LGBT+ History Month comes to National Museums Liverpool

This February, National Museums Liverpool (NML) are marking LGBT+ History Month with a range of events, activities and new online content – exploring the untold stories of LGBT+ people across the Liverpool City Region and beyond.  

With events ranging from a panel discussion exploring religion and LGBT+ lives, to interactive story time sessions for families with the fabulous Mama G, National Museums Liverpool aim to highlight key issues and stories from across the LGBT+ community.  

The programme of events includes Queer Creatives: Art and Activism – featuring three local creatives who use their work to amplify the voices of LGBT+ people. The work of one of these artists, Ben Youdan, was recently targeted in Liverpool City Centre as part of a recent spate of homophobic and transphobic incidents across the city. Meanwhile, the Christianity and LGBT+ Lives panel discussion will showcase a range of life experiences from LGBT+ Christians. 

The LGBT+ Histories hub on the NML website gives visitors the chance to delve into insightful interviews, opinion pieces, art history and hidden stories – from an interview with Police Officer Christian Owens about his experience of transitioning whilst working in the Police force, to the hidden histories of gay seafarers and sexuality in the ancient world. 

Claire Benjamin, Head of Learning and Participation at National Museums Liverpool, said: “Liverpool’s LGBT+ history is long and diverse – the city has been at the epicentre of some of the most important leaps forward in the struggle for LGBT+ rights, including the first legal same sex marriage in a place of worship in 2012. Despite landmark moments such as these, there is of course still progress to be made and the city is still reeling from a series of homophobic and transphobic attacks in 2021.” 

“We are so excited to be able to showcase a series of contributions from members of Liverpool’s LGBT+ community, responding artistically to the important people, places, and events in their lives. From the links between religion and sexuality in one of our live panel discussions to exciting new online content, we hope that everybody can find something to inspire them throughout February.” 

National Museums Liverpool’s programme of events for LGBT+ History Month is below – for further informational and for online content including pride stories, interviews, past collections and LGBT+ stories from across Liverpool, visit liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/lgbt-history