Rebekah Peters is Brook’s Media and Communications Officer. For Black History Month, she talks about some of the Black people within the sexual health and wellbeing space who have inspired her, and why representation is so important.
Black History Month is a time to honour the Black community.
It is a celebration of the achievements and the contributions that Black people have made particularly in the UK. But it is also a time reflect on the racism and injustices faced by the Black community and recognise the ongoing fight for racial equality.
Structural racism is a fundamental cause of health inequities affecting the Black community and other marginalised groups. We need representation in sexual health and wellbeing to help tackle these health inequities, improve access to high quality care, and to support the rights of marginalised communities. Representation is so important to inspire and empower a younger generation of history makers but also it is essential in challenging stereotypes.
Black people are extraordinary and diverse, and we are not all the same.
As a young Black woman working in sexual health and wellbeing, I want to commemorate the Black figures who have made significant contributions in this field. History shows that the stories and achievements of Black people and other people of colour have often been overlooked and disregarded. To help tackle this, here are 6 Black figures in sexual health and wellbeing that you need to know about.
Dr. Annabel Sowemimo is a doctor, activist and writer. She is the founder of Reproductive Justice Initiative (formerly Decolonising Contraception), which was formed to address health inequalities in sexual and reproductive health. She advocates for inclusive and culturally competent sexual health services and writes extensively about racism within the UK healthcare system.
Ted Brown is an LGBT+ activist. As a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front in the 1970s, Brown was one of the first Black voices in the UK to openly campaign for LGBT+ rights. He helped organise the UK’s first Gay Pride Rally in 1972, where he made history by organising a kiss-in.
Dame Donna Kinnair is a British nurse and former Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). Through her experiences as a nurse, she has been vocal about the health disparities faced by Black and ethnic minority groups and worked to address health inequalities and racism in the NHS workforce.
Marc Thompson is an activist, health promotion specialist and pioneering advocate for HIV awareness and LGBT+ rights. He has been at the forefront of HIV activism and education in the UK, particularly for the Black and LGBT+ community and is the Co-founder of The Love Tank and Prepster.
Munroe Bergdorf is a model, activist, and prominent advocate for trans rights and racial equality. She was the first transgender model for L’Oréal and continues to push for greater visibility and equality for trans and non-binary people, particularly within Black and ethnic minority communities.
Lady Phyll is the co-founder of UK Black Pride, Europe’s largest event for QTIPOC and is also the executive director of human rights charity Kaleidoscope Trust. She is a powerful advocate for LGBT+ rights and intersectionality, addressing how race, gender, and sexual identity overlap.
Other notable mentions suggested by our community on Instagram include Doctor Aziza Sesay, Lorna Phillip, Ericka Hart and Black Nurses & Midwives UK.
These figures have played a vital role in raising awareness and making healthcare more accessible for everyone.
Whether you already knew about them or have learnt something new, celebrating them serves as a reminder that Black history and identity is an integral part of the broader historical narrative in the UK and globally.
As Black History Month comes to an end, remember that celebrating Black history does not have to only happen in this space. The inequalities, racism and challenges the Black community face aren’t limited to one month. Actively support the Black community whether that’s through your work, the businesses you support or in your personal life.
Happy Black History Month!
