A Welsh council has included King Arthur in a timeline of ‘LGBTQ history’, citing a legend that the fabled ruler once wore women’s clothing, according to local media reports. The Denbighshire council explained its decision to feature the legendary monarch in the timeline by referencing a Welsh legend. This legend states that “on a subsequent occasion, Arthur dressed himself in women’s clothes in order to visit a girl at Rhuthun.”
King Arthur, a legendary figure known for pulling the sword Excalibur from a stone and ruling Britain with the aid of the knights of the round table and the wizard Merlin, has now found a place in a local educational resource in Denbighshire. This resource documents ‘key moments’ in LGBTQ history.
The timeline aims to tell “stories of sexual orientation and gender identity,” and is based on the work of historian Norena Shopland, who specializes in LGBTQ history. Shopland’s research, supported by Swansea University, forms the backbone of this initiative. This educational project is part of the training in ‘LGBTQ+ Language and History’ for local libraries, museums, and archives, and was commissioned by the Welsh government.