The Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, with support from The Carden-Temple LGBTQ+ Impact Fund and The Greater Community AIDS Project of East Central Illinois, is excited to announce our first ever exhibit dedicated to LGBTQ+ Pride: “Rainbow Reflections.”

LGBTQ+ people are not a modern phenomenon. They have existed across all cultures and time periods.

From ancient civilizations to the present day, queer individuals have lived, loved, created and shaped the world in countless ways.

Heteronormative society has often tried to erase these stories from historical memory, which highlights the importance of showing LGTBQ+ Pride.

Acknowledging this, our small exhibit gives a look into the rich and complicated history of LGBTQ+ life, activism and culture.

The stories told through the photos and objects on display reflect moments of struggle, resistance, visibility and joy — experiences that have shaped and continue to shape LGBTQ+ communities.

Pride began as a protest in response to unfair treatment and exclusion.

Famously, in June 1969, a police raid at a gay bar in New York City called the Stonewall Inn sparked several days of protests led by LGBTQ+ people, especially trans women of color like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.

The Stonewall Uprising became a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

One year later, the first Pride marches took place in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago to mark the anniversary of Stonewall.

These early demonstrations were acts of courage and defiance, demanding visibility and equal rights.

Over time, Pride has since grown into a global movement.

While it remains a call for justice, it is also a celebration of identity, community and love in all its forms.

The pieces in this exhibit capture just a few snapshots of that journey.

Notably, this exhibit comes at a moment when LGBTQ+ rights and identities are once again under public debate and, in some cases, under threat.

Across the country, legislation and rhetoric targeting queer and trans communities have been on the rise.

In times like these, visibility matters.

Exhibits like “Rainbow Reflections” affirm that LGBTQ+ people have always been part of our shared history and that their lives, stories and contributions deserve to be recognized and respected.

Representation is not just powerful, it is necessary.

While no single display can tell the full story of queer history, this one invites visitors to pause, reflect and connect.

It honors those who have fought for change, those who live openly and proudly, and the many people still working toward a more inclusive and accepting future.

Importantly, this exhibit is also for those who may not be able to be outwardly part of the LGBTQ+ community.

For those who live quietly, in fear or in places where being themselves isn’t yet safe, this exhibit is a gesture of love and recognition.

It says: You are not alone. Your identity is real, your story matters, and you belong.