QUEER BRITAIN: the national LGBTQ+ museum

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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

Happy South Asian Heritage Month! 🌟 Today marks the final day of South Asian Heritage Month, and we’re reflecting on a special event we hosted a few weeks ago: Desi Lesbians: The Pioneering Women panel talk and screening in collaboration with South Asian Heritage Months and DIVA. Our panellists, Queer Britain trustee Anjum Mouj, DJ Ritu MBE, Savitri Hensman and Rita Hirani shared their thoughts on the theme "Free To Be Me" and what South Asian Heritage Month means to them. We also screened "Discovering Kali - 25 Years of the Legendary Club," celebrating Club Kali's legacy and impact on its founders, performers, and global attendees. – Alt-text: 1. A group of four people standing next to a chai cart with a sign that says "Dishoom." One person is holding a cup of chai. 2. A panel discussion in progress, with three people seated and one person appearing via a screen. The person in the yellow outfit is speaking to an audience. 3. Two people standing at the chai cart, being served by a vendor. The cart is decorated with colorful garlands and a "Dishoom" sign. – Images From Queer Britain – #queerbritain #lgbtq #lesbian #gay #bisexual #trans #queer #SAHM2024

This week, we had the pleasure of welcoming some of our Summer Sounds performers to Queer Britain! ✨ It was an absolute delight to give them a tour of the museum and capture some exciting content together. Participating in Summer Sounds holds special significance for us, as it allows us to celebrate Queer performers while offering a night of free music for our community and beyond. We can't wait to see these incredible artists take the stage—Monday truly can't come soon enough! 📅 Monday, 19 August ⏰ 6:30 - 8:30 PM 📍 Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross Join us for a night of music, community, and celebration! – King’s Cross Summer Sounds is produced by arts trust & Kings Cross. It is held in collaboration with Coal Drops Yard, and is supported by Arts Council England. Queer Britain is proud to have collaborated with Sounds Queer for Summer Sounds 2024. Sounds Queer is a live music showcase that champions diverse voices and sounds from the LGBTQIA+ community. – Alt Text: Image 1: A group of five people standing in front of a wall that displays the words "WE ARE QUEER BRITAIN" in bold, black letters. They are posing for a photo, all smiling. Image 2: Three people are standing and facing a large wall display covered with hexagonal tiles, each containing handwritten messages. Above the display, there are photographs mounted on the wall, and to the right is text that reads "WE ARE QUEER BRITAIN." Image 3: Two individuals stand in front of a wall covered with framed photographs and artworks in the gallery. The person on the left is dressed in a green checkered sweater vest, while the person on the right is in a yellow shirt and plaid shorts, hands clasped behind their back. Below the wall of art is a glass display case containing various artefacts. – Image from Queer Britain – #queerbritain #lgbtq #lesbian #gay #bisexual #trans #queer

We had an incredible day at Black Pride 2024! We brought a touch of QB to Black Pride! Our mini exhibition showcased the wonderful work from our Queer Migrant Men+ Residency, including exclusive, not on display pieces. We also displayed photographs of Black queer icons and original artefacts from our Justin Fashanu memorabilia collection. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly our badge maker, where people had the chance to recreate and take home reproductions of vintage LGBTQ+ badges. We loved seeing some familiar faces and welcoming new ones. Black Pride 2024 was a celebration of community, resilience, and pride, and we’re already looking forward to next year’s event. Thank you, Black Pride, for providing such an important and inclusive space! – Alt Text - First Image: A photo taken in front of the Queer Britain booth at Black Pride 2024. Seven people, pose with wide smiles and playful gestures. The backdrop includes a tent, "Queer Britain" signs, and various decorations. Second Image: Two people smiling at the camera under a tent at Black Pride 2024. The person on the left is wearing sunglasses, a striped shirt, and a baseball cap, while holding a drink. The person on the right is also wearing sunglasses, a keffiyeh, and a pink shirt that reads, "Why be racist, sexist, homophobic, or transphobic when you could just be quiet?" Third Image: A person making a badge inside a tent at Black Pride 2024. They are holding the lever of the badge machine, while another person assists them. Fourth Image: A group of people gathered outside a white tent with signs reading "Queer Britain" at Black Pride 2024. The sky is clear and blue. Fifth Image: Two Queer Britain volunteers sat at a table inside a tent, both fanning themselves. There are badges on the table in front of them, and various supplies. A rainbow chain garland is hung up behind them. – The Queer Migrant Men+ residency was held in partnership with Maureen, a Love Tank project. The community residency programme is made possible thanks to those who donated to our crowdfund and is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. The work shown was created by : Batyr, Johny, Pierre, Richard and Tony – Image from Queer Britain – #queerbritain #lgbtq #lesbian #gay #bisexual #trans #queer

Happy Black Pride 2024! 🏳️🌈 We're excited to be back at Black Pride! We first attended in 2019 before we even had our physical museum. This year, we're bringing a little bit of Queer Britain to Black Pride! Visit us at the community stall holder section to explore our mini exhibition and chat with our staff and volunteers. See you there! – Alt text: Three images of the Queer Britain team at Black Pride in 2022, 2019 and 2023. 1. Six people smile and pose in front of a Queer Britain booth at a Black Pride event. The booth features colourful signage and a banner that reads "We are Queer Britain." 2. Four people, three wearing Queer Britain t-shirts and one wearing a Black Pride t-shirt, smiling together at a stall at a Black Pride event. The stall has a Queer Britain backdrop. 3. Three people stand together smiling under a canopy at Black Pride. – Images From Queer Britain – #queerbritain #lgbtq #lesbian #gay #bisexual #trans #queer #blackpride #blackpride2024

In the summer of 1985, Femi Otitoju (pictured above) and 200 other women marched for Lesbian Strength. Femi and her friend were the only Black people at the march. In an article she wrote for Metro (2021), Femi said: 'On the day the picture was taken, it felt a bit like a responsibility to be marching, specifically with a banner for Black lesbians. It was important for me because I wasn't just a lesbian; I was Black, and that had a real impact on my experience'. Femi also volunteered for the London Lesbian Line, Switchboard and helped set up the first Black Lesbian Group in the early 1980’s. The image is a colourised version of the original image from Skittles 'Recolour the Rainbow' campaign (2021) in partnership with Gay Times, Switchboard and Queer Britain. – Alt text: A group of people walking in a parade, carrying a banner that reads “Black Lesbians.” Femi, in the centre, wears a pink dress and smiles broadly. – Image From Skittles – #queerbritain #lgbtq #lesbian #gay #bisexual #trans #queer #blackpride #blackpride2024

We are thrilled to announce that the Dr. Martens Foundation has awarded Queer Britain a grant to support our Public Events Programme! This initiative is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and providing free and accessible opportunities for creativity, learning, and socialising for people within our community. Our team had the pleasure of visiting the Dr. Martens head offices in London and Northampton, where we participated in their summer party fundraising event. The highlight was a raffle featuring prizes from the Queer Britain gift shop, Dr. Martens vouchers, and other exciting items. The event was a tremendous success, and we had an amazing time with the Dr. Martens team. We had so much fun with the DM team, thank you for all your support and for being so welcoming to us! – Alt text: Image one - A colourful setup for an event, featuring a raffle wheel, a table with books, stickers, and other rainbow items. A screen advertises raffle tickets surrounded by decorations like shiny fringe and disco balls. Image two - Two people sat at a table smile behind a "BUY TICKETS HERE" sign at an event. The room is decorated with posters, rainbow fringe curtains, and disco balls. – Images From Queer Britain – #queerbritain #lgbtq #lesbian #gay #bisexual #trans #queer

HAPPY TRANS PRIDE! 🏳️⚧️ Today, July 27th 2024 is the sixth London Trans+ Pride and calls for justice and liberation under the slogan, “None of us are free until all of us are free.” The team has been preparing by making placards, inspired by protest placards in our collection. Queer Britain will always be a safe space for trans people, and we recognise the importance of trans representation today and every day of the year. – Alt text - The images show people standing together indoors, holding placards and a book with messages advocating for transgender rights. The signs include phrases like "WE STILL FLOURISH," "I AM NOT A GIRL BUT I AM SOMEBODY'S SISTER," "TRANS PEOPLE ARE NOT YOUR ENEMY," and "QUEER BRITAIN FOR TRANS RIGHTS." The person in the back centre holds a book with the cover title "TRANS POWER." – Image from Queer Britain – #queerbritain #lgbtq #lesbian #gay #bisexual #trans #queer #transpride #transpride2024

DISABLED QUEERS ARE LOVED ❤️ As we near the end of Disability Pride Month, we wanted to spotlight the voices of our visitors and the messages they have left on our magnetic hexagon wall. We will always strive to be an inclusive and accessible safe space for all ✨ – Alt text - Three white hexagons on a yellow background. The first hexagon 'DISABLED QUEERS ARE LOVED' is written in orange pen, surrounded by colourful hearts and stars. The second hexagon 'AUTISTIC QUEERS WILL SAVE THE WORLD' is written in multicoloured pens. Below is a drawing of a red heart and the world. The last hexagon is a green drawing of two hands signing the word gay, next to 'Gay in BSL' written in green pen. - #queerbritain #lgbtq #lesbian #gay #bisexual #trans #queer #disabilitypride