Online gay museum to be launched this month

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • April 1, 2008 - 14:35

roud Heritage is the online national museum for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history and cultural ancestry.

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A series of public events on Monday 14th April will mark the launch of an online, interactive museum of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans history.

The Natural History Museum's Earth Gallery and Flett Theatre will host an unveiling of Proud Heritage, followed by a "no-holds barred and intimate interview" with gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, followed by questions from the audience.

At the public event Proud Heritage will set out its future plans and unveil its first public phase, "a cutting edge online museum that breaks new ground," say organisers.

"Proud Heritage has already established itself as an expert agency in the heritage sector, now it is ready to go live.

"And now it needs public support. Find out how to give memory or memorabilia, how to volunteer and how to become a Friend."

After three years of careful research and development, Proud Heritage, the online national museum for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history and cultural ancestry, goes live online on 15th April.

"We believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans history has been hidden for too long," said organisers.

"We believe for us to have full equality, it is necessary for our history, our culture to be afforded equal recognition, and for the full diversity of our lived experience to be recorded and represented.

"We believe that same-sex love and desire, and the desire to change the expression of gender, have always existed in all

communities."

"We believe that these have been called by many, many names, and have been understood or expressed in a myriad of ways at different times and in different places.

"Whether they made great contributions to arts and science, or lived concealed lives in cities and towns, ghettos or villages, farms

or religious settlements.

"Our link is not necessarily one of blood but forged instead through bonds no less powerful. They are our cultural ancestors."

The public events the day before will take place at the Earth Gallery and the Flett Theatre, part of the Natural History Museum.

They have their own entrance from Exhibition Road, South Kensington.

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/business-centre/conference-events/earth/earth.html

Tickets are free, but places are limited to the capacity of theatre.

Email 14april@proudheritage.org or phone the special public launch line: 0207 700 7513 to check availability and/or reserve places.

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