Over four centuries of Scotland’s untold LGBT history is to be revealed to the public for the first time to celebrate Pride month in June.
One of Edinburgh's top attractions is offering a series of guided tours that have been designed to reveal the hidden stories of LGBT community life in Edinburgh from as far back as 1546 until 1912.
Edinburgh's The Real Mary King's Close will be sharing its research in the series of new, educational and thought-provoking ‘Pride History Tours’.
The research was undertaken by The Real Mary King’s Close’s Robert MacRae (Guest Services) and endorsed by Dr Emma Macleod, Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Stirling.
The tours will also support a local charity, LGBT Youth Scotland, with proceeds being donated to the charity which supports LGBTI young people all over Scotland.
General manager from The Real Mary King’s Close, Paul Nixon, said: “We’re extremely proud to be working with LGBT Youth Scotland and The University of Stirling to reveal over four centuries of Scotland’s untold LGBT history as part of Pride month in June.
“Our series of six ‘Pride History Tours’ have been carefully designed to reveal the previously untold stories of LGBT community life in Edinburgh from as far back as 1546, at a time when homosexuality was a crime.
“We hope these tours will go some way to highlighting how far we’ve come in terms of LGBTI equality and human rights, as well as celebrating Scotland’s LGBT history.”
The one-hour guided tours will start at The Real Mary King’s Close at 5.15 pm and 5.30 pm on six separate dates during Pride Month, including:
- Friday 10 June
- Friday 17 June
- Friday 24 June
- Saturday 11 June
- Saturday 18 June
- Saturday 25 June
Tickets are priced at £23 per adult and £15.95 per child (5-15 years) and are available to buy online here.
Historical figures from Edinburgh’s historic LGBT community are to be brought to life by tour guides in historical dress, who will lead the tours through the cobbled streets and beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
Visitors will have the chance to meet inspirational people such as the poet, Robert Fergusson, who studied at The University of St Andrews and was a source of inspiration for Robert Burns's own work.
19th-century physician, Sophia Jex-Blake, who had several intimate friendships with women over her lifetime, devoted her life’s work to advancing the rights of women in medicine and was the first practising doctor in Scotland.
Other insightful figures featured as part of the Pride History Tours, include Henry Stuart Lord Darnley, who lived in Edinburgh from 1556 and had claims to both the Scottish and English thrown as a descendent of James II of Scotland and Henry VII of England.
Many historians agree that Henry was likely to be either gay or bisexual and may have had a romantic affair with Mary, Queen of Scots’ private secretary, David Rizzio.
Another LGBT historical figure, Dr James Barry is often referred to as she/her, due to him being assigned female at birth. Dr Barry chose to live the life of a man throughout his entire adult life when he referred to himself as he/him.
James arrived in Leith in November 1809, and it is around this time that he transitioned from female to male and began to live life as a man.
Ali Kerr, Head of Partnerships at LGBT Scotland, added: ”We are delighted to be the charity partner for these Pride History Tours.
"It is wonderful that visitors to The Real Mary King's Close can see Scotland’s rich LGBT history brought to life through these true stories, and at the same time be part of a new story - making Scotland the best place for future LGBT young people to grow up.”
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