The Irving Archives & Museum is set to unveil a groundbreaking exhibit celebrating over a century of LGBTQ+ history, showcasing powerful artifacts and personal narratives.
Titled Badge of Pride: From Silence…To Celebration!, this exhibit will be accessible to the public from June 6 until September 28, 2025.
Presented in collaboration with the Dallas-based nonprofit Badge of Pride, the exhibition is curated by its executive director, Adrian Cardwell.
Cardwell describes this initiative as one of the most extensive artifact-based LGBTQ+ exhibitions ever presented in Texas.
At its core, the exhibit seeks to answer a profound question posed by activist Harvey Milk in 1977: ‘How can people change their minds about us if they don’t know who we are?’
Cardwell emphasized the goal of fostering understanding and connection with the community through this exhibit.
Visitors will discover a variety of historical items, which range from an ancient coin that dates back to the time of Alexander the Great to a pink triangle armband used to identify gay men in Nazi concentration camps, on loan from the NOH8 Campaign.
“These artifacts bear witness to history,” Cardwell remarked.
He commented on the significance of these items, especially in how they reflect resilience in the face of oppression.
The exhibit is organized into four thematic sections: Claiming Identity, Resisting Oppression, AIDS: Surviving a Plague, and Celebrating Pride & Power.
Each thematic area provides a deeply personal perspective on the LGBTQ+ experience, chronicling both struggles and achievements.
Among the notable pieces is a panel from the National AIDS Memorial Quilt, featuring a special connection to North Texas.
Cardwell pointed out that the First Lady of Irving, whose brother, Edward Scott Palmquist, is memorialized in this section of the quilt.
“The impact of the AIDS epidemic touched all of us, even in ways we might not expect,” Museum Director Jennifer Landry highlighted.
She emphasized the importance of illustrating the often-silenced narratives of the LGBTQ+ community in history through this exhibit.
Cardwell articulated that the exhibition extends beyond simply a history lesson; it serves as a tribute to those who have transformed pain into pride.
“This exhibit aims to honor the stories of those who stood up for their identities,” he stated.
“We want everyone to feel visible.
Every history is worthy of being showcased in a museum.”
The exhibit also welcomes allies and hopes to encourage visitors who may be uncertain in their support of the LGBTQ+ community to take steps towards allyship.
In conjunction with the exhibit, a speaker series titled ‘Say It Loud: From the Shadows to the Mainstage’ will take place, accompanied by community events meant to inspire dialogue and reflection.
Cardwell highlighted the encouraging response from everyday individuals and faith communities, especially in light of declining funding and corporate support for LGBTQ+ initiatives.
“Rather than being divisive, many communities of faith are affirming our community and supporting this exhibit,” he noted.
The essence of the exhibit lies in establishing connections—between history and present times, and between visitors and their neighbors.
Drawing inspiration from the 1995 Pride theme, “From Silence to Celebration,” the exhibit endeavors to ensure that LGBTQ+ stories are not only recalled but honored.
“It reminds us of the need for unity, particularly in today’s world,” Cardwell concluded.
“We must come together, standing shoulder to shoulder as a community once again.”
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