Pop-Up Museum Of Queer History

At the 1979 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. Photo by Jim Kelly-Evans

My exhibit is arranged in a glass display case and on the wall.

Photo by Dan Evans... Last night was the opening of the Philadelphia Pop-Up Museum of Queer history. My contribution to the museum is an exhibit of artifacts and photos From The First National March on Washington For Lesbian And Gay Rights, that I participated in on October 14, 1979. The exhibit consists of my personal collection of March memorabilia and original black and white photos taken by me of scenes at the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights that took place on October 14, 1979. Included in the exhibit is a copy of the Official Souvenir Program; the 2” diameter March button that I wore that day; a Philadelphia newspaper clipping showing the March; and the Philadelphia to Washington March emblem embossed private charter bus ticket stub. This exhibit tells the story of the very first lesbian and gay march on Washington from one participant’s perspective. It is a very personal look back over thirty years ago to a groundbreaking gay and lesbian event. The fact that the five demands of the 1979 march are still not met shows that while our community has come a long way in our struggle for equality since our first national gay rights march in 1979, we still have work to do.