When I walk through the archives or the museum of the GLBT Historical Society, I never fail to be moved by the enormity of our community’s experiences and the astounding breadth of our individual stories. I’m thrilled, as the Historical Society’s new Executive Director, to play a role in not only collecting and memorializing these rich and varied stories, but also in keeping these stories alive and bringing them to new audiences.
This is a responsibility I take very seriously,
How can we best preserve, interpret and present our countless stories of human struggle and triumph? How can we best share these powerful stories with LGBTQ people—and with people who know nothing of our history and culture?
In the coming weeks and months, I will be asking many of you these questions, and also sharing my vision for the organization’s future—including the development of a new world-class LGBT cultural museum and archives in San Francisco.
But in the meantime, today the GLBT Historical Society is at a crossroads. While our museum and archives programs continue to produce wonderful work—and we attract packed houses to our exhibit openings, events and forums—community support through memberships and donations has dropped significantly over the last year. Our archives are currently being displaced by skyrocketing rents, and our financial reserve has been erased.
The GLBT Historical Society needs your support today.
I am optimistic for the future of the GLBT Historical Society. But without community support, that future is just a dream. Please consider making a contribution now at www.glbthistory.org Memberships start at just $30 per year.
I look forward to working with you all. Please send me your thoughts and ideas at terry@glbthistory.org or call me at 415-777-5455, ext. 5#.
Terry Beswick was named the new Executive Director of the GLBT Historical Society in January 2016.
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