LGBTJews in the Federal City | Exhibition at the Capital Jewish Museum

Participants on the National Mall at the National March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, & Bi Equal Rights & Liberation, April 1993. Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum Collection. Gift of Mitch Weissner.

Location

Capital Jewish Museum
575 3rd Street, NW, Washington, DC

Tickets

$12 Adults
$10 Ages 65+ & Students w/Valid ID
Free Ages 12 & Younger
Free for Members

LGBTJews in the Federal City explores a turbulent century of celebration, activism, and change in the nation’s capital.

This landmark exhibition is the first of its kind to explore DC history, Jewish history, and LGBTQ+ history together, drawing from the Museum’s robust LGBTQ+ archive. Immerse yourself in historical and contemporary photography, artifacts, and oral histories. Learn about legal milestones, far-ranging protests, change in religious spaces, and vibrant cultural life.

Opening in time for Washington, DC’s observation of its 50th Capital Pride celebration and as the city hosts World Pride for the first time, the exhibition offers an unprecedented opportunity to infuse Pride with local Jewish history.

The exhibition is organized into the following sections:

• Introduction & Timeline
• Lavender Scare & Military Service
• Capital Moments
• Welcoming Spaces
• Ritual Practice
• Oral Histories
• Participation Moment

The Gay Blade, vol. 1 no. 8, May 1970. Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum Collection.jpg

First edition of “Nice Jewish Girls: A Lesbian Anthology” signed by many of the contributors to the book, 1982. Gift of Evelyn Beck, Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum Collection.

Button worn by Dr. Evelyn T. Beck, ca. 1980s. Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum Collection. Gift of Evelyn Beck

Flier from the second annual "Walk Without Fear" in response to a rise in violence against the LGBTQ+ community in Washington, 1992. Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum Collection. Gift of Rainbow History Project.jpg

Classified ad from the Washington Blade, December 8, 1995. Courtesy of DC Public Library

Ester Goldberg review in the Washington Post Style section, 2004.
On loan to the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum Collection, courtesy of Michael Airington

Dress, wig, and accessories worn by DC drag queen Ester Goldberg, 1990s. On loan to the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum Collection, courtesy of Michael Airington

Button featuring the logo of Bet Mishpachah, the LGBTQ+ synagogue of Washington, DC, ca. 2010s. Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum Collection. Gift of Michael Garbus

2019 Mr. Nice Jewish Boy DC pageant winner's sash. Capital Jewish Museum
Collection. Gift of Ben Rosenbaum.

Tara Hoot performs during National Pride Shabbat at the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center, 2024. Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum Collection.

Sponsorship Information

Curatorial Team

LGBTJews in the Federal City is curated by Sarah Leavitt, Curator, and Jonathan Edelman, Collections Curator. The exhibition is designed by The Design Minds.

Exhibition Sponsors

This special exhibition is made possible by Premier Sponsor, Jeffrey Z. Slavin and Lead Sponsors, Stuart S. Kurlander and David L. Martin.

Additional support is provided by Major Sponsors: Susie and Michael Gelman; Alfred Munzer and Joel Wind; Christopher Wolf and James Beller; Contributing Sponsors: William H. Davis; Occasions Catering; Shards of Light Foundation; Partner Sponsors: Debbie and Jamie Heller; Craig Hoffman and Albert Lauber; Dr. Stuart Sotsky; and Friend Sponsors: Patrick DiBattista and Alfredo Gomez; Rochelle Granat and Rhoda Schulzinger; Dr. Robert and Patricia Silverman; Larry Neff; Craig Pascal.

For information about sponsoring the exhibition, please contact Malki Karkowsky, Chief Advancement Officer, at 202-290-2593 or [email protected].