Arts and crafts, storytelling and fierce drag queens:

LGBTQ+ History Month at the National Maritime Museum

Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) is flying the rainbow Pride flag for LGBTQ+ History Month, running a week-long programme of family events this February half-term, under the banner ‘Sailing Out’. Events include the chance to construct costume hats as a symbol of identity, inspired by Queen Elizabeth I (February 12); learn about past LGBTQ+ heroes of the maritime community (February 14); create your own merfolk using the colours of the Pride flag (February 13); and make your own flag in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community (February 19).

Katie Cassels: Sailing Out is a week of activities across February half- term, inspired by LGBTQ+ histories. Whilst families will encounter LGBTQ+ histories in facilitated sessions across the year at the museum, Sailing Out allows families to return across the week and explore a new object or story from the collection each time.

HOM: Is there a highlight in the programme our readers should know about?

Charlotte Paddock: Out at Sea is a really wonderful day to celebrate all LGBTQ+ families, including visitors’ own definitions of what ‘family’ can be. There will be exciting interactive performances, storytelling, creative activities and queer history talks, all of which are inspired by queer maritime history that you can find in the National Maritime Museum.

Our showstopper event to close the month is Fierce Queens: All Aboard, a spectacular drag takeover of the Cutty Sark curated by drag king and queen, Adam All and Apples Derrieres. It’s a fantastic evening filled with drag and cabaret performances, queer history talks and dancing beneath the ship’s hull. It’s not to be missed!

HOM: Why is actively supporting the LGBTQ+ community, especially families, so important to RMG?

CP: LGBTQ+ people have always been present throughout history but have often been left out or excluded from the narrative. The RMG collection is a national collection meaning it belongs to everyone in Britain and therefore it needs to be relevant and inclusive to all, including the LGBTQ+ community. It’s important to us that we create opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community to engage with the collection in a supported way that celebrates their identity, and demonstrates the legacy and impact of LGBTQ+ people throughout history. It’s especially important to us that LGBTQ+ families feel that RMG is a safe and welcoming space where they can meet other families like theirs, build a community and feel a sense of belonging.

Sailing Out is taking place at the National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, London SE10 9NF. February 12 - 19, 11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm. Admission: FREE. www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/ground-floor/ february-half-term-sailing-out