Beyond the Binary: Gender, Sexuality, Power
The exhibition is shaped around four sections: ‘Indigenous Power, Countering Colonialism’; ‘Rituals and Identity’; ‘Representation and Activism’; and ‘Objects of Power’.
Indigenous Power, Countering Colonialism
The imposition of colonial laws and beliefs criminalised and attempted to erase Indigenous gender and sexual identities. This section reveals stories of how these gender expressions and sexual fluidities continued and thrived in spite of colonial atrocities. The material displayed shows the reclamation and resurfacing of Indigenous traditions and identity expressions in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, often amid continued oppression.
“Targeted by forced land removals, acts of war, and countless treaties broken between us and colonizers – we, the Indigenous peoples of North America, are still here. Not only in your museum collections do we exist – not as arrowhead flints, woven baskets, or parched leather and beaded hide. We are still living and breathing, singing and dancing, praying and creating, fighting and striving to be heard. We are not a museum’s collection of ‘Indians’ – we are the hopes and dreams of our ancestors come to life.” – Dan Laurin (Métis artist and community curator)
Rituals and Identity
In this section, community curators have selected objects associated with rituals and identity, highlighting how the seemingly familiar can be reconsidered to reveal hidden histories and emphasise diversity. They have also explored how appearances are often connected to specific genders and how these have changed and continue to change over the years and across the globe.
Representation and Activism
Queer lives and experiences are under-represented in popular media and cultural institutions, including museums. When representation is found, it is often skewed, reliant on stereotypes and caricatures. Rather than being led by the LGBTIAQ+ community, representation has often been imagined and imposed by others. In this section you’ll find objects, artworks and protest pieces created by contemporary activists as they make queer experiences and issues visible from queer perspectives.
Objects of Power
In this section are a range of historical and contemporary objects featuring well-known mythological and religious figures that can be used to tell LGBTIAQ+ stories. This includes figures that might not have been considered queer originally but have been claimed by the community. Creating this type of heritage is not a new practice. LGBTIAQ+ communities and individuals have always made connections with historical and fictional figures who reflect their identity.
