For centuries, social and legal discrimination forced most lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) Virginians to conceal their relationships and gender identities. Today, many LGBTQ+ Virginians continue to publicly fight for legal protections from discrimination, while others face very personal challenges in being open about who they are and who they love.
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) and Virginia Pride partnered to feature a special work of art by artist Ben Workman (aka Jumper Maybach), which Virginia Pride commissioned and donated to the VMHC in 2018, as part of the museum's The Story of Virginia exhibition.
Also featured were items from the VMHC collections including a program from the 1989 Richmond Lesbian and Gay Pride Day, newsletters from early LGBTQ+ rights organizations, and documents belonging to influential activists.
