QUEER BRITAIN: the national LGBTQ+ museum’s Post

Badge Collection 👼 Badges are powerful symbols in the queer community, representing identity, resistance, and solidarity. They allow LGBTQ+ people to express pride and visibility, often in environments where they might feel marginalised. Historically, symbols like the pink triangle, once used to persecute, were reclaimed as symbols of defiance and pride. These small but mighty symbols have played crucial roles in political activism, raising awareness and uniting people around common causes at protests and pride events. Badges stand as reminders of our community’s struggles and achievements, while preserving its rich heritage. We continue to wear badges, and you can even pick some up from our gift shop! 😉 We've been exploring our archive and found some gems! Which one resonates with you? – Alt Text: The image shows four circular buttons or badges, each featuring designs and text related to LGBTQ+ rights and pride. 1. Top left badge: This badge has a white background with a black and pink heart in the centre. The text around the heart reads, "We Want Out In," with "Out" in bold black and "In" in pink. Below, it states, "Clause 25 Paragraph 16." 2. Top right badge: This badge has a white background with a black circle filled with a pink triangle at the top. The text around the circle reads, "Lesbian & Gay Pride '88." 3. Bottom left badge: This badge has a white background with an image of a cherub holding a flag that reads, "Pride 1993." The image is in black and white, with the flag in pink. 4. Bottom right badge: This badge has a pink background with bold black and white text that reads, "Get Up Get Out! Get Even" with "Lesbian and Gay Rights Coalition" written in a smaller font around the edge. The badges are arranged on a bright pink background. – Image From Queer Britain. Badges donated by Lord Michael Cashman. – #queerbritain #lgbtq #lesbian #gay #bisexual #trans #queer

I stumbled upon an interesting thread on X and would love to hear others take on it, especially those of fellow LGBTQ users. The thread criticised a post which was pushing for the exclusion of cisgender, heterosexual partners of bisexual people from queer spaces, specifically a queer artists concert. Try saying that after a few pints! The criticism was that ‘zoomers’ have re-created gender essentialism, the idea that men and women have intrinsic qualities which make up stereotypes, the same philosophy that would have boys only playing with blue action figures and girls with pink barbies. This was because the OP was suggesting that straight cis men cannot enjoy the artists concert just because they lack that shared identity. Personally, I think that the exclusion of anyone from enjoying a queer artists music based on a lack of a shared identity is absurd, I can empathise and enjoy the art of straight musicians and the idea that straight men simply couldn’t get the story the musician is trying to tell seems awfully silly. Is one purpose of art not to give us insight into the experiences of others and providing the individual is respectful, why should they not be allowed to enjoy it live? This type of exclusionary approach also raises issues for many people within the community. As highlighted by a user in the thread, many queer people don’t necessarily have any characteristics that would be considered stereotypically queer and because of this often feel judged when entering LGBTQ spaces. I am a gay man, yet I doubt most would know unless it was actively brought up, so if the original poster saw me at the show would they have tried to exclude me? This brings me to a concern I often have as a member of the LGBTQ community; how do we mitigate the damage that making identity so salient creates. By creating and reinforcing these categories with labels and strong associated characteristics, it inevitably strengthens in-group, out-group mechanics which often encourages prejudice. This means we must balance providing safe spaces for queer people with not encouraging and entrenching prejudice, a harder task than one might imagine. What are your thoughts? I would be especially interested in hearing from Max Siegel and Margi Marchetti (they/them)

’𝑁𝑜 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑢𝑠, 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑢𝑠.' - Marsha P. Johnson   For those who don't know, this is Marsha P. Johnson. Marsha was an American Drag Queen and trailblazing activist for LGBTQIA+ rights.   Many people comment on how complex the community and all its terminology is, as today various gender and sexual identities are recognised - and they're right. It 𝑖𝑠 complex and there 𝑎𝑟𝑒 "so many flags" but the reason why is exactly as Marsha states. We are a community accepting of those who do not fit the narrative of traditional norms and celebrate their differences. There can be no bisexual flag without the pansexual flag, there can be no non-binary flag without the intersex flag and so on. So, yes - it is complex, but for all the right reasons as the world continues to celebrate diversity. Besides, many of the gender and sexual identities honoured today have been around from - well, who knows when. The only difference is that they now have a label to them.   I am aware of my privilege and feel exceptionally grateful to live my life as my authentic self. However, this is still not the case for many LGBTQIA+ people, especially those who face other biases alongside. There is still so much work to be done to ensure marginalised groups 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑦 receive equal human rights. That's why it's important to have respectful conversations such as these, not just for Pride Month but all year round. https://lnkd.in/esHHEwmy - National Women's History Museum https://lnkd.in/exKzEB8r - The Marsha P. Johnson Institute #pride2024 #pridemonth #lgbtq #lgbtqia #diversityequityinclusion #dei

Fyloxenia 03•10•17•24 June 2024 Filoxenia (GR): (trans.) Hospitality Fýlo (GR): (trans.) Gender Dexamenes°° Seaside Hotel celebrates the LGBTQ+ pride month by supporting and presenting the project "Fyloxenia". The project was realized through a phygital residency by Ingrid Hideki (@ingridhideki) and Evá Papadakis (@evapapadakis_), and is curated by Socrates Stamatatos (@socratesstamatatos). As the title suggests, the project simultaneously explores the complex notions of gender and hospitality. The resident artists were invited to co-create, a site-specific artwork inspired by Dexamenes. The short film will be on public display every Monday for the entire month of June. Departing from the history of the concept of hospitality in Greece and in academia, they explore an intersection of gender/sexual identities and those related to the power dynamics between host and guest. Familiar images that refer to our digital identity, such as simulation games like ‘The Sims' and dating/hook up apps, are transformed into sci-fi movie storytelling. There the protagonists experience a contemporary identity crisis. From the aforementioned crisis emerge questions such: What is gender and hospitality contemporaneously? How does the dominant social narrative about these concepts, reject anything that deviates from it? Faced with the history of Dexamenes, which were a central pillar of the wine trade for Greece in the 1920s and are reused today as a place of relaxation and mindfulness, we are poetically invited to ask ourselves respectively about gender and hospitality. The figurative languages of Evá and Ingrid intertwine, composing a complex narrative that combines poetry and performativity. By taking over one of the two central silos - formerly used as wine tanks - the artists open a gateway to an uninhabited world. We invite you to explore -personally and collectively- concepts, to revisit them and give them a new explanation.

New Post: UMI’s Love Letter to the LGBTQ+ Community - https://lnkd.in/g-ntqby9 - This Pride Month, Billboard asked artists to write a series of love letters to their LGBTQ fans, highlighting what the community means to them as people and as artists. Below, R&B sensation UMI shares her coming out story, and thanks the community for “being my family.” My first interactions with the LGBTQ+ community were with friends I made in high school. It wasn’t a conscious recognition of our identities; they were simply my friends. Through them, I learned a lot about freedom of expression. Related Love Letters to the LGBTQ Community: Read the Notes From MUNA, Joy Oladokun & More 06/01/2024 I’ve since been more connected with becoming a role model. My biggest intention is to create art that people of all identities can relate to and feel seen through. I make art for the soul, for our universal feelings. We all love, we all have desire, we all have heart break. I’ve always had a strong desire to provide a safe space through my music and shows for people to be whoever they want to be. I attract a crowd of people who love each other with such deep openness – even with strangers. I love that my shows are full of representation … I think it’s a reflection of the love within me. In the face of increasing political attacks, approaching life through a bird’s eye view reminds me of our ongoing evolution. Just a few years ago, the legalization of gay marriage marked a significant milestone — I was in high school when it happened and I wrote my friend a letter about it. We are still at the beginning of our story. It’s easy to get sad or anxious about the world when approaching things in a finite way. I try my best to see every problem we face not through fear but as an area of growth and expansion happening before me. The problem is proof that the solution must exist and will come. That is the creative process, that is evolution. To my queer and trans family, friends, and fans, I LOVE YOU! You are loved and accepted always. Your unique presence in this world is appreciated — and my music is always a place to come as you are. Please don’t dim your light. You are here for a reason and are expanding people’s minds and hearts into its true size. So keep being you — your presence is making the world a better, more beautiful place. I feel it 🙂 Love,UMI - #news #business #world -------------------------------------------------- Download: Stupid Simple CMS - https://lnkd.in/g4y9XFgR -------------------------------------------------- or download at SourceForge - https://lnkd.in/dkmjBxiR

“Who is a LGBTQ+ music industry professional that inspires you?” This was a question on the application to join Out Jamz for the Spring/Summer 2024. We asked folks to let us know if there was any music industry professional that was LGBTQ+ that they looked up to whether it was a producer, A&R, etc. The number one answer we got was the following: “I don’t know anyone.” or simply left it blank. If this doesn’t show how crucial LGBTQ+ representation is in the music industry right now than I don’t know what is. We are progressing slowly especially as we see more LGBTQ+ artists hit the mainstream but there are many LGBTQ+ folks behind the scenes working to make it all happen who don’t recieve the light of day. This is exactly why Out Jamz is here, to amplify those voices and to give aspiring LGBTQ+ folks people that they can feel safe to connect with and look up to. Its time for more change and to keep working hard. #musicindustry #lgbtq #musicbusiness #musicindustryprofessional #dei

It’s Pride Month once again, which is a month-long celebration of liberation and acceptance for our queer friends who have had a long history of struggle in the fight for their rights. The first World Pride happened in 2000 and is celebrated in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York, USA. To all our queer friends out there, Happy Pride! As the activist and one of the many prominent figures during the Stonewall Uprisings, Marsha Johnson, once said, “No Pride for some of us without liberation for all of us!” Hence, a society’s acceptance (or tolerance) of its queer members is a reflection of its perspective on the universality of human rights. And if you are not queer, that is totally okay. You can still celebrate Pride as an ally. Here are some tips on how to be a good ally: 1. Do not assume a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE) unless otherwise explicitly communicated. 2. Let people identify themselves on their own terms, time, and pace. 3. Be open to listening to the stories of your queer friends even if it can be difficult to relate to their experiences. 4. Use their preferred pronouns and lived names. 5. Be a safe space for them. 6. Raise awareness, disseminate relevant information, and have civil discussions involving LGBTQ+ communities. We can show support for our LGBTQ+ friends and acquaintances by simply celebrating Pride with them and advocating for their rights. #pridemonth #pride #lgbtqia #pride2024 #ally #girlpowertalk #spreadlove #inclusivecommunity #alliesmatter Penned By: Anjo A.

Queer history has never been a chain of victories — instead it’s more like a constant game of tug-of-war. Sometimes the mighty opponent gains the upper hand, sweeping away years of hard-won progress. Let’s take a look at a slice of LGBTQ+ history together and go over major events that took place in February over the last 100 years. ◾ On February 1, 2006, for the first time in Oscar history, a film about a homosexual relationship enjoyed record-breaking success: “Brokeback Mountain” received eight nominations and won three of them. A week later, the film outdid all the other Oscar nominees at the American box office. ◾ On February 18, 1990, the Libertarian Party was created in Russia — the first party in Russian history to defend LGBTQ+ rights. ◾ On February 20, 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics approved the adoption of children by same-sex couples. ◾ On February 23, 1933, in Nazi Germany, all organizations and institutions dealing with homosexuality were shut down by decree, marking the beginning of the persecution of LGBTQ+ people. ◾ On February 25, 2004, US President George W. Bush called on Congress to quickly approve a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in the United States. ◾ On February 29, 2012, the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg adopted a law banning “gay propaganda” among minors. Queer history is a roller coaster. But even when we’re going downhill at full speed, we must hold on tight — to come up again, propelled by our relentless struggle for our rights. Share this post with your friends and subscribe to ComingOut to stay on top of LGBTQ+ news and insights into queer history 🏳️🌈 . . . . . #LGBTQHistory #QueerHistory #LGBTQ #Equality #Queer #LGBTQRights #LGBTQCommunity #HumanRights #StandWithLGBTQ #ProtectLGBTQRights #LGBTQVoicesMatter #EqualityForAll #LGBTQEquality #LetsTalkLGBTQ #CelebrateDiversity #InclusionMatters #WeAreHere #StrongerTogether #UnitedWeStand #NeverBackDown

Did you know, that for every £1 male artists make for the sale of their art - womxn artists earn 50p for the sale of theirs? Yep. This is sexism in action. And it's truly despicable. So what can we do to change this *HUGE* gender gap? 💰 Consciously buy art from womxn + non-binary artists 💰 Demand change from auction houses: Christie's + Sotheby's - do better 💰 Hire marginalised artists - to create murals, illustrations, merch + more 💰 Never ask artists to work for free (it's exploitative and just sh*tty) 💰 Support these artists online! Like, share + comment on their posts (Statistic from Helen Gorrill's book, "Women Can't Paint") --- p.s what other ways would you add, to support womxn, non-binary and marginalised artists? #art #gender #sexism

In celebration of Pride Month, explore the research of PhD student, Hao Wu. Hao's study focuses on the lives of queer males in Chengdu, China, and examines how they navigate their identities within societal and political constraints. His work highlights the creation of hybrid queer spaces, both physical and digital. Read more: bit.ly/3Xw5s2a #PrideMonth #LGBTQ #UCLGeography #Research