
Oxford had a record number of rainbow flags raised in honour of LGBT History Month this February, with colleges such as Univ and Oriel raising the flag for the first time in History.
February marked the UK’s annual celebration of LGBT History Month, which seeks to highlight the history of gay rights and related civil rights movements. Richard Parkinson, Professor of Egyptology at Oxford University, gave the university’s annual LGBT History Month Lecture which addressed LGBT heritage in world cultures. His research findings are featured in his new book, ‘A Little Gay History’, which brought together objects from the British Museum’s collections, exploring same-sex desire, romance and domesticity in world history. The book also features artefacts from every continent and various eras to present an accessible account of same-sex desire in world history.
Parkinson emphasises the importance of considering context when analysing historical evidence, stating; “Given the fragile nature of LGBT rights in many parts of the world, such historical interpretation is not a purely “academic” matter. Those interesting in applying for History, Archaeology, HSPS and History of Art should bear this in mind when conducting wider reading or research around topics deemed to be controversial or sensitive. They should also analyse the link between historical findings and social, political and cultural developments in modern society.
A Little Gay History is available from the British Museum Press and a podcast of the lecture can also be found here.
More Resources
-
Information on choosing a course at Oxford or Cambridge “Perhaps it is because Oxbridge encourages more ‘traditional’ A Level... Read more >
-
PPE: answer like a pro If you’re applying for Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) or... Read more >
-
What You Need To Know About A Level Reforms The A Level system that has been in place since... Read more >
-
Oxford or Cambridge? Many applicants know that they want the best, but when... Read more >
-
Personal Statement Workbook Download A personal statement is a unique document which is all... Read more >
-
Human Social and Political Science (HSPS) Reading List If you are applying for HSPS at Cambridge, it is... Read more >
-
Statistics: 2015 Annual Survey Want to find out what your chances are of getting... Read more >
-
Is Oxbridge right for me? Have you asked yourself why you are planning to apply... Read more >
-
Oxbridge Open Day Guide With open days drawing ever nearer, applicants and parents alike... Read more >
-
Sports psychology for interviews Channel your inner champion Major sports personalities use these techniques... Read more >
-
English: answer like a pro We have a lot of questions year on year from... Read more >
-
Cambridge’s Supplementary Application Questionnaire After you have submitted your UCAS application to apply to... Read more >
-
The Architecture of an Education: what are colleges all about? Explaining the difference between Oxford and Cambridge colleges and the... Read more >
-
US University Applications: How Decisions Are Made Article contributed by: Dr Jon Tabbert, US university admissions educational... Read more >
-
5 Easy Ways To Support Your Son Or Daughter Before Their Oxbridge Interviews The weeks before the Oxford and Cambridge interviews are a... Read more >
-
Oxford college snapshots With 35 colleges and Permanent Private Halls, choosing how to... Read more >
-
Using stats: dos and don’ts When making an application, you must be careful about using... Read more >
-
Cambridge Law Test overview If you’re applying to read Law at Cambridge you will probably need... Read more >
-
March’s Top News Stories Read more about some of the biggest news stories to... Read more >
-
Download a Physics Personal Statement “Over the past few years I have become gradually more... Read more >
-
Cambridge Language Test overview If you’re applying for Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge,... Read more >
-
Your free E-book… “So You Want To Go To Oxbridge? Tell me about a banana…” If you are applying to Oxford or Cambridge, there are... Read more >
-
April’s Top News Stories Read more about some of the biggest news stories to... Read more >
-
Personal Statement Action Plan: Section 2 of 2 You’ve done your reading. You’ve made your brainstorm. You’ve possibly... Read more >