A historic first for the city of San Diego and the GLBT community was made on Tuesday, July 13 at the City Administration Building. The Inaugural LGBT Exhibit’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony took place among dozens of cameras, San Diegans, community leaders and political figures as the first GLBT exhibit to be placed in City Hall was unveiled.

The ceremony drew in a crowd of a couple dozen people, eagerly anticipating the varying works, information and treasures that were to be displayed. The exhibit, “A Celebration of San Diego LGBT History,” is 1,100 square feet of the community’s most valued treasures and information to help educate anyone who is interested in learning more about the GLBT community’s arduous, yet rich heritage. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for this momentous occasion drew in a number of reputable faces that have done so much for the community.

Some of these figures included Councilman Todd Gloria, Senator Christine Kehoe, City Commissioners Nicole Murray Ramirez, Robert Gleason, and Stampp Corbin, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Stepping Stone’s Cheryl Houk, Lambda Archives President Frank Nobiletti, chair of the Lambda Archives exhibit committee Patrick Salvatierra, Human Dignity Foundation Director Tony Freeman, and San Diego LGBT Community Center CEO Dr. Delores Jacobss, just to name a few

The presentation began with multiple opening words by Ramirez, Gloria and Nobiletti, giving their sincerest regards and appreciation to the parties, people and sponsors that made this exhibit possible, this includes the Lambda Archives of San Diego and the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast of San Diego County with co-sponsors, San Diego GLBT Pride, the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, Greater San Diego Business Association (GSDBA) Imperial Court, the Human Rights Campaign/San Diego, and the GLBT Center.

This landmark occasion for San Diego and its GLBT community begins a historical and well-deserved step forward in the eventual goal for equality. When asked for a statement Councilmember Todd Gloria had this to say to the Gay & Lesbian Times and their readers about the message this exhibit hopes to send, “I hope that this will bring a level of visibility to the community. Thousands will walk in here and see this work, and the great San Diego GLBT community will be represented.”

With the anticipation building for San Diego Pride just days away, this exhibit proves and will continue to prove every year, that the GLBT community has progressed leaps and bounds since the days of Stonewall. It has overcome hardships and will continue to be represented in more than our month of Pride. To be represented and to be proud every month of every year from now on, and it is steps such as the ones taken here that will further propel the community forward.