Connect to the past, imagine your future.
LGBTQ+ History Exhibits That Bring Stories to Life
All exhibits, by debut date
Decolonizing Queerness
Homophobia as a legacy of colonialism
Flyover Country
LGBT activism firsts in the Midwest
Through Science to Justice
Legacies of LGBT people in STEM
The Power Here Is You
How communities mobilize under pressure
All exhibits
The Stonewall Inn
The 1969 riots that sparked modern pride
The popular conception of queer people as ineffectual, passive victims of history is overturned by the story of the people who were present at the Stonewall Inn the night of June 28, 1969. They were fed up with mistreatment by police, organized crime, and public indifference. The annual celebration that stepped off the following year jumpstarted the modern Pride movement.
Blossom & Wilt
Queerness under fascism
People like us go way back—farther back than almost anybody realizes. The modern movement for civil rights and social inclusion of “sexual variants” can be traced to philosophical musings in the 1860s, moral arguments made before legal and medical associations in speeches in the 1890s, scientific and ethnological research conducted (across the world) in the 1920s, and bombings by anti-Nazi resistance fighters at the height of WWII.
Decolonizing Queerness
Homophobia as a legacy of colonialism
For those in the West, it is tempting to naturalize and universalize our ways of thinking and being. We often assume that the way things are now is how they've always been and the way things are here is how they are everywhere—or, things are better here and now compared with elsewhere and in the past. European colonial powers imposed their attitudes toward gender diverse individuals and same-sex eroticism on the peoples they conquered and exploited across the globe, substituting their “civilized” Christian morality for indigenous knowledge.
Flyover Country
LGBT activism firsts in the Midwest
The history of LGBTQ+ activism in the United States, when it is told at all, is often limited to the East and West Coasts. The exploits of groups, individuals, and events in places like New York, L.A., Washington D.C., and San Francisco are regularly highlighted as metonyms for the state of LGBTQ+ people in America at large. But there is so much more in rural and "middle" America than corn, cows, and conservatives. There's queers, too, and always have been!
Through Science to Justice
Legacies of LGBT people in STEM
LGBTQ+ people are often recognized for work in the arts and humanities, but we work in all fields – including STEM! This exhibit celebrates the incredible contributions made by scientists, inventors, engineers, and mathematicians of every gender and sexual orientation. Many struggled against prejudice, even as they broke new ground and revolutionized our understanding of the world. The indelible marks from this vibrant spectrum of LGBT STEMers is a testament to the power of inclusion.
The Power Here Is You
How communities mobilize under pressure
The history of AIDS in the United States is often framed through the experiences of coastal cities like New York and San Francisco. But Milwaukee developed its own distinctive response model—one built through grassroots organizing, public-health research, unlikely coalitions, and networks of trust established long before many institutions fully understood the epidemic. While popular memory often imagines LGBTQ+ history radiating outward from the coasts, Milwaukee reveals the Midwest as an overlooked center of organizing, innovation, and civic resilience.
Ready to Book? Let’s make it happen
-
We offer flexible pricing based on organization type and size to ensure accessibility. Expanding Horizons is a social enterprise committed to making our exhibits available to all.
Standard rental (conferences & festivals): 3 days on display + 6 days shipping
Educational/ religious rentals: 3 weeks on display + 1 week shipping
Educational & religious pricing
For-profit & government pricing
-
Rental fees do not include shipping.
Shipping origin is Southeastern Wisconsin.
-
We accept checks and digital payments.
A deposit is required upon booking to secure the rental.
Read more about host responsibilities and set-up and take-down instructions.
Presenting LGBTQ+ History Is Important Community-buolding
Community Education
community-based organizations to fill gaps in formal curriculum and provide education about LGBTQ+ history and culture around the globe
Community Outreach
publicize your community-based organization through coordinated programming and activities
Climate & Culture of Belonging
celebrate our shared humanity and foster a sense of belonging in your community
Strategic partnerships
reach out to community partners to invite sharing resource and building future collaborations