ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on history of the relationship between museums, sexuality, and society in the United Kingdom. It highlights a growing number of recent case studies that now exist for museum professionals to respond to. The chapter suggests that exhibitions that address sexuality and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) themes are likely to become increasingly frequent in the years ahead. Individuals within museums who belong to the LGBTQ community have been extremely significant in redressing the long history of exclusion and omission. It seems likely that, for a range of reasons, exhibitions that acknowledge same-sex relationships and histories will increase in frequency. Some museums have recently changed their collecting policies to ensure that LGBTCI material is actively collected, and organisations like Proud Heritage and Pride Legacy are encouraging museums to be more active in addressing LGBTQ histories and audiences. The Museums Association has also recently begun to include LGBTQ sessions in its annual conference for museum professionals.
