The ‘Indiana Jones’ image of palaeontology can hold back queer people. Our youth forum member says that as a young trans man people often questioned his passion for dinosaurs. He wants to point out that when it comes to gender, we don’t actually know much about dinosaurs at all.

Many fossils are described as male or female. But in many cases, we have too little scientific evidence to assign gender to fossils. And should we assume the gender of people or dinosaurs? No we should not.

#Takeoverday @kidsinmuseums

This is why we’re really happy that @SUEtheTrex is a non-binary dinosaur who uses the pronouns they/them read the story here https://www.them.us/story/sue-the-t-rex-is-a-nonbinary-icon

Trans palaeontologist Riley Black @Laelaps compares the discovery of dino bones to self-exploration:

“piece by piece…removing the burden of my past and digging into my true self. It’s a process carried out through…introspection rather than through hammers and plaster, but the end result is much the same. I want to uncover the nature of myself as much as that of any dinosaur.”

So to end this #TwitterTaekover we want to say palaeontologists don’t all look like Indiana Jones! We certainly don’t and we still love dinosaurs.

If you are 14-25 years old and enjoyed this thread, why not join us for our next youth forum meeting? https://museum.wales/takepart/youth_forum/ This takeover was part of #HandsonHeritage youth work at @AmgueddfaCymru with thanks to @HeritageFundUK #KicktheDust