Norwich School Celebrates LGBT+ History Month
February 26, 2025
Norwich School celebrated LGBT+ History month with a scavenger hunt of LGBT+ historical figures and a special assembly given to the 5th Form by Lana Kiddell (L6), you can read address below;
My name is Lana Kiddell and I’m going to be taking a moment of this morning’s assembly to raise awareness of Pride History Month. A month that brings to light the historical figures who went against the negative responses towards their identities, and that their impact is not going anywhere while also promoting the evolution of gay rights and their respective civil rights movements.
Pride History Month was first founded by an American history teacher, Rodney Wilson, he is well known for coming out to his class through teaching about the Holocaust, explaining to his class that at that time, he would’ve been persecuted for his identity. He chose October to be the month that celebrates Queer history in the US to mark the first and second LGBT marches to Washington in 1979 and 1987; as well as the month being within the academic school year.
In the UK, Pride Month was initiated by the LGBT+ education charity ‘Schools Out UK’ in February 2005; this month also marks the time in which Section 28, the local Government Act that limited the promotion of homosexuality, was abolished in 2003.
You may be wondering: ‘Why do we have two Pride-related months?’ Well, Pride History month is about looking at the past, while Pride Month is about looking forward. I believe that there are people within Pride History that we can all look up to, whether you’re a mathematician, historian or a writer. As a musician and performer, Freddie Mercury is someone I look up to. He is someone who has left a mark on the music industry not only for his skill, but for his flamboyant persona he’d bring to every performance.
Even today, Chappell Roan, who won best new artist at the Grammy Awards this year and is well known for her song “Hot to Go” (yes, I know we all know the moves). Queer historical figures are an important part of her performance outfits, for example, her ‘knight’ costume is inspired by Joan of Arc, as well as an outfit inspired by drag queen Divine.
Unfortunately due to how half term falls we miss a chunk of Pride History Month. However, at Norwich School, we’re celebrating Pride History month with a scavenger hunt, in different departments, you’ll see posters up of Queer historical figures, write down a fact about them all and bring these to Miss Scott at the Wellbeing Hub for a prize.
We also have a Pride Group! Every Tuesday lunch time 12:40-1:15, so it’d be nice to recruit anyone interested.
Thank you for listening, and thank you Mr Curtis for allowing me some time of your assembly.







