Queering the Collections

Within our collections, several items have hidden queer stories and broader connections to LGBTQ+ culture, life, and history. From mythical creatures to the natural world to alchemical experiments, this blog delves into symbols present in the collections to reveal their queer significance. 

Unicorn

Unicorns are a quintessential age-old mythical creature, appearing in records and art from as early as four thousand years ago. The idea of a unicorn gained traction in Medieval Europe, where they were viewed as wild, dangerous creatures. Their horns were supposedly able to detect poisons, making them a desired commodity. 

Mermaid

The mermaid, like the unicorn, is another mythical creature many have searched for throughout history. With roots back to Syrian mythology, they have served as an object of mystique and curiosity for centuries. A few books in the College’s collections tell the tales of supposed mermaid sightings from around the world, from fifteenth century Netherlands to nineteenth century Scotland. Many believed encounters with mermaids were likely with other sea creatures, like walruses, seals, and manatees. 

Mermaids have also been claimed as a queer symbol. In the Philippines, the word for mermaid (la sirena) has been used to insultingly refer to both gay men and trans women. Other gender-diverse individuals identify with mermaids in a more positive way, seeing them as sexless creatures that exist in a space of androgyny. 

Even one of the best-known mermaid stories, The Little Mermaid, has queer connections. Written by Hans Christian Andersen, who experienced attraction to both men and women, The Little Mermaid was a way of coping with the unrequited love he felt towards his friend Edvard Collin. 

Butterfly

The ability of butterflies to undergo metamorphosis has fascinated naturalists for centuries. This predisposition to change is precisely what endears them to the LGBTQ+ community. They have particular importance to transgender communities, who resonate with the butterfly’s metamorphosis as a representation of their gender transition journeys. Mariposa, meaning butterfly in Spanish, has also been used as slang to refer to gay or effeminate men (and occasionally trans women) in Hispanic countries. 

Violet

Violets have deep-rooted connections with the queer community, especially for queer women. Some connect their association with Sappho’s poetry as the origin of the link. Sappho, who lends her name to the term sapphic, describes memories of her former lover with a crown of violets. Later lesbian poets, like Renée Vivien, also claimed violets as a symbol of sapphic love and affection through their work. In the Broadway play The Captive from the 1920s, the main character is left bouquets of violets from her female lover. Many queer women seeing the show would wear violets pinned to their clothes to show solidarity. 

Apart from their connection to the sapphic community, violets (Viola odorata) also have medicinal uses. Violet syrup could be used as a laxative for children as well as a flavoring in other medications. The roots of violets are noted for their purgative qualities, and the leaves can be used in soothing poultices as an emollient. Some individuals in the past have claimed that violets were also useful in treating convulsions and epilepsy.

Pansy

Pansies (Viola tricolor) are actually related to violets: both belong to the same genus Viola. As such, many of their medicinal properties are similar to those of violets. Pansies specifically are associated with treating skin conditions, like cradle cap and eczema.

Like violets, pansies are also connected to the LGBTQ+ community. Historically, the term “pansy” has been used pejoratively to refer to an effeminate gay man. Its usage was (to some degree) reclaimed during the so-called “Pansy Craze” of the 1920s and 30s. During this time, queer people gained increased visibility in the media and entertainment, especially in diverse urban centers like New York City. Spurred on by Prohibition and the growth of underground nightlife, the Pansy Craze featured an increase in performances with queer themes, including burlesque theater, male and female impersonators, and even Broadway shows. Drag balls were well-attended events, both by queer people there to dance as well as straight spectators. Novels, newspapers, and tabloids also featured articles about queer culture.

Trillium

While nowadays, the term bisexual refers to individuals who experience sexual and/or romantic attraction to multiple genders, originally, it was used to refer to organisms with both male and female reproductive capabilities. Many flowers are considered bisexual, including hibiscus, tulips, and even roses. 

Trillium, the flower claimed by bisexuals within the wider queer community, is also a biologically bisexual flower. While not bisexual in the sense as we think of it today, bisexual flowers like trillium still represent instances of biological sex beyond the binary, an idea that has further connection to the queer community.

Rebis

In alchemy, many elements were represented as gendered dichotomies. The figures of the Red King and White Queen could represent the sun and the moon, gold and silver, or even sulphur and mercury. When they combined in the “Chemical Wedding,” a new figure was created: that of Rebis, depicted as a two-headed individual representing both the male and female, what we might consider intersex. While Rebis is only a personification of an alchemical concept and not a real figure, framing the combination of male and female as the alchemical ideal still challenges the traditional gender binary.

Blog author: Neya Alper

External Sources Consulted

Beyer, Catherine. 2018. Rebis: the Result of the Great Work in Alchemy. August 2. https://www.learnreligions.com/rebis-from-theoria-philosophiae-hermetic….

Chauncey, George. 2008. Gay New York. New York: Basic Books.

Connor, Randy P. 1998. Cassell’s Encyclopedia of Queer Myth, Symbol, and Spirit. London: Cassell.

Coward, Sacha. 2024. Queer As Folklore. London: Boundless Publishing Group.

Medhurst, Eleanor. 2024. "Carabiners and Violet Tattoos." In Queering Desire. London: Routledge.