In turbulent sociopolitical times, efforts to squelch or silence true stories of lived experience—or to devalue and dismiss them—become more fervent. As a result, the need for and importance of sharing our stories become even more critical.

So does preserving historical voices, because one way to obstruct a community's future is to deny or erase its past.

That’s why for 2024 Pride Month, we’re celebrating the RADICAL act of supporting and preserving LGBTQIA+ stories. All across the country, in communities large and small, groups are doing this important work.

We highlighted three:

The Missouri History Museum’s Gateway to Pride Exhibition

Located in St. Louis, the Missouri History Museum’s exhibition uncovers St. Louis' rich LGBTQIA+ history and encourages others to share their own stories.

Visit https://mohistory.org/exhibits/gateway-to-pride to learn more about the exhibition and take a virtual tour.

The History Project: Documenting LGBTQ Boston

The History Project is a volunteer-driven non-profit founded in 1980 that holds historical records and ephemera, supports LGBTQIA+ history research and shares that history through public exhibits and events.

Visit their digital collections, including the recent Honey, Let's Get Married! https://historyproject.omeka.net

Telling Queer History 

Twin Cities-based Telling Queer History’s  mission is to connect LGBTQIA+ communities across generations and identities through storytelling gatherings. Learn more about their work here https://www.tellingqueerhistory.com

Do you know of an organization or group that’s working to preserve the rich, long history of LGBTQIA+ communities? Share it with us in the comments!