Museum set to make LGBT history with prestigious event

A prestigious festival celebrating the history and heritage of LGBT+ communities from across the country is coming to Leeds.

Leeds City Museum has been officially confirmed as a hub for next year’s exciting OUTing the Past event which will see Leeds become part of a dedicated national network of host cities showcasing hundreds of years of LGBT+ culture and communities.

The announcement comes off the back of a string of successful projects and exhibitions at museums sites in Leeds including Leeds Queer Stories and a programme of regular annual events for LGBT+ History Month.

Upcoming events already planned for the next LGBTHM includes activity with the West Yorkshire Queer Stories social history project.

Leeds Queer Film Festival will also be held at Live Art Bistro from March 21-24 2019.

An event for LGBT History Month organised by West Yorkshire Queer Stories will be held at the Museum on Feb 9 2019.

The museum will also be displaying a new piece in its popular window space entitled LGBTHM - VISIBLE - 36point7, which aims to create visibility for the 36.7million people living globally with HIV and AIDS.

Councillor James Lewis, Leeds City Councils’ LGBT+ champion, said: “We are extremely proud to have been chosen to host this prestigious event and it’s a massive endorsement for the work we have done as a city to commemorate the history of our LGBT+ communities.

“Leeds has a superb reputation as a city which celebrates diversity and embraces it as a rich and vibrant facet of our culture and this event will give us a fantastic opportunity to do that on a prestigious national stage.”

Leeds Museums and Galleries operates nine sites across our city, ranging from medieval abbeys to historic houses, community museums and one of the best British Art collections outside London at Leeds Art Gallery.

Leeds City Museum, the host venue, covers four floors exploring the natural world, ancient history and Leeds in all its diversity.

ENDS