250Lex, Faulkner Morgan Archive celebrate LGBTQ history
Lexington’s LGBTQ history is being celebrated through the Faulkner Morgan Archive’s exhibit, “Queer, Here, & Everywhere: The Roots of Kentucky’s LGBTQ History,” located in the third-floor exhibition space at the Lexington Public Library, Central Branch, 140 East Main St. The exhibit opened on May 24, and runs through June 26.
“Lexington has been home to a vibrant LGBTQ community for many, many years,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “I am proud our city has been a supportive home for its LGBTQ residents, and a state leader for equality.”
This is the first comprehensive exhibition to highlight key moments and figures in Lexington’s LGBTQ history. It tells the stories of leaders, such as Sweet Evening Breeze and those who pushed for passage of the state’s first comprehensive Fairness Ordinance, as well as landmarks and organizations important to the LGBTQ community. The goal of the exhibit is to foster a greater sense of belonging for LGBTQ individuals, while also promoting understanding and appreciation among the broader population.
“While ‘Queer, Here, & Everywhere’ has been in the making for about a year, the work of the Faulkner Morgan Archive to share Kentucky’s LGBTQ history started over 10 years ago,” said Faulkner Morgan Archive Assistant Executive Director Josh Porter. “This exhibition truly captures the vibrancy of Kentucky’s LGBTQ community, not only in the urban spaces of Lexington and Louisville but also out of rural communities, from Caldwell County to Knott County, and everywhere in between. Through this project, and thanks to 250Lex, we are highlighting the power of queer joy in celebrating our shared histories.”
There will be an opening reception for the exhibition from 5-8 p.m. on May 30 at the Lexington Public Library, Central Branch. The event is free and open to the public. Once the exhibition closes on June 26, it will be on display at the Lexington Pride Festival on June 28. This year the festival will be held outdoors along Oliver Lewis Way.
The exhibit was made possible through a 250Lex Cultural Grant to the Faulkner Morgan Archive. Founded in 2014 and named after two queer artists, Henry Faulkner and Robert Morgan. The Archive is believed to be the largest independent, community-generated 501(c)3 nonprofit in the nation devoted to sharing Kentucky-connected LGBTQ narratives. Learn more at www.faulknermorgan.org.
To learn more about the city’s year-long celebration of its 250th Anniversary, and to find a full calendar of events, visit 250lex.com.
