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.
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!