Out of the Closet and Into the Streets: 50 Years of Santa Cruz Pride
An exhibition highlighting the pluck, panache and purpose of our local LGBTQ+ Pride gatherings that have been held through thick and thin every year since 1975.
The Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH) is proud to present the Out of the Closet and Into the Streets: 50 Years of Santa Cruz Pride.
Through photos, objects and documents this exhibition shows the spirit, focus and often over-the-top style of our local Pride celebrations, held every year for 50 years. You’ll see how progress and diversity have been loudly celebrated and how setbacks have been faced head on over the years.
Header and Gallery images: Provided by Pat Dellin to the Santa Cruz County LGBTQ+ Collection, MAH Archives.
In 1975, when practically no one in mainstream society supported gay men, lesbians, transgendered people or bisexuals and the laws were all against them, 100+ brave souls “came out of the closet” to gather joyously in public and declare their collective and individual pride. Fifty years later, both Santa Cruz Pride and the more recent annual Pajaro Valley Pride have continued to provide visibility, community, advocacy and celebration.
This exhibition contains selected artifacts from the MAH’s Queerstory Archives, the archives of both the Diversity Center and Santa Cruz Pride, and local private collections. The exhibition shares gallery space with Threads of Love: The AIDS Memorial Quilt for a truly powerful experience of resilience and community.
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