According to Wikipedia in the 16th century same-sex activities were considered sinful, unlawful and punishable by death. In 1952 Alan Turing, to name a well-known gay man, was prosecuted for homosexual acts because "gross indecency" was a criminal act in the UK. 

Today, in the 21st century LGBT citizens are no longer committing a crime but that doesn’t mean that the hatred has stopped. Too many of them are still subjected to fierce hostility or find themselves rejected, even by their own families. 

The LGBT Switchboard has helped many who were in need of kind words and surely prevented plenty of desperate souls from committing suicide when everything became too much.

Actor, writer and producer Mark Gatiss, openly gay for many years and happily married to Ian Hallard, is a well-known and active patron for the LGBT Switchboard. This makes it even more alarming that a lot of hate and vitriol have been disseminated over the past two weeks, and much of this has been directed (and unfairly so) at this kind man. There are many of us who are distressed over these posts and tweets and want to do something positive, instead of focusing on the negative that has been perpetuated. 

February is LGBT History month and to honour and respect history, we have chosen the LGBT Switchboard + helpline to support Mark Gatiss and the work that he has done as patron for the charity and on behalf of LGBT people. 

Thanks!

Cindy & Antje

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