Images courtesy of the GLBT Historical Society
The GLBT Historical Society Museum’s latest exhibition, I Live the Life I Love Because I Love the Life I Live, shines a spotlight on the resilience, creativity, and cultural impact of Black, Latinx, Asian, and Pacific Islander trans and gender-nonconforming people.
Co-presented with the Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive (LLTA), the exhibition explores both performance and everyday expressions of identity, and features studio portraits of gender impersonators from Finocchio’s—the famed San Francisco cabaret—and the touring Jewel Box Revue, alongside candid photographs, activist materials, and self-portraits.
“Our exhibition centers joy, creativity, and the everyday brilliance of trans people of color,” says Elena Gross, Director of Exhibitions & Public Programs. “I hope visitors discover new icons—artists, activists, and organizers whose stories deserve to be uplifted.”
Historic figures featured in the exhibition include Stormé DeLarverie, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, David de Alba, Li-Kar, and Red Jordan Arobateau, alongside community organizers like Brenda Lee and members of the Filipino Task Force on AIDS, who fought for social and medical care for trans people during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis.
“The exhibit presents 100 years of trans history depicting the universality and diversity of the trans experience,” says Curator Ms. Bob Davis, the founder and director of LLTA. “We hope visitors leave with a greater appreciation of Asian, Black, and Latinx trans lives and culture.”
The exhibition is now on view at the GLBT Historical Society Museum, 4127 18th Street in San Francisco’s Castro District. Learn more and plan your visit at https://www.glbthistory.org/.
Community Treasures from the GLBT Historical Society Archives
Published on December 18, 2025
Recent Comments