In February 2006 Kent's libraries took part with displays of LGBT related books in Gravesend, Maidstone & Canterbury main libraries (featuring The Big Gay Read titles) and Folkestone having a general selection. Stella Duffy gave a book reading at Horsebridge Arts & Community Centre.
Why do we need an LGBT History Month? Organisers hope to end the silence that has surrounded gay and lesbian people in our history, whose achievements and contributions to our society have been overlooked. Part of the month's ambition is to begin to celebrate gay people as motivators, inventors, artists, scientists, and stars rather than as victims.
But it's not all about Oscar Wilde and Will Young, LGBT History Month also hopes to help end the sense of isolation and bewiderment felt by so many LGBT people.
The month can help make bullying unacceptable and help to dispel the anxiety and confused rage that drive some people to aggressive behaviour towards LGBT people. It's an initiative that has been backed by the Government. The most notable gay people in Kent have been, historically, people like Christopher Marlowe from Canterbury and more recently, actor Charles Hawtrey (Deal), film-maker and artist Derek Jarman (Dungeness). In the past gay 'celeb's visited or lived quietly in the County, but could not openly reveal their sexuality at the time. (ie: Noel Coward and Frankie Howard).
Today TV's Paul O'Grady lives near Aldington and many gay celebrities regularly visit the County's theatres and events. (ie: Julian Clary, Sandi Toksvig etc.) For the most part though, it has been just the ordinary LGBT people who have lived here. Many of those in long term relationships and some of them have recently taken advantage of the new Civil Partnerships laws. (Though some in this regard have lost out financially with the changes in benefit arrangements) The relationship between the Police, CPS and the Kent LGBT community which in the past was hampered by prejudice and anti-gay laws has changed greatly over the last five - ten years. There are now regular liaison meetings. In Kent the LGBT people meet in a group which is chaired by the Dept Chief Constable (Jim Barker-McCardle) and the local, more informal, groups are led by the Community Liaison Officers.
Indeed it was one of these, Mick Cronin the CLO for Shepway & Dover, who instigated the now Kent wide Homophobic Reporting Line (0800 328 9162 - 24hrs). Out of these in being developed a network of LGBT community support groups, the first of which, in the Folkestone area, should be launched in the next few months. Personally, I welcomed the Kent Library's decision to take part in this years event and hope that this will lead to greater awareness and acceptance amongst the general Kent population for LGBT people. | 
