ACTIVATING QUEER HISTORY

At Badge Of Pride, we are guided by Harvey Milk's poignant question: "How can people change their minds about us if they don't know who we are?" In the face of unprecedented waves of vitriolic legislation and rhetoric aimed at the LGBTQ+ community, particularly our transgender and gender non-conforming siblings, our mission has never been more vital.

 

We are dedicated to activating artifacts from LGBTQ+ history, which means bringing them into the public sphere to tell powerful stories and illuminate important ideas. These artifacts are not mere objects of value or rarity; they are touchstones filled with meaning and connection. They are meaningful tools that can help us understand the human experience, guiding us through our past, informing our present, and shaping our future. HISTORY. ACTION. CHANGE.

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At Badge Of Pride, we go beyond mere collection and preservation; we actively use our artifacts to inspire, enlighten, and connect. We measure our success not by the number of objects in our collection, but rather by the impact our collection has in telling compelling stories and fostering understanding. Our goal is to share our artifacts widely and publicly, as freely as possible, illuminating Queer history and fostering a connection with the LGBTQ+ community.

 

By making our artifacts widely accessible, we strive to create a vibrant resource that resonates with and supports the LGBTQ+ community. Through this, we seek to change minds and hearts, ensuring that our stories are known, valued, and cherished.

 

Queer history is American history, and it deserves to be celebrated and understood by all.

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Our guiding principles of maintaining an active collection has been inspired and informed by Active Collections, edited By Elizabeth Wood, Rainey Tisdale, and Trevor Jones.