The Black LGBTQIA+ History Preservation Act was an essential first step toward equity, visibility, and healing. But preserving our legacy cannot and will not end with a single report.
BlaqLGBTHistory is committed to sustaining this work beyond 2025 through continued storytelling, policy recommendations, and strategic partnerships that advance racial equity and cultural justice for Black LGBTQIA+ communities in Washington, DC.
We envision a future where the full scope of our lives is honored not only in archives, but in classrooms, museums, legislation, and public memory.
What’s Next: Equity-Driven Initiatives for 2026 and Beyond
We are exploring ways to:
- Develop curriculum resources that can be implemented in DC schools to teach Black LGBTQIA+ history
- Advocate for permanent city funding to sustain ongoing documentation and preservation
- Launch storytelling residencies for Black LGBTQIA+ youth, artists, and elders
- Host community healing events centered on remembrance and intergenerational dialogue
- Support the designation and preservation of historic Black LGBTQIA+ sites and spaces
Ideas From the Community
The future of this work is collaborative and shaped by the community it represents. Here are just a few ideas we’ve received so far:
- Historic Site Preservation – Work with DC officials and preservationists to landmark culturally significant spaces that shaped the Black LGBTQIA+ community, many of which have already been demolished or repurposed.
- Community Curriculum Exchange – Develop adaptable tools that educators, artists, and community centers can use to teach and preserve this history across generations.
- Living History Audio Library – Create an accessible database of oral histories, podcast-style interviews, and community reflections to accompany future archive expansion.
- Interactive Historic Map – Create a map of past and present queer-owned, -operated, or -associated businesses and spaces across DC. Each location could reveal personal stories, images, and archival footage—bringing sacred gathering spaces like Nob Hill, The Clubhouse, Tracks, and ENIKAlley Coffeehouse back into public memory.
Have an idea you’d like to share?
Keep the Momentum Going
Racial equity in storytelling means ensuring our legacies aren’t just remembered—they’re protected, funded, and carried forward.
Join us as we build the next chapter of this work.