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Investing in LGBTQ+ heritage

Investing in LGBTQ+ heritage

Heritage has a crucial role to play in contributing to a flourishing, more equitable and inclusive society.

That's why we make it mandatory that all of the projects we fund ensure a wider range of people are involved in heritage.

Over the past 26 years we've invested over £7.5million across the UK in sharing stories of LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other identities) heritage, creativity, activism and much more.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has increased loneliness and social isolation for many of us, including younger people and some LGBTQ+ people. It has never been more important  to have reminders of the power of heritage in our relationships with each other, connecting past and present and strengthening our local communities.

Liz Ellis, Heritage Fund Policy Project Manager for inclusion

Here are some of the inspirational LGBTQ+ heritage projects we've been proud to fund. And if you've got an idea for a project, we'd love to hear from you.

The terms we use

At The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we use the acronym LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer). The ‘+’ represents people who identify as non-binary, intersex, asexual and other identities.

We use these acronyms because we believe they are widely understood. Identities can be complex and intersectional, and we are also aware that for many these terms may feel inadequate or limiting. We keep the language we use constantly under review.

Two women at queer exhibition
Jasspreet Thethi and friend at Never Going Underground exhibition

Stories

LGBTQ+ projects that mean the most to us

We are proud to fund projects which celebrate LGBTQ+ history - here are a few of our staff members' favourites.
Pride march 1974
Pride march, 1974. Credit: Wikimedia

Stories

Saving LGBTQ+ stories before they are lost forever

A new Heritage Fund project might be the last chance to capture the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in Manchester who remember life before the Sexual Offences Act 1967.
Old photo showing large billboard with the words "AIDS: don't die of ignorance"
Don’t Die of Ignorance campaign billboard in Levenshulme, c.1986.

Projects

Pride! Prevention! Protection! 30 years of safer sex

LGBT Foundation recorded the memories of people involved in and affected by safer sex campaigns from the 1980s to the present day.

Alan Turing documents go on display

Projects

Pride in the Past

Pride in the Past explores and celebrates the LGBT+ heritage and archaeology of the city of Chester.

A national Welsh flag with rainbow background.
A Welsh flag with rainbow background from the Amgueddfa Cymru–National Museum Wales collection

Projects

Hands on Heritage

The Hands on Heritage project at Amgueddfa Cymru–National Museum Wales’ enabled young people from diverse backgrounds to have an impact on the collections.

Anne Lister painting by Joshua Horner
©Shibden Hall

News

Follow in the footsteps of ‘Gentleman Jack’ in Edinburgh

People will be able to explore the LGBT+ history and culture of Edinburgh through a new walking tour following in the footsteps of diarist and world traveller, Anne Lister - whose life was depicted in the popular BBC series, Gentleman Jack.
A group of people in a community space

Projects

LGBTQ+ History

Llanelli LGBTQ+ Support have held events and activities to recognise and share the rich heritage of the town's LGBT+ community.

Performers in servants' attire at Duckie’s Lady Malcolm’s Servants’ Ball
Duckie’s Lady Malcolm’s Servants’ Ball at Bishopsgate Institute. Credit: Holly Revell

Projects

Lady Malcolm's Servants' Balls

A collective of performance artists re-enacted Lady Malcolm’s Servants’ Ball; a firm fixture of the queer scene in London almost a century ago.

Woman with rainbow flag at Chester Pride

Projects

Celebrating Cheshire's LGBT History

Body Positive has recorded and digitised the memories of the LGBT+ community in Cheshire, saving their legacy for future generations.