Now – January 2020

LGBTQ+ SAN DIEGO

Stories of Struggles and Triumphs

Help promote tolerance + understanding

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

  • Identity – Who we are and how we define ourselves
  • Persecution
  • Pioneers who have helped shape our Region’s LGBTQ+ Community
  • Families we make and choose
  • Where the San Diego LGBTQ+ Community is headed and the work that remains ahead

SUPPORT LGBTQ+ SAN DIEGO

Support for this exhibition and additional educational programming is an ongoing effort that requires continuing support from our community.

HELP US BUILD A COMMUNITY OF TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING BY

  • Signing up to stay informed about this exhibition and upcoming programs
  • Donating today to allow us to expand the reach of LGBTQ+ San Diego

YOUR SUPPORT WILL ALLOW US TO

  • Continually update the exhibition
  • Develop and publish a commemorative book that will provide a deeper understanding of those featured in the exhibition as well as a tool for furthering education
  • Provide more opportunities for the public to utilize and experience this exhibition

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.

SUPPORT LGBTQ+ SAN DIEGO

Support for this exhibition and additional educational programming is an ongoing effort that requires continuing support from our community.

HELP US BUILD A COMMUNITY OF TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING BY

  • Signing up to stay informed about this exhibition and upcoming programs
  • Donating today to allow us to expand the reach of LGBTQ+ San Diego

YOUR SUPPORT WILL ALLOW US TO

  • Continually update the exhibition
  • Develop and publish a commemorative book that will provide a deeper understanding of those featured in the exhibition as well as a tool for furthering education
  • Provide more opportunities for the public to utilize and experience this exhibition

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

San Diego History Center

Balboa Park 1649 El Prado, Suite #3, San Diego, CA 92101

Open Daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas

619-232-6203

info@sandiegohistory.org

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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!

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