October is LGBTQ+ History Month and the Prairie Pride Coalition is celebrating by bringing a piece of pride history to the McLean County Arts Center [MCAC].
The Legacy Wall is a traveling exhibit that features "mini biographies" of LGBTQ+ people throughout history. These biographies tell the stories of over 125 individuals from social justice pioneer Jane Addams to astronaut Sally Ride — even Leonardo da Vinci. It was first inspired by the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt shown in October 1987 as part of a protest for LGBT civil rights at the height of the AIDS epidemic.
"Though numerous works of scholarship have uncovered the amazing contributions of the LGBT people who came before us, there is no easily accessible way for people outside our community, in general, and LGBT youth, in particular, to know and fully appreciate the degree to which we have helped shape the world we share," the Legacy Project nonprofit says on its website.
The Chicago-based organization launched in 2012 as a walk on Oct. 11, on the 25th anniversary of National Coming Out Day. A companion project, the Legacy Wall, is a 360-degree digital wall taking up nearly 400 square feet, with interactive features and accompanying smart phone portal with educational resources.
The wall was last seen in Central Illinois in 2023, when it was installed at Illinois Central College in East Peoria. The exhibition officially launches in Bloomington Oct. 3 at the arts center, with a kick-off reception from 6-7:30 p.m. in the center's annex that includes remarks by Legacy Project Executive Director Victor Salvo.
The exhibition is viewable through Oct. 17 during the arts center's regular hours. Additional activities include an Oct. 6 lecture by Parkland College history professor and Twin City actor John Poling. Henry Gerber: Gay Pioneer profiles the man who in 1924 launched the country's first gay rights organization in Chicago.
On Oct. 11, author and University of Chicago faculty member Darius Bost will give a book talk and signing about A Black Queer History of the United States, newly released by Beacon Press.
Prairie Pride Board President Dave Bentlin said Bloomington-Normal's LGBTQ advocacy organization hopes to draw lots of attention to the "significant exhibit."
The project is funded through grants from the Town of Normal Harmon Arts Grant and a grant from the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation.
More news from Prairie Pride
The Legacy Wall also arrives at a time of growth for Prairie Pride Coalition. In June, the nonprofit received $10,000 from the John M. Scott Health Care Trust to fund PRISM, an effort aimed at addressing health care gaps among McLean County's LGBTQ+ community. The initiative specifically funds transportation to medical appointments, gender-affirming speech therapy, a new peer recovery support group, health resources available at McLean County jail and sensitivity training for law enforcement and jail staff.
The organization also has a dedicated space for the first time in its 31-year history. Prairie Pride's new office within the suites at 418 N. Main St. The space has regular office hours and can host small gatherings. Beginning in January, Bloomington Public Library's True Colors Book Club will meet there quarterly.
