In a world where inclusive education and access to such is becoming increasingly threatened, it’s more important than ever to acknowledge history, and bring that past into the future. Our history classroom walls are plastered with a variety of historical events, yet one thing is missing. You can’t help but wonder why you see no representation towards yourself, it raises the question, “why are minorities still so underrepresented in a society which claims to be so woke & inclusive?”. If we can make so many large-scale changes in society, like what form of energy should we use to save the planet?, then why is it so difficult to change something as simple as the curriculum?
The education system around the world and our everyday lives are filled with hundreds of historical moments, from actual history lessons, to advancements in technology and society that have gotten us to where we are now.
However, despite all the topics taught in schools and universities, there is so much left out in the majority of curriculums. The LGBTQ community has played a huge role in shaping history, ranging from stand-out figures in society, to events that have shocked communities.
As of September 2021, Scotland was the only country in the world to embed LGBTQ education into the school curriculum. The Scottish Government’s platform lgbteducation.scot, managed by TIE (Time for Inclusive Education), is designed to support teachers across Scotland in tackling prejudice, through education. However, many students still feel that Scottish education is struggling to recognise and show the severity of issues faced by pupils.
Speaking to a group of high school students in 2022, when asked “What do you think could be done to make students feel more understood in schools and the curriculum?” The most common answer among students was for schools to stop allowing homophobic & misogynistic comments to take place in classrooms during LGBTQ discussions (and elsewhere) and for staff to be properly educated on the matter.
“I think that there are many individuals within schools who have extremely racist, homophobic and sexist views. The misogyny displayed in class by some pupils is appalling and when it is displayed, I think that teachers and others should make much more of an effort to tackle it and make clear that this is not to be accepted or tolerated whatsoever. From earlier on, there should be steps taken to improve the empathy within certain students.”
The UpStairs Lounge fire in New Orleans:
The UpStairs Lounge Bar in New Orleans, Louisiana was a popular gathering spot for members of the LGBTQ community, located in the French Quarter of the city. On June 24th, 1973, an arson fire took place resulting in the death of 32 people and 15 injuries. It was the deadliest known attack at a gay club in LGBTQ history at the time.
“It was horrible,” a former New Orleans fireman told the New Orleans Times-Picayune in 2013. “I don’t think anything could have prepared you for something like that.” The official cause of the fire was never stated and was said to be “undetermined”. The case eventually went cold, and no one was ever arrested in connection to the fire, despite signs pointing to arson.
At the time of the attack, the LGBTQ scene in New Orleans was still largely underground, and in the weeks after the fire, churches around the city refused to hold funerals for the victims. However, in 2013 the Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans apologised for the silence after the fire, with Archbishop Gregory Aymond telling TIME, “The church does not condone violence and hatred. If we did not extend our care and condolences, I deeply apologise.”
In August 2022, a motion was passed that directed the New Orleans city attorney, property management director and chief administrative officer to provide “all reasonable assistance” toward recovering the remains of four victims.
Europe Pre- Hitler:
In 1920’s/30’s Europe the LGBTQ scene was thriving. Berlin had nearly 100 gay and lesbian bars or cafes, Vienna with its fair share of gay cafes, clubs, and bookstores and in Paris, certain areas of the city were known for their open displays of gay and transgender nightlife. Even Florence and many smaller European cities had their dedicated areas of LGBTQ nightlife and community. Although there was significant progress in the LGBTQ community, with a growing scene, this didn’t mean everything was progressing, but it certainly did make it look like the end was near.
However, Europe was hit with a sudden threat to this way of life in 1934 when Hitler came to power in Nazi Germany. This lead to a ‘anti-gay’ pursuit by the Gestapo, opening their own branch dedicated to such. During the following year alone, the Gestapo arrested more than 8,500 gay men. As the Gestapo spread throughout Europe, it expanded the hunt. In Vienna every gay man was added to police lists and questioned, in an attempt to get the names of others. The fortunate ones went to jail, with those less fortunate ending up in places like Buchenwald and Dachau.
Italy also sent at least 300 gay men to brutal camps during the war declaring them “dangerous for the integrity of the race”.
In 1897 ‘The Scientific-Humanitarian Committee’ (the very first gay and lesbian organisation in the world) was founded in Berlin by Jewish doctor Magnus Hirschfeld. Hirschfeld’s goals were: Freedom from being persecuted by the state and religious oppression, and to fight for emancipation and social recognition. The committee was influential with its activities including lobbying, alliances and awareness campaigns, right up until the early 1930s.
Following raids by the Gestapo, the first prisoners began to be sent to concentration camps from 1934 and with the tightening of the anti-homosexual laws in 1935, the number of convictions had tripled by 1939. This resulted in the loss of friends, freedom, wealth and profession, and led to marginalisation. The Nazi rule drastically changed the way of life in Germany and changed views only for the worse.
However, by 1946 the community had started to revolt against the anti-gay movement and began defying post-war austerity, by 1949 there where more than 20 bars open again for men and 15 for women. This offered a place for socialising, the dream of a better future and created a reason to fight during a time when many were still traumatised from experiences and persecution faced during the Nazi era.
Significant LGBTQ figures in Ancient Greece:
The names: Achilles, Patroclus & Sappho are well known to the world of history and those keen on literature. They’re prominent figures throughout ancient Greece and Achilles is frequently featured throughout Homer’s ‘Iliad’ and Plato’s ‘Symposium’. Despite their recognition throughout history, few know their presence in the LGBTQ community and how significant the three are. However, due to the recent popularity of Madeline Miller’s ‘Song of Achilles’ the potential romantic connection between Achilles and Patroclus sparked popularity amongst young readers.
In Homer’s ‘Iliad’, he never explicitly refers to a romantic relationship when it comes to Achilles and Patroclus, yet the connection is undeniable as the pair are constantly linked. One of the most key moments in the ‘Iliad’ used to back the idea of a romantic connection between the two is the response from Achilles when Patroclus dies. “My dear comrade’s dead – Patroclus – the man I loved beyond all other comrades, loved as my own life – I’ve lost him” (Book 18, the Iliad).
Achilles’ strong reaction to Patroclus’ death is often taken as a sign that their relationship was possibly deeper than it may have come across originally. Another significant example of a deeper connection is that in the wake of his death Patroclus comes back to visit Achilles as a ghost and makes the request that their bones should be buried together. “A last request – grant it, please. Never bury my bones apart from yours, Achilles, let them lie together…So now let a single urn, the gold two-handed urn your noble mother gave you, hold our bones – together” (Book 23, the Iliad).
Achilles name is also mentioned five times in Plato’s ‘Symposium’, in which the first three are in reference to his ‘lover’ Patroclus. During Phaedrus’ speech, he is said to have been honoured by the gods for ‘dying in order to help his lover Patroclus’.
The pairs relationship has been portrayed in many different forms such as the somewhat frequent suggestion of lovers, as shown in Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida, whereas the movie Troy shows the pair to be cousins.
Although the nature of the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus is long debated and probably will be for a while to come, Ancient Greece displays strong evidence of a long history in the LGBT community, more so than thought by many of older generations with the use of phrases like “there was none of this LGBTQ in my day.”
