THE rainbow flag is being flown above the Town Hall throughout February to mark LGBT History Month.
The annual event observes the history of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements.
Explaining what LGBT History Month means to her, leader of Melksham Town Council, cllr Vanessa Fiorelli, told Melksham News, “People think this month is solely about the history and the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community – but it’s also about equality and diversity, and recognising that we have come a long way in achieving equality for not just sexual orientation, but also race, religion and gender. So this month is about recognising that, but also understanding and respecting the fact that we still have a lot of work to do, because we are not there yet.
“Anyone thinking that the rainbow flag is just about a specific group of people should realise that it is about everybody – from the suffragettes fighting for the women’s vote, through to Rosa Parks making a stand on a bus – it’s about everybody. Everyone at some point in their life will experience some sort of discrimination – we have a lot of work to do!”
To find out more about LGBT History Month, visit: www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk
