Advancing Trans Inclusion in the Cultural Sector: Frameworks for Change and Equality

The article examines how frameworks for advancing trans-inclusive practices can be developed and implemented in contexts where legal and political conditions for trans rights remain limited and where strong anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments are deeply embedded within political and institutional structures. The discussion draws on research undertaken by ICOM Italy's Working Group, with input from experts in trans inclusion based in Italy, to develop guidance for the Italian heritage sector, which culminated in the publication of Musei e generi. Musei e generi is a document that provides cultural professionals with the necessary tools to engage critically with issues of gender diversity in the heritage field to foster positive and accessible spaces for trans and non-binary individuals. The article highlights the strategic dimensions, opportunities, and constraints of identity-based approaches to trans inclusion, arguing that identity politics present some important limitations, particularly in relation to intersectionality.