Behind The Lens

Pupils in Years 7, 8, 9 and 11 learnt more about LGBT+ History Month and the often-hidden LGBT+ histories in PSHE sessions on Thursday 23 February.

Investigating this year’s LGBT+ History Month 2023 theme, ‘Behind The Lens’, pupils had the chance to explore and celebrate LGBTQ+ peoples’ contributions to cinema and film from behind the lens - from directors, cinematographers, screen writers, producers, animators, costume designers, special effects, make-up artists, lighting directors, musicians, choreographers and beyond.

Throughout their sessions, pupils looked at why there was a barrier to LGBT+ representation on screen in the past, why LGBT+ representation on screen important for LGBT+ people, why LGBT+ representation on screen is important for wider society and why is it important to have LGBT+ people working behind the lens.

They discussed the work of famous lesbian activist and photojournalist, Kay Tobin Lahusen in the 1970s and explored legislation which impacted LGBT+ representation in the media called The Hays Code. The Code was created to ensure films only promoted “morality” through the censorship of content, banning, among other things, interracial relationships, any character ridiculing the law or police officers, and sex perversion – which same-gender relationships would have been considered at the time.

Pupils then discussed LGBTQ+ representation in film and television today. Watching the trailer for the Netflix series Heart Stopper, they talked about how the main characters are described and how they might describe their sexual orientation.

LGBTQ+ History Month has been celebrated throughout February each year across the UK since 2005. It was founded by Schools OUT co-chairs, Paul Patrick & Professor Emeritus Sue Sanders.