Santa Monica History Museum- Telling the Story of Everyone in Our Community

Community Safety

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative

In Santa Monica, groups such as the Daughters of Bilitis and the Mattachine Society formed in the 1950s to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Publications like The Ladder, ONE Magazine, the Lesbian News, and others provided information and welcoming spaces for the community. The 1960s saw a pivotal moment in the gay civil rights movement as the LGBTQ+ community rallied against police raids on known gathering spots such as the Black Cat Tavern in Los Angeles.This resulted in the first Pride parades, which increased mainstream visibility and awareness of the injustice and discrimination experienced by the LGBTQ+ community. The HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s brought new challenges, devastating losses of life, and continued stigma and discrimination. Throughout these struggles, LGBTQ+ individuals in Los Angeles and the SM Bay area have remained active in their creative expression, activism, and community-building efforts, making the city a more inclusive and vibrant place for all.

In the wake of the Pandemic, Santa Monica History Museum (SMHM) has re-opened with a renewed sense of identity and purpose. After intensive strategic planning, our three strategic pillars moving forward have emerged as follows: Community Engagement, Inclusivity, and Education. In addition to Coming Out West (OutWords), SMHM has created a permanent home for the Quinn Gallery promoting the study and research of black family history and culture in the Santa Monica Bay Area and an exhibit honoring Tongva Gabrielino Native American history. Coming Out West: LGBTQ+ Elders Share Their Stories explores the history and empowering journey of eight revered LGBTQ+ elders with ties to Los Angeles and the Santa Monica Bay Area. Told through oral histories, images, art, and personal ephemera, visitors will experience a history of the LGBTQ+ community through the lens of people who shaped it. Presented in collaboration with The Outwords Archive, this important exhibition features Jewel Thais-Williams, proprietor of the renowned LGBTQ club Jewel's Catch One. Chuck Williams namesake of the venerated Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law. Judy Abdo, former Santa Monica city councilperson and one of the nation's first out-lesbian mayors. L Frank, Tongva-Ajachmem artist, writer, activist and tribal scholar. As well as artists and activists Don Bachardy, Mia Yamamoto, Marianne Diaz and celebrated Latinx author and descendent of one of Santa Monica's oldest families, Terri de la Pena.

Created in collaboration with The Outwords Archive, the exhibition is a unique opportunity for the Santa Monica History Museum to share a history of the LGBTQ+ community through the lens of eight people who shaped it. "We are thrilled to partner with The Outwords Archive to celebrate the rich history of the LGBTQ+ community and to use our museum as a conduit for bringing that to the public," stated Rob Schwenker, Executive Director of Santa Monica History Museum. "In Santa Monica's history, there has never been an exhibition of this nature; given there are more than 240 pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation making their way through our government, now it is more important than ever to tell these stories." The exhibition features excerpts from oral histories recorded by The Outwords Archive (OUTWORDS). "OUTWORDS has recorded nearly 300 interviews in 38 states. We share our stories with students and teachers around the globe," said Mason Funk, Executive Director of The Outwords Archive.

Success will be measured in our ability to raise awareness for new community exhibits as demonstrated through museum and event attendance, and community feedback. Coming Out West expects to connect with over 2,000 visitors during the course of its exhibition, including local residents and tourists. In addition, the Santa Monica History Museum boasts a mailing list of 3,709 subscribers and a combined social media reach of 1.7 million across all platforms. Additionally, impact will be measured through surveys made available at the Museum and at OutWords community events. We will measure success in the exhihit's ablility to bring people together in place of fueling division. The intent is to bring into focus the commonalities of all people's stuggle for dignity and justice in the face of fear and power, in Santa Monica and beyond.

From OutWords: OUTWORDS records, preserves, and shares the stories of LGBTQIA2S+* elders, to build community and catalyze social change. Since our founding in 2016, we've collected nearly 250 in-person and virtual interviews in 35 states. OUTWORDS is the only national project focusing exclusively on capturing the stories of queer elders. We prioritize inclusion, diversity, and equity in our interviewee selection. Coming out West is a collaboration between Santa Monica Histoty Museum and the The OutWords Archive.