Pride in Calon's contribution to LGBTQ+ history exhibition at National Museum
Swansea Bay’s Calon has become one of the first staff networks to be included in a national exhibition of Welsh LGBTQ+ history at Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales.
The LGBTQ+ and Allies organisation – Calon - has contributed items to the museum’s LGBTQ+ collection at St Fagan’s National Museum of History, whose collection includes photographs, documents, objects and oral histories representing all aspects of Welsh LGBTQ+ history.
Mark Etheridge, curator responsible for the museum’s LGBTQ+ history, said: “As well as items relating to historic figures such as the Ladies of Llangollen and Ivor Novello, there are objects covering activisim and Pride events, and items representing the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people in Wales.”
Calon was launched in 2015 by a group of staff who wanted to provide support to colleagues and service users from the LGBT+ community.
Robert Workman of Calon, who is also deputy head of Occupational Therapy, said: “We are very happy to contribute to this collection as we feel that the role of staff networks, as self-organised groups, demonstrates how individuals take positive action to continue to highlight the need for increased equity, diversity and belonging in our services and communities.
“We have already donated a Calon lanyard and a t-shirt that NHS Wales staff wore at Pride Cymru in 2018 that marked the 70th anniversary of the NHS. We are now also donating another t-shirt that was worn in the Pride Cymru parade in 2022 as well as this year, the 75th anniversary year.
“Although Calon has donated the shirts, it’s important to acknowledge that these were coordinated across other NHS organisations with NHS Wales working as a whole unit in the parade. “Inclusion of these items in this important collection demonstrates the solidarity of the LGBT+ community as well as our NHS family across Wales.
“It is my hope that other staff networks also donate items to continue to grow this collection and truly represent the LGBT+ history of Wales.”
Some of the objects from the LGBTQ+ collection are showcased in the ‘Wales is…Proud’ display at St Fagans, with the theme of ‘protest and pride’. It is accompanied by ‘Wales is…remembering Terrence Higgins’. In 1982 Terry Higgins, who was born in Pembrokeshire, was one of the first people in the UK to die of an AIDS related illness. He lends his name to the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity. Both these displays are on until 31 December 2023.
A further exhibition at St Fagans - the Voices of the Red Wall includes a flag from The Rainbow Wall - the Welsh football teams first LGBTQ+ Supporters Group.
The whole of the LGBTQ+ collection can be viewed online on Amgueddfa Cymru’s Collections Online catalogue.
Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth a galwadau ffôn yn y Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg. Atebir gohebiaeth Gymraeg yn y Gymraeg, ac ni fydd hyn yn arwain at oedi. Mae’r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg drwy bwyso’r botwm ar y dde ar frig y dudalen.
We welcome correspondence and telephone calls in Welsh or English. Welsh language correspondence will be replied to in Welsh, and this will not lead to a delay. This page is available in Welsh by clicking ‘Cymraeg’ at the top right of this page.