Press Release
Desire, love,
identity: exploring
LGBTQ histories
11 May- 15 October 2017
Room 69a, free
Supported by Stephen and Julie Fitzgerald
2017 is the 50th anniversary of the passing of
and prints. As well as highlighting famous
the Sexual Offences Act in July 1967. This
figures such as the poetess Sappho, Hadrian
legislation partially decriminalised
homosexuality in England and Wales and
and Antinous, the display looks beyond
Europe’s past to explore less familiar themes
marks an important milestone in the campaign
for equality. The display Desire, love, identity:
exploring LGBTQ histories marks this
and stories. This display will include modern
and contemporary works (such as Otsuka
Takashi’s Drag Queen Deck) and a selection
anniversary. There will also be an
of LGBTQ campaign badges from the 1970s
accompanying trail highlighting fourteen key
to the present day.
objects in the permanent galleries.
A significant number of objects related to
The display provides glimpses into LGBTQ
experience across time and around the world
LGBTQ histories are already on permanent
display in the British Museum’s galleries. The
through the British Museum’s collection
building on Richard Parkinson’s recent ‘A
trail will help visitors to easily identify a
selection of theseobjects and explore LGBQT
Little Gay History’ book. The earliest object
histories in the Museum’s collection in more
depth.
dates from around 9000 BC. Some objects
relate to named individuals, such as the the
emperor Hadrian (AD 76-138) and his lover
Antinous, now one one of the better known
The trail is based around 14 key objects in the
permanent galleries, allowing the LGBTQ
same-sex relationships in history. The display
will include a coin depicting Antinous that was
aspects of these artefacts to be explored in
their particular historical and cultural context.
issued after his death to please the grieving
The trail will include collection highlights,
objects such as the remarkable Warren Cup,
Emperor. Other objects reflect the
experiences and lives of people whose names
a Roman silver drinking cup dating to around
are not known to us, and offer glimpses into
what the novelist E.M. Forster memorably
AD 10 decorated with scenes showing two
pairs of male lovers. The Warren Cup was
described as a ‘…great unrecorded history.’
acquired by the Museum in 1999; its history
provides a powerful illustration of changing
Ranging chronologically from ancient history
attitudes to homosexuality.
to the present day, the objects often prompt
questions, challenging the contemporary
Additional interpretation will be integrated with
viewer to consider the assumptions that they
bring to objects from other cultures, traditions
the trail objects to allow each artefact to be
explored more comprehensively. . When the
or the more distant past. The display draws
on material from across the breadth of the
exhibition ends, the temporary trail
interpretation will be removed, but new
Museum’s collection including coins, medals,
permanent labels will be installed to ensure
that the LGBTQ significance of the object is
captured, creating a lasting legacy.
The British Museum has longstanding
relationships with LGBTQ organisations, and
many individuals shared their expertise and
experiences to help shape the final display
and trail.
.
Notes to editors
Public programme: lectures and events
Desire, love, identity: exploring LGBTQ
histories
Desire Love Identity
11 May- 15 October 2017
Tuesday 16 May, 13.15-14.00, Room 69a
A gallery talk by Stuart Frost, co-curator of Desire,
love, identity: exploring LGBTQ histories.
Room 69a, free
Supported by Stephen and Julie Fitzgerald
LGBTQ Objects of desire tour with Babs
Guthrie
Fri 19 May, 19.00–20.00
LGBTQ is used in this display to describe
communities of people who identify as lesbian, gay,
bisexual, trans or queer.
Follow updates on the exhibition via our Facebook,
Twitter and follow the Museum @britishmuseum
Desire Love Identity
Thursday 27 July,13.15-14.00, Room 69a
A gallery talk by Laura Phillips, co-curator of
Desire, love. identity: exploring LGBTQ histories.
For further information
please contact the Press Office on 020 7323 8522/
8394 or [email protected]
For public information please print
britishmuseum.org or 020 7323 8181
High resolution images and caption sheet
available at : http://tinyurl.com/zuk3v2f