The traveling exhibit, “Making History: Kansas City and the Rise of Gay Rights” will be display at Central Reform Congregation beginning October 18. The exhibit began traveling throughout the St. Louis region last Fall, when local businesses, individuals, civic and religious organizations joined forces to support hosting the display in St. Louis after learning the news of the removal of the traveling exhibit from the State Capitol.
The exhibit, created by students at the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC), explores the activism of the early days of the LGBT movement in Kansas City, and has been traveling the state since 2017. Since its arrival in St. Louis it has been displayed in numerous locations including the City Foundry, the Delmar Loop, Washington University Libraries, the Missouri History Museum and churches of many denominations.
The traveling exhibit, “Making History: The Rise of Gay Rights in Kansas City”, brings the story of LGBTQ+ people in the west side of the state to St. Louis. Making History complements existing initiatives and exhibits in the St. Louis area, including the Missouri History Museum’s Gateway to Pride virtual exhibit, which launched in January 2021. The Missouri Historical Society (which operates the Missouri History Museum) and the St. Louis LGBT History Project officially partnered in 2013 and have been working to preserve and promote the diverse and dynamic history of the LGBTQIA+ community of the Greater St. Louis region.
This exhibit will be open for viewing before and after to all services and during Religious school on Wednesday afternoons. If you’d like to view outside of these times, please contact the front desk to make arrangements
Programs planned to accompany this exhibit in the works and will be shared soon.