WELCOME to our LGBT+ special edition, published to mark this year’s History Month events and celebrations that began yesterday (Wednesday).

In the following pages, you will read about highs and sadly some lows, challenges that still remain but plenty of reasons to be cheerful too. People sometimes say we “only make a fuss for a month” but they aren’t reading the paper through the rest of year if they do.

We know some will be sceptical and cynical about our rainbow masthead on the front cover of today’s issue, though. So often we are called “woke” as a campaigning newspaper – right on! – but rest assured we take that as a badge of honour. What’s wrong with showing solidarity?

Put simply, it means being aware, caring. And the people who have helped us put this edition together do care that Camden and Islington are inclusive communities where everybody can feel part of life here.

Events like the History Month programme only add to that spirit and as Tessa Havers-Strong of forum+ says on this page: it’s about everybody forming that community feeling. It’s not about fencing off events for some people and not allowing others to join in.

The opposite.

So what better place to shout about it all than the borough’s best-read paper?

Look out for the listings of what’s coming up this month, if you’re interested in getting more involved. We would not be able to create special editions like this without the help of our sponsors, and so many wanted to help us get this issue out today (Thursday). They helped us clear these pages of normal advertising, enabling us to extend our coverage and tell more inspiring stories.

Thank you for your support!