A US politician has introduced two bills to create a national museum dedicated to LGBTQ+ history in the United States. The bills would establish a commission to study the feasibility of creating the museum and then establish it within the Smithsonian Institution.
A Difficult History
There have been several attempts to create a national museum dedicated to LGBTQ+ history in the US, but none have succeeded. This is likely due to several factors, including lack of funding, political opposition, and the fact that LGBTQ+ people have historically been marginalized and excluded from American society.
An Eight Member Commission
The first bill would create an eight-member commission of experts in museum planning and LGBTQ+ research and culture. The commission would conduct an 18-month study to examine the viability of establishing the museum, develop a fundraising plan, and examine the availability and cost of acquiring collections. After the commission completes its work and issues its recommendations, Congress would consider the second bill, formally creating the museum.
Preservation of LGBTQ+ Stories
The bills were introduced by Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI), a co-chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. Pocan said that the museum is needed to preserve and protect the stories of LGBTQ+ people, especially in light of the recent attacks on LGBTQ+ rights in the United States.
It is Vital to Remember
“As our community faces unprecedented attacks and attempts to erase our history, we must preserve and protect our stories for future generations,” Pocan said. “It is vital to remember our collective past – particularly when certain states, and even Members of Congress, seek to constrain and repeal existing rights by passing bills that harm LGBTQI+ youth and our community at large.”
A Powerful Symbol
The LGBTQ+ community says the museum will be a powerful symbol of LGBTQ+ progress. People have said it would convey that LGBTQ+ people are an important and valued part of American society. This would be especially important for young LGBTQ+ people who may be questioning their identity or struggling to find acceptance.
Stonewall Legacy
One person responded to the news online saying they welcome the decision as “It is exhausting having to repeatedly explain that pride month isn’t about dancing on a parade float but a celebration of the day the LGBTQ rights movement started in the US with the Stonewall riots which started when a trans woman threw the first brick at the cops assaulting her friends.”
A Long Time Coming
There was a sigh of relief from many people online, one of whom half-joked that “We have museums dedicated to tanks, cheese making, and even the concept of death and serial killers (located in New Orleans) in the US. There’s no reason not to have a museum for LGBT.”
A Milestone for Young People
Applause came from people thinking about young people in the LGBTQ+ community, with one person saying, “We need an LGBTQ+ history and culture museum. It would be a beacon of importance for younger LGBTQ to learn about important milestones and historical figures that fought for us to live proudly out of the closet.”
People Want to Go Further
While the news about the museum was welcome, some people called out for more, saying, “How about adding sexual identification as a protected class instead? That would be much more useful”. Another person went further when they said, “Yep. How about codifying our rights first? I’d rather have my rights protected than a museum. Just saying. Virtue signaling isn’t impressing anyone I know except straight Democrats.
Desire for More Substantive Action
The crumbs democrats throw at us, and I’m supposed to clap about are insulting.” Others echoed this concern when they said, “Not that I have a problem with this, but this seems like it would cause more problems than it would solve.” This sentiment is felt by people who think that gestures like this are all well and good, but there is more need for a wider senate on how people can be educated about LGBTQ+ issues.
There Was Some Skepticism
While there was lots of praise for the move, some people were not convinced that the museum would go ahead. One person said, “GOP-controlled House means we probably won’t even get the museum anytime soon.” Others called out the fact that it could take a lot more action for people to start taking the rights of the community seriously.
Online Readers Express Divergent Views
Online reactions to the news included one person writing, “A museum won’t help much. None of the homophobes will go near it. It is a political lightning rod.” Others thought the move was to try and win over voters, with one person noting that, “This is why Democrats lose elections. I am a liberal but see this as pandering, a ploy to win gay votes. And it turns off lots of Americans who think perhaps it is a waste of money.”
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