Bringing humanity to a polarised debate

In the past year, there have been attacks on equality, diversity and inclusion policy, and abortion rights internationally. In the UK, the supreme court ruled that legal protections of the 2010 Equality Act should be applied using a definition of man and woman based on “biological sex”, rather than gender identity. 

These political currents have created confusion, uncertainty, division and fear for marginalised communities. They have also made for a challenging environment in which to develop an exhibition about gender identity.

Within this context, the questions arise, “where do you stand?”, “what do you stand for?” and “who do you stand with?”. This can mean making a difficult choice between avoiding debate and weathering the storm or standing up and actively engaging.

We should all have the freedom to question, challenge and celebrate the various forms of gender experiences and expression. In creating the Gender Stories exhibition, we set out to create a safe and inclusive space for us all to consider gender through art, objects and people’s personal stories. 

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery hosted the Museums and Galleries Network for Exhibition Touring’s (Magnet) show until 12 October, when it continued on tour. It was produced by three members of Magnet: Bristol Museums & Archives, Brighton & Hove Museums and National Museums Liverpool.

In association with Gender Stories, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery commissioned 54 large-scale murals by trans street artist Mister Samo. These filled our front hall with vibrant colour and joyful expressions of trans identity. They share the same sentiment as the exhibition: “You are loved.”

Many of the intersectional LGBTQIA+ community members we consulted were concerned that we might stoke the fires of discrimination and make targets of the very communities we support. We approached this by decisively addressing difficult issues but focusing on joy, solidarity, hope and positive action.

We worked in partnership with facilitators, specialists, academics and organisations that are authentically part of the communities we consulted. We embedded practices of care and respect, placing value on people’s contributions and time, both financially and emotionally. 

The public debate around gender issues is often reduced to abstract ideas or neat boxes. People, however, are tangible, lives are messy, and many things can be true at once.

Headlines and voices on social media pass judgment on other people’s identities all too easily. We wanted this exhibition to bring the humanity back to what has become a polarised discourse. The show includes contributions from people from across the spectrums of gender, sex and sexuality, as well as inviting visitors to reflect on their own experiences. The exhibition’s objects take a back seat – they are catalysts for stories, with radical solidarity as the guiding theme.

As one of our community members said: “Societal forces can often divide people so they don’t fight what’s actually oppressing them. There’s so much more we could do if we weren’t fighting among ourselves.”

Helen McConnell Simpson is the senior curator, history, at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. Steven Bradley is the exhibitions and displays manager at Bristol Museums 

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery commissioned 54 large-scale murals by trans street artist Mister Samo for the Gender Stories exhibition