Groundbreaking Ceremony
"It's our time to share our story." - Billie Jean King
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
The American LGBTQ+ Museum has ceremonially broken ground at the site of our future home with the New-York Historical Society. We are so excited to celebrate this milestone with all of you, our community of supporters who are helping build this museum with us!
Thank You To Our Groundbreaking Donors!
Andrew Shackett: Happy to make this donation!
Anne Kelly-Contini: In honor of UMass Boston alumni Ben Garcia.
Anonymous: in memory of Steven Wolf Greenstein.
Ben Francisco Maulbeck
C. John Knoebel: As an early member of the Gay Liberation Front who walked the first NYC Pride March, I support the important work of the American LGBTQ Museum
Cate Kennedy: In honor of my fabulous son Lyle Matthew Kan, a passionate LGBTQ advocate!
Catherine Hanssens: In honor of CHLP Advisory Group member Richard Burns and his decades of leadership
Crystal Daugherty: I was involved in LGBTQ political work & activism in NYC in the mid-90s (including Senator Catherine Abate’s founding staff team), and in Massachusetts since then. I’m delighted to hear from the NYT that you’re starting this museum. Congrats!!!
Dan Barker & Rogelio Plasencia: So happy to see this project coming to life! Cheers!
David Ehrich: In memory of Steven Wolf Greenstein.
Daniel Najjar: In memory of Urvashi Vaid.
David Filipiak: It’s an honor to be part of this much-anticipated museum, telling our part of the American story – past, present, and future.
Erika Kramer
Evan Phalon
Heidi Bohnenkamp & Piera Calabro: Thank you for preserving our history and telling our stories for generations to come.
James Wong
Jamie Eder: Thank you
Joan E. Biren: When I came out I could not find our history because it had been destroyed or hidden. May this museum prevent that from ever happening again. All people in coming generations need to know that we were here and what we did.
John Walter: I was in University during AIDS epidemic. We should not forget what can happen to our community of we are not watchful.
Judith Turkel: In honor of Richard Burns, our friend and hero
Kathy Barclay
Ken Lustbader
Kenneth Cutts: Thank you for opening this museum to preserve our voices for future generations!
Kevin Bradley & Matthew Lucia
Kristine Stallone
Leith ter Meulen
Liz Sisson
Luke Eder
Lyle Kan: In honor of my son Lyle Matthew Kan.
Lyle Matthew Kan: It’s an honor and privilege to be a part of bringing this vision to fruition – to preserve, research, and celebrate LGBTQ+ history! Onwards!
Mary Spano
Melissa Madzel: In memory of Urvashi Vaid and in honor of Richard Burns.
Merelise O’Connor: Props to James F Lima who prompted my donation.
Michael O’Neil: Thank you to all who made this possible.
Mitchell Draizin & Philippe Brugère-Trélat
Omar Nazem
Peggy Hayes
Robert Bronzo: This donation is in honor of Urvashi Vaid, who has been a hero and inspiration to me … well, forever xo
Rosamond S. King: For us: all of our ancestors, all of our children, all of our niblings-
Ruth Gresser: This donation is in honor of Museum Board Member Leti Gomez in recognition of her birthday and retirement. Congratulations Leti! From Ruth and Barbara.
Stacey Poston & Wendy Woods
Steve Schale: In memory of my beloved uncle, Bob Ryan
Steve W. Jones
Surina Khan & Jennifer Terry: We’re thrilled to support the Museum and grateful to the Board of Trustees, donors, and community partners involved in bringing this dream to reality!
Susan Kravitz & Susan Rubenstein: Proud and excited to support the American LGBTQ+ Museum
Trish Kerlé & Beth Applegate: Very excited to see the Museum come to fruition
If you’ve made a donation and would like to sign our Groundbreaking page, please fill out the form in the link below!
American LGBTQ+ Museum at New-York Historical Society
This new building will not only house the American LGBTQ+ Museum, but also the Billie Jean King archives and several new community and classroom spaces.
It was such an inspiring event, honoring all the work that has brought us here — and all the work to be done. We look forward to embarking on this journey with you all!
Emcee: Billie Jean King
Honored Guests: Mayor Bill De Blasio & Speaker Corey Johnson
Featured Remarks From: André De Shields & Imara Jones, Translash
Remarks from: Louise Mirrer, the New-York Historical Society & Richard Burns, the American LGBTQ+ Museum