GLBT History Museum opens and gays make history at the Golden Globes

The past few days have been good for gays. Last Thursday, January 13, North America's first GLBT History Museum opened in San Francisco, occupying 1,600 square feet of gallery and program space in The Castro District. Two debut exhibitions, Our Vast Queer Past: Celebrating GLBT History and Great Collections of the GLBT Historical Society Archives chronicle the multiplicity of experiences that has shaped perspectives of gay people both within and outside our community, a definite must-see if you're in The City by the Bay.

Meanwhile, at the 68th Golden Globe Awards Sunday, the openly gay Chris Colfer and Jane Lynch won Best Supporting acting honors (Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television) for their portrayals of Kurt Hummel and Sue Sylvester on Glee. During their acceptance speeches, Mr. Colfer thanked the show's creator Ryan Murphy, also openly gay, for being his "fairy godfather," and Ms. Lynch thanked her wife, Laura. And if that weren't enough, Glee won Best Television Series (Comedy Or Musical).

As for movies, The Kids Are All Right, a film about a lesbian couple faced with meeting the sperm donor of their children, took home the award for Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical), and Annette Bening won Best Actress (Comedy or Musical) for her role as one-half of the aforementioned same-sex couple.

Gay people exist, and our history is being made and documented. Hurrah!

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First LGBT History Museum Opens in S.F.

By Advocate.com Editors

The nation's first museum dedicated solely to LGBT history opens Wednesday in San Francisco.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports on the new GLBT History Museum, located in the historic Castro district.

"Now, objects from the kitchen table and pink-framed sunglasses that belonged to Harvey Milk — who became the first elected openly gay politician in California by becoming a member of San Francisco's Board of Supervisors — to manuscripts and sex toys, are on display at the 1,600-square-foot space at 4127 18th St.

"With two exhibits and hundreds of articles, the GLBT History Museum is the world's second museum dedicated solely to gay and lesbian archives and materials, museum officials said. The only other one is in Germany."

The museum is operated by the GLBT Historical Society, which sought to open a museum for more than a decade but struggled to find an affordable space, the Chronicle reports. A temporary exhibition opened after the 2008 film Milk proved a permanent museum could be successful, and encouraged local businesses and individuals to donate thousands to the $250,000 required to open and operate the permanent museum in its first year.

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