NEW YORK — The Board of Directors of the National LGBT Museum has voted to base the museum in New York City and has elected longtime LGBT activist Kevin Jennings as its co-chair.
Founded in 2008 by Board Co-Chair Tim Gold, the National LGBT Museum engaged in an extensive visioning process (details of which can be found at www.nationallgbtmuseum.org), examined a number of possible sites, and held a number of meetings with elected officials and LGBT organizational leaders in New York before voting to choose New York at its January 2015 Board meeting. “New York simply makes sense,” says Gold. “It is both the site of many pivotal events in the history of the U.S. LGBT civil rights movement as well as a top destination worldwide for LGBT tourists. We are excited about siting the museum in this great world city.”
Gold went on to add, “We are also excited to have Kevin Jennings join our team as Board Co-Chair. A New York City resident, a historian by training, and a long-time leader in the LGBT movement, Kevin is the perfect partner to help lead the effort to establish this museum in New York City.”
Perhaps best known for founding the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Jennings today serves as Executive Director of the Arcus Foundation. “I am honored to join Tim and the Board in this important work,” said Jennings. “Tim and the Board have done significant work in envisioning what a national LGBT museum might look like and I am excited to join them in helping turn that vision into a reality.”
The Board will now focus on identifying sources of funding, staff, and a physical location now that the question of the permanent home for the museum has been settled. “Our dream is to have the museum open in time for the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion in June 2019,” said Gold.
I can understand the choice of NYC for the museum, but I am very disappointed that it will not be in Washington, DC. I think having it in the nation’s capital near all the other museums and monuments sends a strong message that LGBT citizens matter and that their history is part of our country’s history. And for quite a few years to come, I could see sexual minority youth spending their free time on their class trips openly or secretly visiting an LGBT museum to validate their own identity.
As a PFLAG mom, I am glad there will be such a museum & I plan to visit it, but I think you are missing an opportunity to make a powerful statement by not choosing Washington, DC.
This is an exciting announcement. But where did it come from? This organization is unknown (their website is pretty but does not enlighten) and there is no known link to other efforts for a national LGBT museum. How is this different? And why does it deserve our support over other recent and current proposals? I hope to be convinced, but information is lacking.
Did a LGBT museum ever open in New York?