During this milestone year marking the 40th anniversary of the GLBT Historical Society, it’s important to reflect on our past, present and future.

It was on March 16, 1985, when more than 60 people gathered at the San Francisco Public Library, answering a call from Eric Garber, Jim Gordon, Terry Henderling, Ellen Klages, Greg Pennington, and Willie Walker who built on smaller gatherings that had started the previous fall and included members of the San Francisco Lesbian and Gay History Project and the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Periodical Archives. They weren’t gathering that day just to build an archive; they were making a bold declaration: LGBTQ+ history matters. At a time when our community faced disease, death, and discrimination, what they created would ensure that LGBTQ+ stories are remembered, protected, and made accessible to the public. 

That year was a turning point for the LGBTQ+ community — one of heartbreak, urgency, and resistance. The AIDS crisis was devastating lives, yet President Reagan still refused to acknowledge it publicly. That silence was met with a roar from activists from coast to coast demanding action from government. Against this backdrop, our founders understood something profound: history is survival. To preserve our past was to fight for our future.

Four decades later, what started as a grassroots effort has grown into an internationally recognized institution. The GLBT Historical Society now safeguards over 1,000 collections in our archives. In a typical year, an average of 20,000 people visit the country’s first museum of LGBTQ+ history and culture, and we have secured a permanent home in the Castro! 

The past few months have demonstrated that our work is far from over. History isn’t just about the past, it’s about the future we fight for today. That’s why the GLBT Historical Society has joined the lawsuit against the Trump Administration to protect our rights and to ensure another president doesn’t erase our stories. More on that effort can be found below.  

It’s important work and, as we mark 40 years, we invite you to be part of our mission and legacy. Visit the museum, explore our history online and in the archives, or simply make a donation. Every action helps ensure that LGBTQ+ history is protected, shared, and celebrated for generations to come.

With much appreciation and hope, 

Roberto Ordeñana
Executive Director