Skip to main content

LGBTQ+ history quiz

First suggested by FLAGS
Test your knowledge of LGBTQ+ history in this quick quiz.

Back to Activities

You’ll need

  • Pens or pencils
  • A4 paper
  • Copy of the quiz questions (optional)

Before you begin 

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There’s also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.
  • Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
  • Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help.

Planning and setting up this activity 

  • Print a copy of the questions and answers before this session. You could use our quiz questions or use your own. Make sure to check any information is accurate and reliable.
  • Some people may be in the process of questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity or may not have shared their identity with anyone. Make sure everyone knows they don’t have to share anything about themselves if they don’t want to. It’s important that everyone feels comfortable in this activity, as well as knowing how they can access support. 
  • Young people may share aspects of their identity that may be new to them, new to you or new to the rest of your group. This is a very brave thing to do, and it's extremely personal and different for everyone. Make sure you look out for these individuals and provide a safe and calm space for them to process their emotions. Make sure to model affirming responses to anything shared by your young people.
  • There's a range of labels young people and adult volunteers may use to describe their sexual orientation or gender identity. For example, asexual, pansexual, nonbinary, or questioning. Take the time to research these, so you feel comfortable in your knowledge of them should a young person or adult want to discuss their sexual orientation or gender identity with you.
  • It's the responsibility of all adults in Scouts to help develop a caring and supportive atmosphere where bullying in any form is unacceptable. Look out for any signs of homophobic and/or transphobic bullying and language. See our guidance on preventing and dealing with bullying. You may want to create a zero-tolerance policy towards LGBTQ+ bulling or discrimination within your Section or Group rules.   
  • You may want to visit our LGBTQ+ pages to find out more about supporting LGBTQ+ members in Scouts. 

  • Which country was the first to legalise same-sex marriage in 2001?
    A: Netherlands. The first legal same-sex marriage was in Amsterdam on 1 April 2001.

  • When did the first civil partnerships take place in the UK?
    A: 2005 (December to be exact!). Civil partnerships gave same-sex couples legal recognition similar to marriage, but full marriage rights came later in 2014.

  • Who was the first openly gay man to be knighted? Bonus: In what year?
    A: Sir Ian McKellen (Bonus: 1991)

  • What were the 1969 protests in New York, sparked by a police raid on a gay bar, called?
    A: The Stonewall Riots. The riots at the Stonewall Inn helped spark the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement in the US and beyond.

  • Which UK law banning the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality by teaching or by publishing material was abolished in 2003?
    A: Section 28. Introduced in 1988, Section 28 prevented schools from discussing LGBTQ+ topics and was widely criticised.

  • When were civil partnerships introduced in the UK?
    A: 2004. Civil partnerships were a step towards equality, but many campaigned for full marriage rights, which came a decade later in 2014.

  • Which famous British scientist, known for his work on computers, was posthumously pardoned in 2013 after being convicted of homosexuality in 1952?
    A: Alan Turing. Alan Turing was a brilliant mathematician and codebreaker, and his work helped win World War II. He was convicted due to his homosexuality and was only officially pardoned in 2013.

  • In what year did the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss get shown on television? Hint: It was on an old TV soap called Brookside.
    A: 1993. The kiss between Beth Jordache and Margaret Clemence was groundbreaking for LGBTQ+ representation.

  • How many countries still criminalise homosexuality?
    A: 64 (as of 2024). In some countries, same-sex relationships can result in prison sentences or even the death penalty.

  • When did the UK allow gay and bisexual people to serve in the armed forces?
    A: 2000. Before 2000, LGBTQ+ people could be discharged from the military just for their sexuality.

  • At what time did the first same-sex couple to marry in the UK (Peter McGraith and David Cabreza) tie the knot on 29 March 2014?
    A: They married at one minute past midnight on 29 March 2014, making history. The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, was passed on 17 July 2013, and the first marriages of same sex couples took place on Saturday 29 March 2014.

  • How many colours are in the traditional Pride flag, and what are they?
    A: Six – Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple. Each colour represents something: red = life, orange = healing, yellow = sunlight, green = nature, blue = harmony, and purple = spirit.

  • When did Scouts introduce their equal opportunities policy?
    A: 1997. This policy makes sures that everyone can take part in Scouts.

  • What year did the first Pride march take place in New York?
    A: 1970. The march was held on 28 June 1970, marking the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

  • When did Scouts first attend London Pride?
    A: 2009. This showed Scouts' commitment to inclusion and support for the LGBTQ+ community. Find out more about Scouts’ LGBTQ+ History.

  • When was the rainbow Pride flag first flown?
    A: 1978. The flag was designed by artist Gilbert Baker and first appeared at San Francisco’s Gay Freedom Day parade.

  • When did the UK legalise same-sex adoption?
    A: 2002. The law change in 2003 allowed same-sex couples to adopt children, giving them the same rights as heterosexual couples.

  • True or False: Until 1974, it was illegal for two men to be in a relationship in England and Wales.
    A: False – it was decriminalised in 1967 (later in Scotland and Northern Ireland). Before 1967, gay and bisexual men could face life in prison. It was never illegal for women.

  • A 50p coin was released in 2022 to mark 50 years since which event started in the UK?
    A: Pride. The coin celebrates the first UK Pride march in 1972 and was the first British coin dedicated to LGBTQ+ history.

  • Which UK artist, known for their hit song ‘Stay With Me’, came out as gay in 2014 and later came out as non-binary in 2019?
    A: Sam Smith

  • Which British TV show, based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novels, follows the relationship between Nick and Charlie?
    A: Heartstopper

  • Which famous British musician, known for songs like ‘Under Pressure’ and ‘We Are the Champions’, came out as gay in 1991? A: Freddie Mercury. Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen, became one of the most iconic LGBTQ+ figures in music, and his openness about his sexuality helped raise awareness.

  • In 2015, which UK city became the first to have a permanent rainbow zebra crossing in support of the LGBTQ+ community?A: Manchester. Manchester's rainbow crossing, painted in 2015, symbolises the city's support for the LGBTQ+ community.

  • In 2021, which British footballer took part in a landmark public interview where he became the first Premier League player to come out as gay? A: Jake Daniels

  • Which UK city is home to the world's first Pride café, a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community to gather and connect?
    A: Brighton

 

Running this activity

  1. Gather everyone and ask if they know what LGBTQ+ History Month is. It aims to eliminate prejudice through education and takes place every February to highlight the history, lives, and experiences of LGBTQ+ people (Source: BBC Bitesize, 2025)
  2. Ask everyone why they think learning about LGBTQ+ history matters, and how it can help make a difference. Many LGBTQ+ people have faced discrimination, bullying, or abuse, so learning and showing support helps create a more accepting and inclusive environment.
  3. Remind everyone that Scouts welcomes everyone, regardless of their sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. We live by our Scout Values—helping others, showing compassion, and respecting everyone, including the LGBTQ+ community.
  4. Tell everyone you're going to do a quiz to explore LGBTQ+ history, which they can play individually, in pairs, or in small teams.
  5. Let everyone get into pairs or teams, if you're going to do so.
  6. Give out pens, pencils and papers for everyone to use.
  7. An adult volunteer or young leader should read out the questions, giving lots of time for people to answer. You may wish to make it a multiple choice quiz.
  8. Once all the questions have been read out, repeat any questions that people may need again.
  9. Swap sheets and read out the answers. It’s good to pause along the way to chat about them. Ask if anyone learned something new or finds anything surprising.
  10. Finally, take this opportunity to talk about how your Scout section, Group, or community, is and could be more inclusive and welcoming for all. Supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion can be as simple as displaying Pride flags, wearing Pride Scout badges or using inclusive language. You could also organise activities, such as creating artwork, attending Pride events, or running community projects to support LGBTQ+ people.

Reflection

In this activity, everyone learned about LGBTQ+ history. Why do you think LGBTQ+ History Month is needed? It aims to eliminate prejudice through education and highlights the history, lives and experiences of LGBTQ+ people. Did anyone already know anything? What did you learn? Did anything surprise you? What could we all do to make the world a better place for the LGBTQ+ community? 

There were lots of facts and quiz questions. How did you find the quiz? What did you do if you didn’t know the answer? How did you try to make any guesses more accurate? If you worked in a team, how did you work together and make sure everyone in your team got to have a say? If people were unsure or had different opinions, how did you decide on an answer?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.

To make this activity easier, you could run it as a multiple choice quiz. 

  • If someone needs support in writing down their answers, give them the opportunity to work in a pair during the quiz, so a friend can write for them. If playing individually, an adult volunteer or young leader could write for them.
  • People can work in small groups or individually, depending on what will work best for your group. Adults can take a step back or get more involved depending on how people are getting on. Members of the group could also work in pairs and help each other.
  • If needed, let people be in bigger groups to make sure everyone’s supported in taking part in the activity. A young leader could join a group to help people to take part, too.
  • People who struggle with making choices could find all the options a bit overwhelming, so they might need extra support or to have multiple choice answers.
  • Take time and have patience while asking the quiz questions. Read questions clearly and concisely. If you need to, pause, then repeat the same question using the same words. 
  • For anyone who may not be able to hear the questions, consider printing them a version that they can read at the same time.
  • Remember to have large-print copies of the questions or any printed materials if needed. People could use magnifying glasses or devices with magnification tools if needed.

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Scouts World Challenge Award

Why not host a quiz in your local community to fundraise for a local or national LGBTQ+ charity? 

Young people could do the own research and create their own quiz questions to test each other.