27 February 2026 (past event)
- 14:00 to 15:00
Talk
Hidden Love: LGBTQ+ relationships in the archives
How did people defy state prejudice to find love and relationships?
- Date
- 27 February 2026
- Location
- Online
About this image
National Portrait Gallery, London
The National Archives’ collections offer a valuable insight into how the government interacted with and viewed LGBTQ+ communities in the past, at a time when the state played a major role in repressing and controlling the lives of gay and bisexual people.
Our records reflect the policing and regulation of sexuality and gender identity but also moments of defiance, everyday acceptance and queer joy. These include the innovative and creative ways members of the same sex met and communicated with each other to forge relationships.
From calling cards, illicit love letters and lonely hearts ads, discover queer relationships of friends, families and lovers in our collections through the stories of Anne Lister, Oscar Wilde and others.
Event details
- Date
- 27 February 2026, 14:00 to 15:00
- Price
-
Free
Pay what you can
- Location
- Online, Live-streamed on Vimeo
- Part of series
- Love Letters season
This event has sold out.
Dates for this event
How to join online
What you need to join
This event will be live streamed on the website of our streaming service, Vimeo.
When you book, you will receive an email that includes the link you need to join the event. This link will also be shared with you in a reminder email in advance of the event.
- Vimeo provide guidance on How to watch a live event.
- You do not need a Vimeo account to join. If you do sign up for a Vimeo account, please be aware you may be asked to verify your age. You can find out more here: About age verification in the UK and EU
- You can join from your browser from a laptop or mobile device.
- For the best experience we recommend using either a laptop or desktop computer.
Help during the event
To access the live event, click on the link in the Eventbrite confirmation email you received when you booked the event. Vimeo will open in your web browser.
- If the live event hasn’t started at the advertised start time, please refresh your browser window and click the play button on the event again. If that doesn’t work, try closing the browser window and clicking the link in your confirmation email again.
- You can enable live subtitles by clicking on the ‘CC’ button at the bottom of the video player. ‘CC’ stands for ‘Closed Captions’.
- When you join the event, you may have to click on the sound icon at the bottom of the video to unmute the sound. If there is still no sound, please make sure that you have got your speakers turned up to full volume.
- If you have a query that has not been answered above, please email us at whatson@nationalarchives.gov.uk
Watch after the event
This talk will be available to watch after the event, using the same link you will receive to join it live. It will remain available for a limited period of 48 hours after the event has finished, unless otherwise stated.
Speakers
Series
Love Letters season
Discover 500 years of devotion, longing, sacrifice and passion through our events programme.