A month celebrating the history and legacy of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community gets underway in Croydon today.

February is LGBT history month, and will see a host of events across Croydon beginning with a civic launch in the clock tower this evening.

The civic launch will see performances from Katie Rose, Mark Bunyan and rainbows singers across borders.

The event, which begins at 5.30pm, will feature an address from Councillor Bernadette Khan, the mayor of Croydon.

Councillor Hamida Ali, cabinet member for safer Croydon and communities, said: “I am very proud of Croydon’s diversity which is one of the borough’s greatest strengths.

LGBT communities bring so much to the borough and I’m glad to see such a great range of events and performances as we mark the lived experience and achievements of LGBT people in Croydon.”

Croydon was recently named in the top 10 local authority employers by the LGBT rights Charity Stonewall in its 2018 survey of more than 434 organisations.

Other events in the month include a screening of Disobedience, a tale of forbidden love featuring Oscar winner Rachel Weisz at, Screen 25 on Wednesday February 13.

Author and veteran activist Stuart Feather will also give a talk at The Spreadeagle. His talk will tell the story of early radical-feminists protests during Croydon Area Gay Society’s monthly meeting from 8pm on Tuesday February 19.

The Rainbow Reading Group session in Croydon Central Library from 2.30pm on Thursday February 28 will focus on Stephen Hough’s The Final Retreat.

Later in the year the 2019 Croydon Pridefest will take place in Wandle Park on Saturday July 13.