This activity is designed for general youth settings. The purpose of the activity is to recognise the value of history – how it informs the present, and affects how we understand and behave towards others. The activities promote awareness of archives, and encourage young people to understand that heritage and history is made up of a range of different people’s voices, experiences, and stories.
Look at, Read, Listen to
1. Split the group into small groups. Look at the images and discuss what the images suggest the LGBTQ+ community have had to protest for OR against around their identity.
2. Make a list of the different ways people have protested or made a stand (thinking in particular about placards and banners).
3. Each group is asked to create three placards. Think about something you would like to change in the world around LGBTQ+ rights or issues of gender. This is your chance to say something in protest on your placard. Make your placard easy to read so take the time to think about exactly what you’d like to be on the placard. You might want to add drawings or symbols too.
4. In your group hold your placard/s in a pose that replicates a gesture of protest or activism. If your placards are about different issues hold a pose for each placard/banner. Ask one person to photograph this moment for posterity.
5. Once the group has finished, print out or download their final images and discuss them together. Discuss:
- The different issues raised
- Any similarities in issues that the group has chosen
- Which banners are the most effective in conveying their messages