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The human desire to classify is perhaps at its strongest when it comes to natural history, as we group and order the world around us into discrete categories. However, the way we organise and display natureÌýis unnatural and at odds with the blurred edges and continuous variation of real nature. How does this relate to practices in which LGBTQ+ people self-classify?

Co-produced between the ,ÌýQueer Zoo used the Grant Museum's collection, taxonomic practice of natural history andÌýGeorge Mazzei's 1979 article '' - that first introduced an animal naming system for gay men- as inspiration for an evening that looked at the way in which LGBTQ+ peopleÌýorder themselves.Ìý

In a series ofÌýperformances, readings, interventions and provocations from artists and academics, Queer Zoo interogated the practice of classificationÌýin more detail. Over the course of the evening with an audience of over 200 people we looked at the history and the development of categories of sexual orientation and gender identity/roles—‘homosexual’, ‘LGBT’, ‘queer’, ‘dissident’ etc. and discussed the use of ordering systemsÌýthat are increasingly reductive and based onÌýphysical attributes and sexual preferences reflecting.

Queer Zoo sought the help of andÌýher irrepresible style, to invite the audience to participate in discussions ofÌýhow the changing conceptions of the body, social media, cultural and societalÌýpressures are impacting and shaping both individual LGBTQ+ community identity.

As the inaugural event of the newly formed ,ÌýQueer ZooÌýasked participants to debate and name the inititaive,ÌýÌý