FOX 2

‘Rise of Gay Rights’ exhibit removed from Missouri Capitol now in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS — An exhibit removed from the Missouri Capitol is now in St. Louis. “Making History: Kansas City and the Rise of Gay Rights” will be displayed at several locations in the region from November 30 into 2022.

The “Making History: Kansas City and the Rise of Gay Rights” is a traveling exhibit made in 2017 by students at the University of Missouri Kansas City. It focuses on gay rights groups from the 1950s and the struggle for the LGBT community.

“Our LGBTQ community has had a huge impact on all of our lives and region,” said Phillip Deitch, president of the St. Louis LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. “We think untold stories, or untold history, is a loss for the fabric of the larger community.”

Several organizations and businesses will be hosting the exhibit. The first three locations have been announced:

Sam Fiorello, the president of the Cortex Innovation Community, said showcasing the exhibit is important as it embraces diversity and inclusion.

“Innovation means that you’re including a lot of people from different perspectives,” said Fiorello. “People from different backgrounds and parts of the world bring a different lens to problem-solving and help businesses be more successful and creative. So, it’s right in the middle of what we’re about diversity, equity, and inclusion is a core because it makes us stronger.”

Why did Missouri take the exhibit down? The state said it received complaints about the exhibit and the right steps weren’t taken for it to be on display. In the dozens of emails from DNR, there’s no mention of the exhibit needing approval, just that there were complaints from others in the Capitol.

The exhibit was moved to the Lohman Building between the governor’s mansion and the Capitol. The public was allowed to see it there through December 26, 2021. It appears to have been removed from that location early and now it is in the St. Louis area.

“The benefit of the situation that occurred in Jefferson City is the panels are going to be seen by more people than just Jeff City,” said Steven Brawley, the founder of the St. Louis LGBTQ History Project. “Having this exhibit here in St. Louis, we’re going to be able to know the vibrant diverse history of the state of Missouri — not only in Columbia, Kansas City, or St. Louis.”