Keen photographers are being encouraged to enter a competition, organised in Tower Hamlets as part of LGBT History Month.

Organized by ELOP, an innovative lesbian and gay mental health charity, and Tower Hamlets Council; the theme of the contest is the lives of LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people living and working in the borough. Everyone is welcome to submit their work, which will be added to heritage collections in the borough archives.

The best submitted work will be exhibited during the summer in the atrium of Tower Hamlets Library as part of the annual pride celebration in 2017.

A free launch event is being held in the Local History Library & Archives, on Mile End Road on Thursday February 16 from 6pm which will provide more details on entering the competition and prizes. Food and drinks will also be available.

According to the Tower Hamlets Council, a ‘WriteIdea’ festival favourite who will perform at the event is poet Dean Atta, described as “one of the UK’s finest poets” and “the Gil Scott-Heron of his generation.”

Tower Hamlets has already secured an admirable record for supporting LGBT issues. A survey by the LGBT rights charity ‘Stonewall’ found that Tower Hamlets is one of the best areas in Britain for LGBT people to work in.

John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets said: “We are committed to improving the support available to our diverse and vibrant borough.”

He added: “LGBT History Month gives us an opportunity to reflect on the values that are the hallmarks of the borough – inclusive and good community relations.”

Every year, Tower Hamlets organises many different free events for learning and supporting LGBT History Month. Other events organised by ELOP this year include a school conference for Year 10 pupils, a T- Party in partnership with Trans Network London and a health and wellbeing fair.

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