Recently, Denbighshire County Council in Wales unexpectedly included King Arthur, a legendary hero whose history and myth are intertwined, in its timeline of LGBTQ+ history, citing his use of women's clothing in folklore.
According to British media on October 12, this decision has sparked widespread discussion and controversy. King Arthur is an important figure in Welsh history, and although most of his most famous stories revolve around the search for the Holy Grail and his marriage to Queen Guinevere, his performance in terms of gender identity is rarely mentioned.
King Arthur: From Grail Seeker to member of the LGBTQ+ timeline
King Arthur is one of the most iconic heroes of Welsh mythology, and his deeds frequently appear in classic texts such as The Mabinogion.
As a leader who rode the battlefield, he was not only a central figure in the legend of the Holy Grail, but also known as the "Dux Bellorum", the great warrior of ancient warfare. However, Danbyshire Council recently included him in the LGBTQ+ history timeline because "he wore women's clothing".
According to the timeline, the episode comes from a local folklore. In the story, King Arthur disguised himself as a woman and visited a woman in the market town of Ruthin.
He was recognized by his sworn nemesis·· Huail ap Caw while dancing in women's costumes, and was taunted for a knee injury. King Arthur resented Huel's taunts and summoned him to court and sentenced him to death. Eventually, King Arthur beheaded Huel on Rusin's "Maen Huail".
Although the legend only mentions that King Arthur wore women's clothing, there is no evidence that King Arthur's sexuality was associated with the LGBTQ+ community, especially considering that most of his most famous stories revolve around his marriage to Guinevere. The makers of the timeline seem to think that the "women's clothing" involved in this legend is enough to bring him into the discussion of LGBTQ+ culture.
Danbyshire County Council's LGBTQ+ culture promotion programme
The inclusion of King Arthur in the LGBTQ+ History Timeline is part of a training programme on LGBTQ+ language and history commissioned by the Welsh Government. The project aims to increase the public's understanding of the history and culture of Wales' diverse culture, particularly the LGBTQ+ community, by training local library, museum and archive staff. After being trained, staff at Danbyshire County Council compiled this timeline to celebrate local stories of gender identity and sexual orientation.
The Welsh Government's LGBTQ+ Action Plan makes it clear that the LGBTQ+ history, culture and heritage of Wales contributes significantly to the country's overall history and that these stories should be disseminated and understood more widely. The action plan aims to address the inequalities they face and challenge discrimination in society by raising awareness of the history of LGBTQ+ people.
A direct result of the project was that all counties in Wales were asked to compile a timeline of LGBTQ+ history in their respective regions. This move by Danby County Council responds to this request. However, in the process of compiling the timeline, the addition of King Arthur came into focus, as the legend had very limited relevance to LGBTQ+ culture, which some residents questioned.
Folk reactions and controversies
As soon as the news of King Arthur's inclusion in the LGBTQ+ timeline was announced, it sparked widespread discussion. Some believe that this reinterpretation of historical figures helps bring modern society closer to ancient cultures, especially in the blurring of boundaries between gender identity and sexual orientation. However, there are also many who question the rationality of this decision, arguing that the Arthurian story does not have enough basis to include it in the historical category of the LGBTQ+ community.
On social media, many people pointed out that the main storyline of King Arthur revolves around his heroic deeds as a warrior and king, as well as his marriage to Guinevere, which have little to do with LGBTQ+ topics. Also, although King Arthur was dressed in women's clothing in some legends, this does not directly infer his gender identity or sexual orientation. Therefore, some people believe that the inclusion of King Arthur in the LGBTQ+ historical timeline is suspected of "over-interpretation".
The Arthurian affair is not the only recent controversy in Wales related to the promotion of LGBTQ+ culture. In 2023, a "Drag Queen Story Hour" in Brecon sparked a strong reaction from local residents. The campaign, promoted by local Labour MPs, plans to invite drag performer Aida H Dee to tell stories to children during the Pride celebrations. However, this decision was opposed by some residents, with more than 1,100 local residents signing a petition against it, arguing that public funds should not be used to hold the event, especially for children.
Aida H Dee, played by 28-year-old Sab ·Samuel, is a drag performer and children's book writer. However, his friend, the late drag queen Dar·ren Moore, has sparked public concern for his sexual assault crimes as a teenager.
Samuel clarified that he was only a friend of Moore's husband and raised money for his husband after Moore's death, but the connection still upset some residents.
In response, Brecon Town Council said the Drag Queen Story Club has been held across the United Kingdom for many years and has received positive feedback from parents and children. The council also highlighted that the performers provided proof of a four-year Criminal Record Check (DBS) and that a risk assessment had been carried out prior to the event to ensure that everything was compliant. However, opposition remains strong, suggesting that the promotion of LGBTQ+ culture is still divided in some communities.
The meaning and future of the LGBTQ+ historical timeline
The timeline of LGBTQ+ history developed by councils across Wales aims to raise public awareness of the history of the LGBTQ+ community and encourage multicultural inclusivity. This initiative is supported by many cultural and historical scholars, who believe that such a timeline can help people better understand the past, especially those groups and individuals who have been overlooked by traditional historical narratives.
However, King Arthur's induction also exposed the challenges that can be faced when promoting LGBTQ+ culture. How to reasonably interpret and present the gender identity and sexual orientation of historical figures on the basis of respecting historical facts is a complex and sensitive issue. For a historical figure like King Arthur, who is deeply influenced by the interweaving of history and legend, whether a legend of women's clothing should be included in the history of LGBTQ+ is still a topic worthy of in-depth discussion.