LGBTQ Museum Project

02/15/2023

Let's Make History!

Donate to the LGBTQ Museum Project now:

https://gofund.me/460bafa3

09/09/2021

The Donate Now link doesn't work here, so follow this link to donate:

https://gofund.me/5d4ea1a4

Thank you!

09/07/2021

Pauline Newman (1887 – 1986)

Feminist, Labor Activist, Le***an

Pauline Newman began her activism as a young child in Lithuania. Pauline's father was a teacher, yet as a young girl she had to fight for an education. Lithuanian public schools did not accept Jewish students, and the Jewish run schools did not accept female students. Pauline was able to persuade her father to let her sit in on his classes where she learned to read, and write.

After her father died in 1901, Pauline's mother moved her family to New York City, where at the age of 11 Pauline began working at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. In 1908, Pauline helped organize New York's largest ever rent strike to protest predatory landlords. The strike eventually led to the establishing of rent controls.

Due to Pauline's years as a garment worker, she was very aware of the horrific conditions women were forced to endure in the garment factories. In 1909, Pauline became the principal organizer of the largest labor strikes of the era. She organized more than 40,000 women to strike until better working conditions were implemented. During this time, Pauline met with some of the most prominent, and wealthiest women in the city persuading them to support the strike which put even greater pressure on factory owners. Her skill in organizing this protest won Pauline the appointment as the first female general organizer for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. After the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911, where many of her friends died, Pauline was offered a position as one of the first inspectors for the powerful, newly-formed Factory Investigation Commission.

Through her position in the FIC, Pauline met Frances Perkins, Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor, (and first woman to hold a cabinet position), who used Pauline as a liaison between the labor movement, and the government. This new position led Pauline to work on a project in Philadelphia where she met Bryn Mawr economics professor, Frieda Miller who became Pauline's partner until Miller's death in 1974.

Please, help to preserve this, and other LGBTQ+ history by donating to the LGBTQ Museum Project.

https://gofund.me/49a80ef3

08/15/2021

08/12/2021

Alain LeRoy Locke (1885 – 1954)

Philosopher, First African American Rhodes Scholar, 'Dean'of the Harlem Renaissance', and Gay.

Alain Locke made history as the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy from Harvard University, and was the first African American Rhodes Scholar. While at Harvard, Locke was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society, and received the prestigious Bowdoin prize. Locke was a noted, and well published philosopher, an educator, and a patron of the arts. In 1925, Locke edited 'The New Negro', an anthology of essays, fiction, and poetry. The book included five of his own essays, as well as the writings of other African Americans. The success of this book led to him becoming known as the 'Dean of the Harlem Renaissance'. Due to the laws of the time, Locke was unable to be explicit about his sexual orientation, however he wrote of his being gay as the source of 'vulnerability and invulnerability', a source of risk, and strength.

Please, help to preserve this, and other LGBTQ+ history by donating to the LGBTQ Museum Project.

https://gofund.me/5d4ea1a4

08/10/2021

We'wha (1849–1896)
Artist, Zuni Cultural Ambassador, Community Leader, and Two-Spirit
We'wha, a Zuni Native American from New Mexico was an accomplished artist known particularly for their fiber weaving, and pottery, (some of We'wha's pottery was displayed in the National Museum). We'wha was also a lhamana, often described as being a two-spirit person, taking on roles traditionally occupied by women, as well as many of those occupied by men, and adopting a mix of clothing traditionally worn by both genders. In 1886, We'wha joined a delegation from the Zuni Nation to Washington D.C., where they met President Grover Cleveland. We'wha's intelligence, strong moral character, and kindness led them to become arbiter in conflicts. Much of what we know about We'wha is through the writings of ethnologist, Matilda Coxe Stevenson, (an interesting character in her own right), with whom We'wha became close friends. In her early writing about We'wha, Stevenson used male pronouns, but eventually switched to using female pronouns exclusively.
Please, help to preserve this, and other LGBTQ+ history by donating to the LGBTQ Museum Project.
https://gofund.me/5d4ea1a4

08/09/2021

Kathy Kozachenko (1954 - )

First Openly LGBTQ+ Person To Be Elected In America.

Many believe that Harvey Milk was the first openly gay elected official in America, but he wasn't, (He joined San Francisco's Board of Supervisors in 1978). That honor goes to someone most people have never heard of, Kathy Kozachenko. In April of 1974, the 21 year old college student was elected to the Ann Arbor, MI, city council. While there had been other elected officials who came out as LGBTQ+, Kathy was the first to run for office, and win, openly identifying as le***an. During her term on the council, Kathy championed many issues that would be labeled 'progressive' today, issues that were popular with voters in the even more liberal enclave that Ann Arbor was then.

Please, help to preserve this, and other LGBTQ+ history by donating to the LGBTQ Museum Project.

https://gofund.me/5d4ea1a4

07/26/2021

Jane Addams (1860 - 1935)

Social Activist, First American Woman to win the Noble Peace Prize, and Le***an.

Social activist, Jane Addams worked tirelessly on social issues, including healthcare reform, child labor, and race relations. In 1889, she co-founded the most well known settlement house in the Unites States, Hull House, with her then partner, Ellen Gates Starr, in Chicago, IL, with the aim of combating poverty. In 1931, Jane Addams became the first American woman to win the Noble Peace Prize. Jane Addams shared 40 years of her life with her 'dearest', philanthropist, Mary Rozet Smith.

Please, help to preserve this, and other LGBTQ+ history by donating to the LGBTQ Museum Project.

https://gofund.me/49a80ef3

07/21/2021

Goals and Mission of the LGBTQ Museum Project:

1 – Raise funds for, and facilitate the building of a National Museum of LGBTQ+ History and Culture in Washington D.C.

2 – Develop a best practices manual for the preservation of LGBTQ+ historical, and cultural materials, assets, and ephemera.

3 – Develop cataloging procedures for LGBTQ+ historical, and cultural materials, assets, and ephemera.

4 – Collect, and preserve the stories, and unwritten accounts of LGBTQ+ history, and culture.

5 – Develop historical markers available to be affixed to places of note in LGBTQ+ history, and culture.

6 – Create video, audio, and print material spotlighting moments, and people in LGBTQ+ history, and culture.

7 – Be inclusive as possible in representing the whole of LGBTQ+ history, and culture.