Young V&B is looking for alternative LGBTQI+ material
The Young V&A is set to select alternative LGBTQ+ material for display after being criticized for removing two books from its store and a poster from its Design Gallery.
The two books, Seeing Gender and Here and Queer, are illustrated publications that explore gender and sexuality. According to the V&A, the books were removed because they were not suitable for the museum's 0-14 age group.
The poster, which was reportedly taken down after installation, was produced by LGBTQ+ rights charity Stonewall and read "Some People Are Trans: Get Over It".
The items were pulled from display ahead of the East London museum's reopening on July 1. A V&A spokesperson said at the time that “after reflecting on the interpretation, senior staff felt it was necessary to consult with more young people and faculty on how to present these topics, to ensure that their perspectives are more fully represented.”
The decision led to a censorship discussion at the museum, with representatives from the PCS Union, Prospect and the institution's LGBTQ+ working group meeting with V&A director Tristram Hunt to discuss their concerns.
Removing the material has been likened to censoring LGBTQ+ lives under Section 28.
Rowan Ellis, author of Here and Queer, said she was "surprised" to learn of the removal of her book, which is aimed at teenagers. Ellis also questioned why the trans Stonewall poster was taken down after installation, while a similar poster about gay rights was left in place.
A spokeswoman for the V&A told Museums Journal that the institution's plan "has always been to look for an alternative work for the exhibition, recognizing the importance of the Young V&A being an inclusive space".
The museum has selected a series of replacement books that are designed for its primary age group. In a statement this week, the institution said it had heard the feedback and was working to address the concerns raised.
It read: “The V&A unequivocally supports the trans community – trans rights are human rights – and we want all of our museums to be welcoming and inclusive spaces for all.
“We now have a range of age-appropriate LGBTQ+ titles ready to be provided to the Young V&A store in the coming weeks and we have also identified replacement objects for the Young V&A Design Gallery that highlight trans themes, as planned, which will soon be installed.
“After the summer, our plan is to work closely with educators, specialist organizations, community partners and our LGBTQ+ network to consider how to present trans and non-binary content that centers the experience of children in the Young V&A galleries. This is an increasingly important issue for many young people, and we understand our responsibility to carefully address it.”
Source: Museums Journal