The GLBT Historical Society

08/29/2026

While the original Rainbow Flag is visiting Ireland, you can still visit and learn about the history of the rainbow at our museum in the Castro! 🏳️‍🌈

We've installed a temporary exhibition showcasing the history of the Rainbow Flag, alongside a reproduction of the original eight-striped flag created and signed by Gilbert Baker in 1998.

Also on display: a sewing machine that resides in the Gilbert Baker Collection and is listed among his supplies, and a medallion of the Cork City Coat of Arms, a gift from the city of Cork, Ireland during their delegation's visit earlier this year.

A special thank you to the Gilbert Baker Foundation for their generous contributions to this collection.

It's a new exhibition you'll want to see for yourself.

Plan your visit today: www.glbthistory.org/museum-about-visitor-info



Cork City Council Consulate General of Ireland San Francisco

08/24/2026

Hear the story behind the journey to Cork 🏳️‍🌈 Executive Director Roberto Ordeñana and former Board Chair Ben Chavez Gilliam sat down with Ireland's RTÉ Radio 1 to talk about the original 1978 Rainbow Flag, how this first international loan of this historic artifact to the Cork Public Museum came together, and the flag's importance as a symbol of global solidarity.

Listen Here: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/618a9838-01f4-42a6-8aa9-b4ad00a81e82/

The flag is now on view in Cork, where it will remain for the next four months, to be experienced by thousands in Cork and from across Europe.

City Council General of Ireland San Francisco Baker Foundation

Brian O’Connell, RTÉ Radio 1 reporter

08/21/2026

The Rainbow Flag is now on view in Cork! 🏳️‍🌈 Our team has carefully installed the original 1978 Rainbow Flag in a protective case at Cork Public Museum in Cork, Ireland, where it will remain for the next four months. Over that time, visitors from across Europe will be able to journey to this incredible new exhibition uplifting LGBTQ+ history, and experience it firsthand.

This is the first international loan and exhibition of the original Rainbow Flag outside the United States. Visit co-sponsored by the Gilbert Baker Foundation.

08/20/2026

Now On View: Where We Made Room, a solo exhibition by Bay Area artist Aleo Landeta.

Featuring large-scale cyanotypes on silk that layer archival exteriors with hand-drawn imagined interiors, the installation presents the homes of q***r and trans elders Lou Sullivan, Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, and Victoria Fernandez. Around them: archival images of domestic life, personal photographs, original drawings, and a listening station for visitors to record their own memories of home.

Experience this new exhibition for yourself at the GLBT Historical Society Museum in the Castro!

Plan your visit at glbthistory.org/room.

📷 Inside Where We Made Room, photos by Ian Fullmer.

08/19/2026

We've landed in Cork!

Our team is in Cork, Ireland this week to personally courier the original 1978 Rainbow Flag to our partners at Cork Public Museum. It's so thrilling to be so warmly received, and we can't wait for the official launch of the flag's four-month visit later this week.

This is the first international loan and exhibition of the original Rainbow Flag outside the United States — a partnership between the GLBT Historical Society, the Cork Public Museum, and the city of Cork, San Francisco's sister city separated by an ocean and joined by a shared commitment to LGBTQ+ history.

The flag's arrival coincides with the opening of Cork Public Museum's first permanent exhibition uplifting LGBTQ+ history, which we are proud to be supporting with this historic loan.

Stay tuned for more updates from our journey across the pond!

*Visit co-sponsored by the Gilbert Baker Foundation.

Gilbert Baker Foundation



Group photo: Members of the GLBT Historical Society staff and Board gather with Cork officials and Cork Public Museum staff for a group photo.

07/31/2026

Exhibition Preview! Our latest exhibition, Where We Made Room, opens next week at the GLBT Historical Society Museum. Artist Aleo Landeta draws on our archives to reimagine the homes of the LGBTQ+ elders who longed, struggled, and fought to find and build home in San Francisco — Lou Sullivan, Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, Victoria Fernandez.

This history isn’t finished. These rooms are still being built.

On public view beginning Wednesday, August 5 — our Free First Wednesday, when admission is free for all! Plan your visit at glbthistory.org/room or link in bio.

07/27/2026

Our annual tradition is back! Early bird tickets for Reunion 2026 are on sale now.

Since 1990, Reunion has brought together hundreds of LGBTQ+ and allied community members from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond in support of the GLBT Historical Society's mission. The gala also recognizes the contributions of individuals and organizations making a difference to our understanding of LGBTQ+ history and culture and improving the lives of LGBTQ+ community members.

The evening will include incredible hosts, a cocktail reception, three-course dinner, program, silent auction, and the chance to connect with your community. Reserve your seat while early bird tickets are available — the best way to save. Learn more and secure your spot today!

✨ EVENT DETAILS
📆 Saturday, October 17
🕡 6–9pm
📍 The Westin St. Francis, San Francisco
🎟 glbthistory.org/reunion

07/06/2026

This June, our community showed up. We are humbled to announce that this year's Juanita MORE! Pride Party raised over $140,000 in support of the GLBT Historical Society. With these funds, we will continue offering groundbreaking new exhibitions, transformative collaborations, powerful community events, expanded access to our archival collections, and so much more — all in service of preserving and sharing LGBTQ+ history, arts, and culture.

An enormous thank you to the legendary for delivering yet another iconic, raucous, joy-filled Pride Party. A true history-maker, Juanita has raised over $1.5 million for local LGBTQ+ programs, and we are proud to be part of that remarkable legacy. Our gratitude extends to the DJs and entertainers who brought the party to life, to all of this year's Pride Party sponsors, and to the businesses that opened their doors to sell tickets and rally the community.

We are also deeply grateful to longtime supporter Rick Brown, whose generous matching challenge powered our Pride Month membership campaign, which allowed us to welcome new museum members to take in this incredible work all year round.

Above all, to our community, who show up time and time again to support this vital mission. Whether you danced with us at the Pride Party, made a donation or became a member during our Pride Month drive — thank you. For your unwavering support. For your partnership. And for making this a Pride for the history books.

Onwards!

Roberto Ordeñana
Executive Director, GLBT Historical Society

Photo Credit: Gooch

07/02/2026

The Floor Is Yours! Join us Thursday, July 9 from 6–8pm at the GLBT Historical Society Museum for an evening reception that is part mixer, part open-mic — inviting community members to share memories, stories, art, and love of Bay Area le***an spaces, nightlife, and businesses past and present.

📆 Thursday, July 9
🕡 6–8pm
📍 GLBT Historical Society Museum
🎟 Tickets at glbthistory.org/events

Show off your collection of matchbooks from San Francisco le***an bars of old, share a story about the best date you ever had at Full Moon Coffee and Books, recite an ode to your favorite meal from Artemis Cafe! Attendees can sign up for short open-mic slots to speak, perform, or present — or you can just enjoy light refreshments while you mix and mingle with our community.

Space is limited — and going fast. Get your tickets today!

06/30/2026

Today, the Supreme Court issued a deeply harmful ruling in West Virginia v. B.P.J. & Little v. Hecox, upholding anti-trans laws that deny transgender women and girls equal protections under the law and their right to participate in school sports.

Throughout history and today, the LGBTQ+ community has endured escalating attacks on our rights, our dignity, and our lives as extremists across the country work to enact their hateful worldviews into law. Our community's basic rights and freedoms are not up for debate. Though today's outcome is a heartbreaking setback, it is a narrow decision and does not require bans in states that don’t already have one. We remain undeterred in our commitment to the safety of trans people and our broader community, and will continue to fight for a more just and free society.