Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 8 May 2022

A NEW exhibition has opened inside of Hinckley’s Atkins Building to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

The exhibition first opened to Atkins visitors on Wednesday, 27 April, where it will remain inside of the mixed-use gallery and museum building until Tuesday, 17 May.

It has been organised by the True Colours Hinckley and Bosworth LGBT+ Events Partnership – a collaboration led by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC).

Included in the exhibition are posters, displays, and objects reflecting the ‘ongoing struggle’ for full equality for LGBT+ individuals and communities, and some of the progress that has been made towards that in recent years

This year’s theme of IDAHOBIT is “Our Bodies. Our Lives. Our Rights.”

The exhibition further includes a number of items from a collection from the Leicester LGBT Centre, which has recently launched new outreach services in Hinckley, in conjunction with the Borough Council and True Colours group.

Also on display are a number of posters from Leicestershire Police, stressing the need to tackle hate crime and to promote diversity and inclusion.

Mathew Hulbert, a Hinckley-based LGBT+ Rights Campaigner, also has a new piece of writing on display as part of the exhibition.

Mathew Hulbert, said: “We’re so pleased to, once again, have a display at the wonderful Atkins Building marking this important occasion.

“Tragically homophobia, biphobia and transphobia remain scourges on our society and this is a vitally important chance to take a stand against this discrimination and to promote diversity, equality and inclusion for all.

He continued: “Our diversity is our strength and we hope lots of people will take the opportunity to pop into the Atkins Building, buy a cuppa and then take a wonder around the free exhibition.

“Copies of our Spring True Colours newsletter, which reflects on LGBT+ History Month back in February and has lots of information on LGBT+ support services, are also available to pick up.”

You can keep up to date with the work of the True Colours partnership on Twitter, via @LGBTeventsHB, and also find out more by coming to see their representatives at the Atkins Building on May 17th between 10am and 12pm.