Neil is a steering committee member of The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Alliance (LGBTQ Alliance) of The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and a contributor to the LGBTQ Welcoming Guidelines for Museums. The guidelines are intended to provide institutions and members of the museum community with a series of parameters that they may consider when assessing how to provide the LGBTQ community—staff, visitors, management, and allies from all fields—with a welcoming experience.

 

About the LGBTQ Alliance

The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Alliance (LGBTQ Alliance) of the American Alliance of Museums provides a forum for communication and dialogue and is committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and inquiry with particular respect to sexual orientation and gender identity within museums.

 

The LGBTQ Alliance facilitates transgender, queer, gay, lesbian and bisexual visibility by promoting and enhancing awareness, understanding, and acceptance regarding museum-related LGBTQ issues. Its focus includes both internal needs and opportunities including staff, leadership and organizational structure, and external, stakeholder-related work ranging from visitor amenities and messaging to programs and collections. The network serves as a visible and accessible safe space for museum professionals who identify as LGBTQ or allies. We welcome AAM members of all sexual orientations and gender identities and encourage involvement across the organization in promoting museums that include LGBTQ voices at every level.

 

 

LGBTQ Welcoming Guidelines Convenings

New York City

Host Institution: MoMA PS1

Date: November 09, 2017, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Location: 22-25 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101

 

Join colleagues at host institutions across the country during the week of November 6-9, to discuss the AAM LGBTQ Welcoming Guidelines for Museums. The Welcoming Guidelines compile preferred practices for museums to use in working with LGBTQ professionals and communities. A series of checklists allows museums to review each of AAM’s 38 Characteristics of Excellence from the perspective of LGBTQ staff and visitors, and groups the characteristics into functional areas.

 

The goal of these local convenings is to help museum colleagues better understand how to use the Welcoming Guidelines and how they can be applied to all types of institutions. Participants will briefly discuss the goals of the Welcoming Guidelines, review the document, and work through an exercise that is relevant to their institution. Participants are encouraged to download and read the LGBTQ Welcoming Guidelines for Museums prior to attending a local convening.

 

By participating in a local convening, attendees will be better able to:

– Understand and discuss the LGBTQ Welcoming Guidelines
– Consider strategies for making your institution welcoming to LGBTQ staff and audiences
– Access resources, including case studies and best practice related to diversity and inclusion
– Connect with peers in the field