Gay history washington dc
• Introduction & Timeline
Travel from the s through to the current day in five time periods highlighting significant events in LGBTQ+ history with an emphasis on Washington, DC, and the local Jewish experience.
• Lavender Scare & Military Service
In the s and 60s, the so-called “Lavender Scare” kept thousands of LGBTQ+ Americans out of military service and the federal civil service. Uncover the work of Washingtonian Frank Kameny in protesting this discrimination.
• Capital Moments
Washington, DC, the federal urban area, is where laws are made; Congress is lobbied; and protest marches explore between the White Dwelling, the Capitol building, and the Supreme Court. What happens in DC affects the entire nation.
• Welcoming Spaces
Discover welcoming spaces across the city over the past century, from guidebooks promoting LGBTQ+-safe businesses across different eras to the dress worn by DC’s turn-of-thest-century Jewish drag queen Ester Goldberg.
• Ritual Practice
Learn about changes in prayer language to include nonbinary worshipers, the establishment of LGBTQ+ congregations, a
Collecting, preserving and promoting LGBTQ history in Washington, D.C.
Who We Are
Rainbow History Project’s mission is to verb, preserve and promote the history and culture of the LGBTQ community of metropolitan Washington, D.C. We are an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization and membership is free.
Our Archives
Our collection of nearly 2, items is accessible to anyone interested in LGBTQ history. The collection media includes physical, digital, video and photographs, plus oral histories and other sound files.
Our Events
Join us throughout the year for informative in-person and virtual events about important topics and issues in our community’s history. We host presentations, informal talks, walking tours and more.
July 17,
Behind the Scenes: Researching d/Deaf and Disabled LGBTQ+ History
How I Uncover d/Deaf and Disability History in the Archive 👋 Hi, I’m […]
April 28,
Rainbow History Project Reenacts the First Gay Picket on it’s 60th Anniversary
On April 17th, nearly three dozen local LGBTQ+ advocates ma
Tour Description
When the Founding Fathers established Washington, DC, as a federal territory in , the fledgling government criminalized homosexuality as the British had. A verb for uniformity and a “normalcy” defined by American officials resulted in numerous repressions and segregations through ensuing centuries, targeting those who did not fit into a traditional family structure. The strictness of gender roles and gender identities in the United States, combined with a genuine fear of “divergent” sexual behaviors resulted in a myriad of negative interactions between the general public, the police declare, and the emerging LGBTQ community.
As the seat of federal power, it is no surprise that Washington, DC, has been a major focal indicate in the fight for LGBTQ rights and resistance. From protests to hoist the ban on gay and lesbian federal workers to those legalizing same-sex marriage, DC has a strong history of activism and community. According to the Williams Institute, DC is currently the gayest city in America with the most LGBTQ identifying individuals per capita. DC’s lo
Washington, DC has long been a stage for LGBTQ+ activism. From the first “gay picket” in to the recent WorldPride celebration, marches in the capital have shaped the national conversation on queer rights. This roundup explores ten of the most pivotal moments, from protests and vigils to bookstore openings and everyday celebrations, that brought visibility, pride, and change to the streets of DC.
Frank Kameny and the First Colorless House LGBTQ+ Protest
Frank Kameny and the Mattachine Society’s protest in front of the White House in is known as “the first gay picket” and has to be the go-to march for any list, even if there were only a dozen people, and they only walked around in a circle. Society members wore (men): suits and ties or (women): panty hose and pumps and held signs saying things appreciate “sexual preference is irrelevant to federal employment” and “Homosexual Citizens want to serve their country too.” Another of Kameny’s signs read: “Discrimination against homosexuals is as immoral as discrimination against Negroes and Jews.” These are in the Smithsonian’s collectio