LGBTJews in the Federal City

LGBTJews in the Federal City explores a turbulent century of celebration, activism, and change in the nation’s capital.

This landmark exhibition is the first of its kind to explore DC history, Jewish history, and LGBTQ+ history together, drawing from the Museum’s robust LGBTQ+ archive. Immerse yourself in historical and contemporary photography, artifacts, and oral histories. Learn about legal milestones, far-ranging protests, change in religious spaces, and vibrant cultural life.

Opening in time for Washington, DC’s observation of its 50th Capital Pride celebration and as the city hosts WorldPridefor the first time, LGBTJews in the Federal City offers an unprecedented opportunity to infuse Pride with local Jewish history. The Museum is honored to have the exhibition included as an official WorldPride event partner.

The exhibition is organized into the following sections:

• Introduction & Timeline

Travel from the 1800s through to the current day in five time periods highlighting significant events in LGBTQ+ history with an emphasis on Washington, DC, and the local Jewish experience.

• Lavender Scare & Military Service

In the 1950s and 60s, the so-called “Lavender Scare” kept thousands of LGBTQ+ Americans out of military service and the federal civil service. Discover the work of Washingtonian Frank Kameny in protesting this discrimination.

• Capital Moments

Washington, DC, the federal city, is where laws are made; Congress is lobbied; and protest marches travel between the White House, the Capitol building, and the Supreme Court. What happens in DC affects the entire nation.

• Welcoming Spaces

Discover welcoming spaces across the city over the past century, from guidebooks promoting LGBTQ+-safe businesses across different eras to the dress worn by DC’s turn-of-the-21st-century Jewish drag queen Ester Goldberg.

• Ritual Practice

Learn about changes in prayer language to include nonbinary worshipers, the establishment of LGBTQ+ congregations, and the development of a more expansive liturgy in Jewish religious services.

• Oral Histories

Listen to the stories of LGBTQ+ Jewish Washingtonians, presented in collaboration with the Rainbow History Project.

• Participation Moment

Post your photograph of Jewish LGBTQ+ life in the DC area to our wall.