Every August Manchester bursts with Pride, in celebration of our LGBTQ+ communities. This year was no exception, and Manchester Museum was buzzing with activity as visitors were invited to take a look at the objects and collections through a queer lens.

As well as daily Pride Tours led by the Museum’s Visitor Team throughout the last week of August, the museum created a very special Pride Trail featuring some of the museum’s favourite objects. Each stop on both the tours and trail shared information or stories to highlight LGBTQ+ history or speak to current day LGBTQ+ culture and movements. From a close look at queer spaces of Belonging in the South Asia Gallery, to same sex partnerships among penguins – even the iconic Stan the T. rex was waving a Pride flag!

The celebrations continued beyond the Museum building on Sunday 8 September when Museum staff headed down to Platt Fields Park to represent at Alternative Pride, organised by Queer Roots Collective (QRC). QRC is a regenerative grassroots group based in Manchester that aim to facilitate spaces for queer joy, connection, growing and sharing food, creativity, play and learning. Alternative Pride aims to shift the focus of pride to community rather than capitalist corporations.

On a wet, but very joyful Sunday, Alternative Pride-goers were invited to share in some of the ideas and themes of Manchester Museum’s exhibition ‘Wild’, which explores our relationship with the natural world. There was also chance to get up close to objects from the museum’s natural history collections and some creative activities reflecting on LGBTQ+ representation, access and experiences in nature.

Manchester Museum’s LGBTQ+ programming continues throughout the year. Check out the Museum website for events and activities.