King Arthur may have been LGBTQ+, according to a council’s historical materials.
The legendary ruler, best known for his mythical quest for the Holy Grail between the fifth and sixth centuries, has been included on a timeline of queer history intended to tell “stories of sexual orientation and gender identity”.
The timeline was shared as an educational resource by the library service of Denbighshire Council in Wales. The LGBTQ+ timeline for Denbighshire was produced to make material accessible to the public.
According to The Telegraph, it was devised so local people and events could be celebrated instead of material “replicating mainstream narratives and celebrities”.
King Arthur appears on the timeline because, according to a Welsh legend, he once wore women’s clothing.
An entry on the timeline stated Arthur dressed himself in the clothes in order to visit a girl at Rhuthun.
Rhuthun – the Denbighshire town now spelled Ruthin – was also said to be the site where Arthur executed a rival called Hueil mab Caw.
It’s not known if there are any other stories about King Arthur suggesting he was LGBTQ+.
One charity slammed his inclusion as “confusing nonsense” – even though there is little consensus among historians on whether he actually existed at all.
Denbighshire council has been contacted for further comment.
It is understood the historical basis for the timeline is taken from the work of LGBT-focused historian Norena Shopland, whose research into Welsh LGBTQ+ history has been supported by Swansea University.
The full extract, which is sourced from Wikipedia and can be found on the council’s website, read: “Arthur dressed himself in woman’s clothes in order to visit a girl at Rhuthun. Huail chanced to come there and he recognised Arthur by his lameness, as he was dancing in a company of girls.
“These were his words: ‘This dancing were all right if it were not for the knee’ (translated). Arthur heard them and knew who had spoken them.
“He returned to his court where he caused Huail to be brought before him and he reproached him bitterly with his faithlessness. Huail was taken to Rhuthun, where Arthur cut off his head on a stone in the market-place which to this day is known as Maen Huail.”