Harvey Milk is my usual ‘go-to’ activist for a quote on LGBT occasions. But this is one from a straight American activist from a different era, Henry Ward Beecher.“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.”We are fairly true to ourselves in the cultural community in this country. It’s why we have a reputation as one of the most creative and culturally interesting countries in the world.Alan Bennett’s The Habit of Art has been given rave reviews. A play about a gay poet and a gay composer written by a gay author and staged by a gay director at the National Theatre.Nottingham Contemporary, a brand new gallery, has just opened with a David Hockney exhibition and has been full to capacity. Over 6,000 people through the doors in the first two days.This museum recently staged Hadrian. A tremendous exhibition about an extraordinary man. Who happened to be gay.In large part, it’s thanks to the cultural community in this country that – 30 years after Harvey Milk became the first openly gay man elected to public office – I’m seen by most people as a politician who happens to be gay, not a gay man who’s a politician.In large part, thanks to the cultural community, we no longer have Section 28.Talented, creative public figures, by-and-large, are not defined by their sexuality but accepted for it. We have fought not to be defined by our sexuality.A lot of battles have been won. But there are still a lot of battles to be fought.Four weeks ago Ian Baynham died from his injuries. Kicked to death in a homophobic attack in Trafalgar Square. A few yards from my office.Still a lot of battles to be fought.But – in the cultural community – we have one of the most powerful, persuasive, impressive weapons. Culture changes how people think and feel and act.That ‘s why I am personally delighted that the next LGBT History Month is looking to our museums, galleries, theatres and other cultural institutions.I’d like to pay tribute to Sue Sanders and Tony Fenwick, the co-chairs of LGBT History Month. You do a vital and extraordinary job, and I’m delighted that the response to History Month has gone from strength to strength since you first launched it in 2006.Thank you also to the British Museum, and Laura Phillips in particular, for hosting today’s pre-launch event.My challenge to the cultural sector today is to make sure we maintain the trend and make this the biggest LGBT month ever in terms of activity.My own personal sense as Culture Secretary is that every month is LGBT month in the cultural sector. But we have an opportunity through History Month to look for new or different ways to explore the nature of the artist or the writer or the inventor behind great art or literature or scientific discovery. To make sure we’re properly acknowledging an artist or scientist’s sexual orientation, rather than glossing over it, when explaining their genius. Accepting their sexuality, not defining them by it.To be shy of sexuality is to stoke the levels of ignorance and prejudice that make too many people’s lives a misery.It’s no coincidence that today’s event is being held in Anti-bullying Week. We have probably the best legal framework in the world in this country – even better with the introduction of the Equality Bill. But people – young and old – still live in fear of bullying and prejudice. Homophobic bullying is still a big issue in schools.We’ve come a long way in a short time from the dark ages of Section 28. We’ve got an equalised age of consent, gays in the military, adoption and immigration rights, gender recognition and civil partnerships.We’ve got a good legal framework. But we also need to work on hearts and minds and that is where culture is uniquely persuasive.The extra-ordinariness of Auden or Hadrian or David Hockney help to make being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender ordinary, usual, everyday. As well as extraordinary, unusual and special.As Harvey Milk put it the day after his election to office in 1977: “if I do a good job, people won’t care if I am green or have three heads.”I’d like to see the whole of the cultural sector involved in next February’s History Month. The British Museum’s LGBT trail is an excellent example of a new way to explore the galleries here, and a marker for the rest of the sector.The cultural sector has traditionally swept the rest of society along on in its wake on equality issues. LGBT History Month is a chance to put our foot down even harder on the pedal.ENDS