Dear colleagues: [indulgence coveted for cross-posting]

 

Some discussion of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights (CMHR--one of Canada's National Museum system) response to requests from certain visitor groups has erupted recently in Canadian media. The reason for this attention is because the CMHR in the past has agreed to shield the groups in question from seeing its exhibits addressing LGBTQ2+ human rights. The Museum also is being criticised for having asked its paid tour guides who identify as LGBTQ2+ to take responsibility for blocking the specific visitor group's access to these exhibits, causing understandable anguish for these CMHR staff members.

 

My question arising is: does museum theory & recommended best practice have any place in this public discussion?

 

For example, how do we apply the high value on the “visitor-centred museum” best practice espoused by museum practitioners, academics, & professional organisations to the above circumstances? 

 

The importance of this question is heightened since Hon. Steven Guilbeault, the Canadian federal “Minister responsible for national museum says it [CMHR] should not be engaging in self-censorship” (Grabish 2020).

 

Readers interested in a perspective on the need to apply museum theory & acknowledged best practices to the issues involved in this Canadian controversy above may wish to consult my most recent Critical Museology Miscellanea blog post “Visitor-Centredness Considerations & CMHR LGBTQ2+ Exhibits Visitor Preference Controversy” (Thistle 2020) at https://miscellaneousmuseology.wordpress.com/2020/06/25/visitor-centredness-considerations-cmhr-lgbtq2-exhibits-visitor-preference-controversy/ .

 

Thanks for thinking about these important matters that have significance beyond the Canadian context.

 

References Cited:

 

Grabish, Austin. 2020. “Canadian Museum for Human Rights employees say they were told to censor gay content for certain guests.” CBC News Last Updated: June 18 at https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/cmhr-gay-censorship-allegations-1.5615969 (accessed 23 June 2020).

 

Thistle, Paul C. 2020. “Visitor-Centredness Considerations & CMHR LGBTQ2+ Exhibits Visitor Preference Controversy.” Critical Museology Miscellanea posted 25 June 2020 at https://miscellaneousmuseology.wordpress.com/2020/06/25/visitor-centredness-considerations-cmhr-lgbtq2-exhibits-visitor-preference-controversy/ .

Respectfully yours

Paul C. Thistle