LGBT history month 2016
LGBT history month is marked in February in the UK DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images

LGBT history month is observed in February in the UK, celebrating the lives and achievements of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. This year the theme is Religion, Belief and Philosophy.

On the occasion, IBTimes UK has gathered powerful quotes from personalities who have contributed to the movement for LGBT equality.

  • "When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free." - Barack Obama
  • "I'm gay. My music is gay. My show is gay. And I love that it's gay. And I love my gay fans and they're all going to be coming to our show. And it's going to remain gay." - Lady Gaga
  • "Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it's a good place to start." - Jason Collins
  • "We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity." - George Takei
  • "I'm living by example by continuing on with my career and having a full, rich life, and I am incidentally gay." - Portia de Rossi
  • "I think being gay is a blessing, and it's something I am thankful for every single day." - Anderson Cooper
  • "I am a strong, black, lesbian woman. Every time I say it, I feel so much better." - Brittney Griner
  • "I've been embraced by a new community. That's what happens when youre finally honest about who you are; you find others like you." - Chaz Bono
  • "Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself." - Harvey Fierstein
  • "This world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another." - Ellen Page
  • "I wanted to wait for the right time and wait to have enough years under my belt where people knew that it wasn't a phase or anything and I wasn't doing it for attention." - Evan Rachel Wood
  • "The only queer people are those who don't love anybody." - Rita Mae Brown
  • "Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is a survivor. Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges." - Bob Paris
  • "Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?" - Ernest J. Gaines
  • "The beauty of standing up for your rights is others see you standing and stand up as well." - Cassandra Duffy
More about LGBT rights