel Piggott, and Sergeant Alex Evans

Libraries Services LGBT Consultation

Brighton & Hove Libraries Services would love to hear your views on the existing LGBT sections at Jubilee and Hove Libraries, the stock provided across the city and the events they host.

Have you been to the LGBT section at the library? Whether you are an avid borrower or are yet to discover your local library we would be pleased to hear your thoughts.

Postcards which feature three questions can be collected from, and returned to any of the city’s 15 libraries. Visit your local library to have your say. If you prefer to comment via email please visit www.citylibraries.info for more information.

For further information about any aspect of the LGBT consultation please contact Lucy Castle Reading and Learning Manager on 01273 290800 or email readingandlearning@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Jubilee Library, Brighton

LGBT stock display: Your recommendations

Read a great book or seen a great film?

Through the ongoing consultation process you have been recommending titles you would like to see us stock. Throughout February there will a display of the most recently purchased LGBT titles in the main hall at Jubilee Library. All stock will be available to borrow.

You can recommend a title you would like to see in stock. This could be something for children, young people or adults including audio visual material.