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The mythological figure of King Arthur, renowned for his quest for the Holy Grail, has been suggested as a potential LGBTQ+ figure due to a reference in which he is described as wearing “women’s clothing”.

Denbighshire Council has included King Arthur in a timeline of LGBTQ+ history, highlighting significant moments related to LGBTQ+ identities. The timeline is part of the council’s broader initiative to celebrate “local stories of sexual orientation and gender identity.”

This project aims to make LGBTQ+ history more accessible to the public and has been shared as an educational resource. Most of the research for the timeline is based on the work of LGBTQ+ historian Norena Shopland.

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The council’s effort forms part of a Welsh Government initiative to educate local libraries, museums, and archives about LGBTQ+ history and language, promoting “awareness and understanding” of the diversity within Wales. The government commented that Welsh LGBTQ+ history, culture, and heritage have contributed to the nation’s legacy and experiences, emphasising that these stories deserve to be told.

Though King Arthur’s sexuality has not traditionally been discussed in myths or legends, his marriage to Queen Guinevere is a familiar story. However, a Welsh legend suggests that Arthur once wore women’s clothing.

The timeline’s description states: “On a subsequent occasion, Arthur dressed himself in woman’s clothes in order to visit a girl at Rhuthun.” According to the legend, Rhuthun in Denbighshire was the site where Arthur killed a rival who had caught him wearing women’s clothing while trying to sneak into a dance.

No other tales about Arthur suggest he was queer or describe him in women’s attire, with most stories focusing on his success as a “dux bellorum” (warlord).

The council’s LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts have stirred controversy, with the gender-critical organisation Sex Matters criticising the move. Speaking to The Telegraph, Fiona McAnena, the group’s director of campaigns, commented that including a story about King Arthur cross-dressing on a local government’s LGBTQ+ history timeline signals “a new level of desperation.”

McAnena added: “Whether it’s Joan of Arc or King Arthur, it makes no sense to apply today’s ideologies to historical or legendary figures who may have worn clothes typical of the opposite sex for practical reasons. British councils should not be trying to reframe history to align with modern concepts of sex and gender.”

She also argued that claiming someone in “opposite sex” clothing as part of LGBTQ+ history is “confusing nonsense.”

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