LGBTQ+ San Diego: Stories of Struggles and Triumphs examines how this community has faced, fought, and continues to fight against persecution and intolerance with the goal of equality for all LGBTQ+ identified people.
The San Diego History Center, in partnership with the Lambda Archives, brings the first exhibition EVER in Balboa Park, focused on San Diego’s LGBTQ+ community.
CURATION & COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
The curatorial team is led by Dr. Lillian Faderman, a distinguished scholar and author of the books The Gay Revolution and Harvey Milk: His Lives and Death.
“Our exhibition traces the stories of these LGBTQ+ San Diegans as they battled the vicious prejudice against them, formed loving relationships, and struggled to become first-class citizens of America and their city.”
—Dr. Lillian Faderman
EXHIBITION THEMES
San Diego’s LGBTQ+ community has faced both tragedy and triumph. This exhibition and associated programs shed new light on the role of San Diego’s LGBTQ+ community in the larger San Diego narrative. Visitors will hear from those in the LGBTQ+ community about struggling against persecution, the battle against HIV/AIDS, standing strong while facing bullying and intolerance, and the power of joining together through community engagement and political participation.
MAJOR COMMUNITY THEMES
THE IMPACT
Since its opening in June 2018, LGBTQ+ San Diego: Stories of Struggles + Triumphs has had a huge impact on the community and visitors alike. Many important strides have been made as we continue to build support and increase exposure to this important exhibition.
LIBRARY COMMUNITY QUILT PROJECT
The San Diego History Center is partnering with the City of San Diego Library Department to install an interactive feature for its groundbreaking exhibition LGTBQ+ San Diego: Stories of Struggles + Triumphs. These Community Quilt pop-up displays at Public Library locations are another way to bring this exhibition into communities around San Diego.
MAKERS OF SAN DIEGO HISTORY
The San Diego History Center’s annual Makers of San Diego History event on March 23rd, 2019 will recognize the struggles and triumphs the LGBTQ+ community of San Diego, and will honor the extraordinary lives and achievements of the Honorabe Toni Atkins, President pro Tempore of the California State Senate and the first acknowledged lesbian to be elected to that position, and the Honorable Christine Kehoe, former member of the California State Senate and the first openly LGBTQ+ elected official in San Diego.
BUSES FOR DIVERSITY
The San Diego History Center, in collaboration with the San Diego Unified School District, has developed elementary, middle, and high school curricula and hosts diversity and social justice workshops for students in San Diego schools. Studies show that students in schools that cultivate an appreciation for diversity experience better learning outcomes.
SHERIFF’S DIVERSITY TRAINING
The County of San Diego Sheriffs’ Department continues to hold its diversity education sessions at the San Diego History Center, utilizing the LGBTQ+ San Diego: Stories of Struggles + Triumphs exhibition as an enhancement to their training. Each month close to 40 Sheriff’s deputies come to the San Diego History Center for training with the facilitators from The San Diego LGBT Community Center and San Diego LGBT Pride.
CIVIC LEADERS
In January 2019, The San Diego History Center Board of Trustees welcomed Mayor Kevin Faulconer, the Honorable Christine Kehoe, and Robert Gleason for a special tour of the exhibition, LGTBQ+ San Diego: Stories of Struggles and Triumphs.
DIPLOMACY COUNCIL
San Diego LGBT Pride and the San Diego Diplomacy Council have hosted representatives from around the world at two PRIDE World Forums at the History Center featuring the LGBTQ+ San Diego: Stories of Struggles + Triumphs exhibition underwritten by the U. S. Department of State.
COMMEMORATIVE BOOK
As the exhibition LGBTQ+ San Diego: Stories of Struggles + Triumphs comes to a close, the commemorative book will live on as a legacy piece featuring key exhibition components, more detailed stories from those in the LGBTQ+ community about struggling against persecution, the battle against HIV/AIDS, standing strong while facing bullying and intolerance, and the power of joining together through community engagement and political participation.
LGBTQ+ EVENTS & PROGRAMS
Stay up to date on all the upcoming events happening at the San Diego History Center.
OUR SPONSORS
The Parker H. Jackson + Joseph Blankenship Estates
to the San Diego History Center
Tom + Jane Fetter
Jeffrey D. Shorn
+ Charles S. Kaminski Trust
Barnes
& Thornburg LLP
Barona Band of
Mission Indians
Gene Burkard
Peter Cooper
+ Erik Matwijkow
Anna M. Curren
H.G. Fenton Company
International Alliance of
Theatrical Employees
(IATSE) San Diego
Patrick T. McArron
+ Glenn R. Stokes Trust
San Diego County
Building + Construction
Trades Council AFL-CIO
Sharp HealthCare
Maureen Steiner
Union Bank
UNITE HERE Local 30
United Domestic
Workers of America
Hon. Christine Kehoe
+ Julie Warren
The Matys-Gleason Family
Ben + Nikki Clay
Dr. Philip Diamond
+ Kevin Tilden
Suzanne Dukes
+ Sandy Wichelecki
Imperial Court
de San Diego
Jack + Kyle McGrory
John + Liz Morrell
Duane Morris, LLP
San Diego Municipal
Employees Association
SEIU Local 221
The San Diego LGBT
Community Center
UC San Diego
Drew Woodmansee
+ Dave Kempton
AVRP Skyport –
architecture, urban design
Baker Electric/
Baker Home Energy
BKM/Steelcase
Burger Construction
David Brown
+ Mark O’Brien
Candace Carroll
+ Len Simon
Kay Chandler
Randy + Michael Clark
Kay Coleman
+ Janice Montle*
Roger Cornell M.D.
Courtney Ann Coyle
+ Steven P. McDonald
Dr. Diane L. Edge
+ Ruth A. Eastwood
Iris Engstrand, Ph.D.
Loren Freestone
G|M Business Interiors
Tom Homann
LGBT Law Association
Keeney, Waite & Stevens
Nancy E. Kossan, Ph.D.
+ Deborah MacDonald
Suzanne + Bill Lawrence
Bob Lehman + Tom Felkner/
San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus
Susan Lester
+ Petra Mertens
John S. Lipsey + John A. Alexander
Family Foundation
Roy McMakin + Mike Jacobs
Mo’s Universe
Bob Nelson
Charitable Fund**
The Patio Group
Scott Peterson
+ Peter Gyorgy
Roberts Electric Service, Inc.
Allison Rossett
Safdie Rabines Architects
Jerry Sanders
+ Rana Sampson
Jeffrey + Deidre Schneider
Clifford Schireson
+ John Venekamp
Chris Sturdy
Systems Source, Inc
Nelson White
+ Dan Maccia
Scott Williford
+ Grant Reeder
Sharon Young
*San Diego
Community Foundation
**Jewish Community
Foundation San Diego
George + Cynthia Driver
Tim Lockridge / Lockridge Construction, Inc.
Bob Morris
Bill Purves + Don Schmidt
David Lang + Andy Cu-Unjieng, M.D.
Michael Levinson
Darrell Netherton
+ Robert Wheeler
San Diego Equality Alliance
Mary Anderson
Mike + Regan Kelaher
Hallie Putterman
Gretchen Richardson
San Diego Regional
Chamber of Commerce
Pamela L. Wilson
+ Jeanne M. Fricot
Bruce Warren
Gregory Evans
CONTACT US
HOW TO GET HERE
The San Diego History Center is located in the ♥ of Balboa Park. Balboa Park is centrally located in beautiful San Diego, California and boasts 16 museums, as well as a host of other cultural attractions. Balboa Park is also very accessible; just a five-minute drive from the San Diego International Airport and right off of two major freeways that pass through the center of San Diego!