Exhibit description:
Legacies of LGBT people in STEM
LGBTQ+ people are often recognized for work in the arts and humanities, but we work in all fields – including STEM! This exhibit celebrates the incredible contributions made by scientists, inventors, engineers, and mathematicians of every gender and sexual orientation.
This exhibit picks out lesser-known individuals to highlight the diversity of people in different STEM fields and their diverse personal backgrounds and identities. Many struggled against prejudice, even as they broke new ground and revolutionized our understanding of the world. The indelible marks from this vibrant spectrum of LGBTQ+ STEMers is a testament to the power of inclusion.
Each profile is meant to inspire curiosity about their discoveries and inventions, their areas of study, and the context of all that came before them.
Occasions for display:
April 6
Asexual Visibility Day
May 21
Frank Kameny’s birthday
June 23
Alfred Kinsey & Alan Turing’s birthday
June 26
The day Edie Windsor won United States v. Windsor
November 18
International Day of LGBTQIA+ People in STEM
December 15
American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses
Number of pieces:
7 banners
Est space:
21 linear feet
119 sq ft
Debut:
2025
Further reading:
Babai, L´aszló, Carl Pomerance, and Péter Vértesi. “The Mathematics of Paul Erdős.” Notices of the AMS, vol. 45, no. 1, 1998, pp. 19-31.
Dodds, Io. “‘I was completely, manically joyful’: How a transwoman changed computing in the modern world.” Independent, 4 Dec. 2023.
Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement. Directed by Susan Muska and Gréta Ólafsdóttir, Breaking Glass Pictures, 2009.
Epstein, Helen. “The Doctor Who Made a Revolution.” The New York Review of Books, 26 Sept 2013.
Ginsberg, Judah. “George Washington Carver:
Chemist, Teacher, Symbol.” American Chemical Society, 2005.
Kinsey. Directed by Barak Goodman and John Maggio, PBS, 2005.
N Is a Number: A Portrait of Paul Erdős. Directed by George Paul Csicsery. Zala Films, 1993.
Mackintosh, Barry. “George Washington Carver and the Peanut.” American Heritage, vol. 28, no. 5, 1977.
Roberts, Lissa. “Orienting natural knowledge: the complex career of Hiraga Gennai.” Endeavour, vol. 33, no. 2, 2009, pp. 65-69.
Lesson Plans:
“LGBT+ people in STEM,” Just Like Us
VINCE.lgbt 