The Stonewall Library & Archives was founded in 1973 by Mark N. Silber. The collection was housed in his parents' house for 10 years. It was moved to a classroom at the Sunshine Cathedral, Metropolitan Community Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida around 1983. The library merged with the Boca Raton-based Southern Gay Archives and they formed Stonewall Library & Archives, Inc. In 2001, the library and archive moved into the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of South Florida at 1717 North Andrews Avenue. The center was slated for demolition, so Stonewall began looking for other options. They were approached by Broward County, who offered the collection space at the Fort Lauderdale branch of the Broward County library, which already includes tenant ArtServe. The Broward County Commission approved the move in a 9-0 vote on 10 June 2007. The new location opened in February 2009 at 1300 East Sunrise Blvd in Fort Lauderdale Florida. In 2014 the Museum opened a branch, the Stonewall Gallery, at 2157 Wilton Drive in neighboring Wilton Manors.
Controversy
On 10 July 2007, the Fort Lauderdale city commission also voted, on a 3-2 vote, to allow the library to occupy a space in the building that is city owned but under long-term lease to the county. Before the vote, mayor Jim Naugle denounced the library, claiming that it contained pornographic materials. Executive Director Jack Rutland noted that the three titles singled out by Naugle were all part of the library's non-circulating archive of 7000 titles, maintained for historical and research purposes only. The dispute was another round in a stormy relationship between the city's large gay community and Naugle, who has repeatedly made statements that are perceived as anti-gay.
Items in collection
Among the 5,000 items are their pulp fiction collection, organizational records of local, national and regional LGBT organizations, personal records of local and national personalities, the Joel Starkey Collection, serials, gay erotica - pictorial works, and LGBT ephemera, film, audio and oral histories. The collection includes the gavel that House SpeakerNancy Pelosi used to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" back in 2010. According to the Huffington Post, it was donated to Stonewall by Rep. Barney Frank, who had received it from Pelosi. Then Museum president, Bryan Knicely, said "if I didn't work here, I would think it belonged to the Smithsonian." The Stonewall National Museum & Archives is currently run by Executive Director, Chris Rudisill.
Programs
The Stonewall National Museum and Archives hosts several programs open to the community that bring awareness to LGBT issues or allow a space for LGBT participants and others from the community to feel welcome. The museum hosts movie nights, a book club, GayWrites workshops, film screenings, art galleries, socials and other events within the museum. Other events include Gala events, walks, talks with writers, gallery exhibits, volunteer programs, and participation in lgbt events out in the community.
Stonewall National Education Project
The Stonewall National Education Project national network is composed of delegates representing more than 4.5 million high-school-aged youth and 200,000 educators. The network meets every year at its annual Symposium. Symposium topics include: laws, best practices and resources at the state and federal level, policy and funding, accommodations for transgender and gender nonconforming students, bullying, self-esteem, power & privilege, social justice and curriculum, sex, sexuality, HIV and YMSM support systems, and creating community for Black adolescent sexual minority males
Stonewall Gallery
At Stonewall National Museum – Wilton Manors Gallery rotating exhibits, permanent exhibits with items from the Stonewall Archives, and a timeline of American LGBT history amplify the distinctly personal connection of sexuality, gender and civil rights, at the front door of the LGBT community in South Florida. Stonewall Gallery engages tourists and residents with an ongoing schedule of meaningful, lively exhibits, panel discussions, films, and author presentations year-round Michael Rajner, local community and LGBT rights activist, said the Gallery filled a much-needed role in the city's cultural landscape. “It’s one of the things we’ve been really missing on The Drive. While we have art galleries and studios one of the things we’re really missing, for a community and city that has such a high concentration of LGBT individuals, was something about our culture. It’s a great opportunity to introduce people to how rich our struggle is for equality.” The Gallery is divided into two halves: one side features semi-permanent items, such as the gavel used by Nancy Pelosi when Don't Ask Don't Tell was repealed in 2010. It was donated by Rep. Barney Frank. Also included is a timeline that features members of the LGBT community and LGBT-themed events. The other half is devoted to temporary exhibits.
LGBTQ Curriculum
The 43-year-old Stonewall Archives is a resource that is used to integrate historically-relevant, accurate, information about LGBTQ history and culture into curriculum and lesson plans, intended to provide teachers the opportunity to teach and discuss LGBTQ history
