Museums as Activists: Gender-Friendly Institutions Exist, But Not in Italy

The article discusses the role of museums as activist institutions in contemporary society, focusing on gender diversity and sexual orientation. It highlights the publication 'Museum Activism', which collects over thirty professional and research experiences from six continents, examining managerial, professional, and mission transformations. The author, Nicole Moolhuijsen, a researcher supported by Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lombardia, uses the Netherlands as a case study, particularly Amsterdam, a city active in LGBTQ rights. At the Tropenmuseum, the exhibition 'What a Genderful World' explores gender themes through various materials and open-ended questions. A guided tour by curator Mounir Samuel and Nanoah Struik, one of the first in the Netherlands to obtain an 'X' gender marker on their passport, encouraged personal reflection. The visit was co-organized with IHLIA, Europe's largest LGBT culture collection. The author questions whether Italian cultural institutions can adopt similar activist approaches, noting the risk of museums falling behind in addressing real societal issues.