Stories told by members of Edinburgh’s LGBTQIA+ community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual) takes centre stage in a new exhibition now open at the People’s Story Museum.
Marking a decade since the City of Edinburgh Council’s popular ‘Rainbow City’ exhibition at the City Art Centre, the museum’s new ‘Proud City’ display will present local LGBTQIA+ history through museum loans and donations.
The display will feature objects and stories gathered from local people relating to identity, activism and the city’s scene including photographs and the certificate from the first religious same-sex marriage in Scotland.
A short contemporary film by No Middle Name Creative, also entitled Proud City, has been commissioned for the display to focus on LGBTQIA+ life in Edinburgh in 2016.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Edinburgh’s Culture Convener, said: “In the 10 years since ‘Rainbow City’ was shown at the City Art Centre, life in Edinburgh has evolved to include equal marriage. We felt it was important to revisit the artefacts in the city’s collection and the catalogue of history relating to Edinburgh’s LGBTQIA+
“The final display puts these stories in a prominent place in the heart of the People’s Story Museum and celebrates pride in and for the city’s LGBTQIA+ community. Not only does this project give people the chance to learn about their local history and how far society and laws have progressed, but it supports and promotes the work of the city’s LGBT Health and Wellbeing Centre.”
The display will run until October 2016. It has been co-curated with the Capital’s LGBTQIA+ communities having grown from an outreach project and has been funded by the Museum Association’s Transformers scheme, supported by Museums Galleries Scotland.
Pic: Daniel Tysen