London Met Celebrates LGBTQIA+ History with Special Archives Event News

by Elspeth Chapman - Fashion, Marketing and Journalism BA Student

Date: 21 February 2025

On 20 February, London Metropolitan University celebrated LGBTQIA+ History Month with a special event in the Rainbow Room that brought together students, staff, and the Special Collections team to reflect on the rich and evolving LGBTQIA+ history on campus. 

The evening began with a presentation by the university’s Head of Special Collections, David Baldwin, who then introduced selected records from the University archive. Baldwin touched on why the archives play a crucial role in life on campus today, “we wanted to try and find different histories that were represented so that students would then find their stories within the archive.”  

The team highlighted historical documents that showcase the vibrant LGBTQIA+ history not only at London Met but off-campus too, “A lot of the campaign work that students were championing was in response to events occurring off-campus”. In the Rainbow Room, a new living wall timeline visually showcased key events from both UK-wide LGBTQIA+ history and significant moments at London Met. 

“London Met has always been great in providing opportunities and spaces for staff, but we found most consistently the Student Union has a rich history of moving stories and driving change forward.” London Met’s archives stretch back 178 years, with the first record of the ‘Gay Society’ beginning in 1974.  

The event offered an opportunity for connection. Students and staff shared personal stories, engaging in meaningful conversations about their experiences and what is to come at London Met. Co-leader of the LGBTQIA+ Staff Network, Dr. Sebastian Cordoba, shared London Met’s remarkable progress within Stonewall’s ‘Workplace Equality Index’. “In 2023 we were ranked 551st in the UK, as of last year, we jumped up to 102nd.” Cordoba hopes that next year’s submission will push London Met into the top 100 employers for workplace inclusion in the UK.  

Diving deep into the archives of London Met, you can find “fantastic and rich resources” says the Special Collections Team, with some of “the most interesting and inspiring material held at the institution” about Staff and Student involvement in LGBTQIA+ representation.  

The event not only celebrated LGBTQIA+ history but also underpinned the importance of continuing to document and preserve the diverse experiences that have shaped London Met’s community over the years. 

 “We are really hoping this space and events like these will continue for the future, so that we can continue making important history at London Met.”  - Dr. Sebastian Cordoba.