LGBTQ Heritage in the National Capital Region

“I intend to play an active role in the determination of my own fate.”
– Frank Kameny

From the Lavender Scare to DC Black Pride

Washington, DC is a key place for queer history and culture. The city's past includes important events like the 1950s Lavender Scare, which led to many gay federal workers losing their jobs, and the first gay rights picket at the White House in 1965. DC's nightlife thrived in areas like Capitol Hill, DuPont Circle, and South Capitol Street, offering safe places for queer socializing. DC Black Pride started in DC in 1991, and became the first Black Pride celebration in the country. DC is also home to the Furies Collective house, once a center for a lesbian feminist separatist group in the early 1970s.

The National Park Service (NPS) preserves and shares the places of this rich history. Explore these webpages to learn more about its significant events, people, and places.