Illinois Department of Human Rights Hosts Travelling LGBT History Exhibit in Chicago
“The Legacy Wall” will be on display in the James R. Thompson Center Atrium
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) and the Chicago-based Legacy Project today announced the arrival of “The Legacy Wall,” a traveling interactive history exhibit honoring the contributions of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people to world history and culture, in the James R. Thompson Center. The installation is open to the public and will be on display in the building’s Atrium from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Friday, January 29th.
“Our department is honored to join together with the Legacy Project as they promote the inspiring history of LGBT people and their contributions to modern culture,” said Illinois Department of Human Rights Director Rocco Claps. “The Legacy Wall reminds us of the progress the LGBT community has made and the continued struggle for full acceptance and equality throughout our society.”
The portable installation contains over 125 mini-biographies of LGBT individuals who have contributed in over 20 distinct fields, while digitally linking to reading sources, education tools, and multimedia. Additionally, it also highlights the challenges faced by LGBT youth and the effectiveness of including LGBT content in educational settings.
“The Legacy Wall is an extremely moving tribute to an aspect of shared human history that most people aren’t aware exists,” said Legacy Project Executive Director Victor Salvo. “We hope it will lead conversations about the importance of inclusiveness, especially for LGBTQ youth who are most often forced to grow up without ever learning anything positive about historically significant people like themselves.”
The Legacy Wall has embarked on a statewide tour following its public debut at the Illinois State Library in September. The Legacy Project, a non-profit organization known for displaying memorial plaques along North Halsted Street in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, is also collaborating with the Illinois Secretary of State, the Illinois Department of Tourism, the Illinois Municipal Relations Association, and the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance.
To learn more about the Legacy Wall, visit www.legacyprojectchicago.org/The_Legacy_Wall.html.
