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Ribbon Cutting for Pickets, Protests, and Parades: The History of Gay Pride in Washington
May 24 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Rainbow History Project invites you to a special celebration marking the official opening of our “Pickets, Protests, and Parades: The History of Gay Pride in Washington” exhibit at Freedom Plaza. This free outdor exhibit chronicles the local LGBTQ Pride movement and how the pickets and protests of the 1960s led to the vibrant celebrations of the 2020s.
Join us at 11:00 AM for a ribbon cutting ceremony recognizing the Community Pioneers—local leaders, organizers, and everyday heroes who advanced LGBTQ+ visibility and justice in DC. The brief program will feature remarks from project leaders, community members, and local dignitaries, followed by photo opportunities and the ceremonial ribbon cutting.
At 12:00 PM, our exhibit researchers will lead guided tours of the display, offering historical context, behind-the-scenes insights, and personal stories that bring the exhibit panels to life. Located in the heart of downtown, Freedom Plaza provides a fitting space to reflect on Pride’s evolving presence in public life and to honor those who have made it possible.
This event is free and open to all. Donations are welcome! This exhibition has been funded thus far by community organizations and individuals, opposed to traditional funding for Pride initiatives seeking funds from corporations.
Whether you’re a longtime resident, a curious visitor, or a dedicated history enthusiast, we welcome you to be part of this special moment and experience the History of Pride from a uniquely local perspective.
Celebrate our past. Empower our future. Join us at Freedom Plaza!
About the Exhibit:
The exhibition disrupts the popularly held belief that the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement began with the Stonewall Riots in 1969 New York. While this pushback to police violence was vital, DC’s LGBTQ+ history of resistance actually predates the Stonewall Riots. RHP recognizes this picket, four years before the Stonewall Riots, where 10 members of the Mattachine Society of Washington marched with signs in front of the White House–as the start of DC’s rich queer history.
From 1965 to the present day, the exhibition divides DC’s LGBTQ+ into ten eras that are explored in a visual timeline wall along Pennsylvania Avenue. Alongside the timeline wall are ten large cubes with archival photos of pickets, protests, and parades, as well as portraits of Community Pioneers who championed each era called the Hero Cubes. The exhibits will premiere on Monday, May 19th, officially opening the exhibition to the over 3 million people expected to travel to DC for WorldPride.
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