News & opinion

Highlights of LGBT History Month

02 March 2020

Gus Bussmann

Diversity and Inclusion Co-ordinator, RICS

For this year’s LGBT History Month, RICS hosted and supported a number of events to highlight the importance of equality and diversity, as well as raising awareness about the lives and experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in their professions.

An LGBT history panel discussion was presented to a full room at RICS Great George street headquarters on Tuesday, 26 February. Hugo Greenhalgh, LGBT+ Editor at Thomson Reuters Foundation, commented on the challenges faced by LGBT people around the world. Joe Galliano from the Queer Britain Museum also provided insightful contributions about LGBT history and lessons from the past.

Over 500 people joined us on twitter for the live stream of the event. A recording of the stream can be found here.

“Queer Britain is a charity working hard to address this imbalance by setting up the UK’s first National LGBTQ+ Museum. It will be a bricks and mortar institution, probably in London, and with a rolling programme of pop-up exhibitions and activity across the country. It will help complete the nation’s family tree and demonstrate to the culture the value of the lives that LGBTQ+ people have led. We are creating this project for everyone, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity. Everyone has a relative or friend who identifies as part of the acronym. Even If they think they don’t, they do. ”

Joe Galliano

CEO and Co-Founder, Queer Britain Museum

In Manchester, Building Equality hosted an event on Thursday, 20 February, entitled: The importance of role models and real-life reflection.

The evening started with a #BuildingEquality year in review and was followed by a discussion about the need for real life, visible role models and how we all have a significant part to play in ensuring our industry is inclusive for the LGBT+ community.

The evening ended with the annual Building Equality Greater Manchester Awards, where they recognise the contributions of individuals and organisations who make all this amazing work happen – winners to be posted shortly.

Welcome remarks from Barry Cullen, RICS Head of Future Talent, Diversity and Inclusion

About the author

Gus Bussmann

Diversity and Inclusion Co-ordinator, RICS

Dr Gus Bussmann is the Diversity and Inclusion Co-ordinator at RICS and works with the Head of Future Talent to ensure the successful delivery of the D&I strategy. Gus is also Deputy Head of Policy at Pride in London and an acknowledged expert in LGBT rights, committed to support with understanding and to inspire the next generation’s activities and initiatives.

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