Irving Archives & Museum is honored to present a groundbreaking new exhibition, Badge of Pride: From Silence…To Celebration!, in partnership with the Dallas-based nonprofit Badge of Pride, with the organization’s Executive Director, Adrian Cardwell, serving as lead curator. Running from June 6 to September 28, 2025, this landmark exhibit offers one of the first and most comprehensive artifact-driven explorations of LGBTQ+ history in Texas.

Anchored by a powerful panel from the National AIDS Memorial Quilt, the exhibition weaves together personal artifacts, archival materials, and historical narratives to showcase over a century of LGBTQ+ history. Featuring items from Badge of Pride’s extensive collection, as well as artifacts on loan from private and institutional collections, this exhibition provides visitors with a rare opportunity to connect with history through the objects and stories of those who lived it.

A JOURNEY FROM SILENCE TO CELEBRATION

The exhibition’s title draws inspiration from the 1995 Pride theme, "From Silence to Celebration," honoring the LGBTQ+ community’s transformation from fear and invisibility to resilience, activism, and joy. It is a tribute to those who broke the silence, those who fought for visibility, and the generations who turned pain into pride, ensuring that LGBTQ+ stories are not only remembered but cherished and celebrated.

A CALL TO ACTION

Designed to educate, inspire, and empower, Badge of Pride: From Silence…To Celebration! invites visitors into a safe space for reflection and dialogue. A dynamic speaker series, Say It Loud: From the Shadows to the Mainstage, along with community-driven events, will deepen engagement and connection to the themes of the exhibit. By centering the voices and experiences of the LGBTQ+ community, this exhibition serves as a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come—and the work still ahead to build a more inclusive future.

Four Core Themes Guide the Experience:

Claiming Identity

Step back over a century to explore LGBTQ+ life before Stonewall, highlighting the resilience and determination of a community finding its voice.

Resisting Oppression

Divided into two parts, this section examines the Gay Liberation movement of the 1970s and the ongoing fight against discrimination, illustrating how collective action sparked social change.

AIDS: Surviving a Plague

This solemn yet powerful chapter honors the LGBTQ+ community’s strength and activism during the AIDS crisis, featuring a panel from the National AIDS Memorial Quilt with a special North Texas connection.

Celebrating Pride & Power

The exhibit culminates in a vibrant tribute to LGBTQ+ visibility, featuring a homage to Harvey Milk’s legacy and a call to continue the fight for equality.

This exhibition is more than a history lesson—it is a testament to the power of community, visibility, and pride. Join us as we honor the triumphs, struggles, and legacies that have shaped the LGBTQ+ experience, around the globe and right here at home in North Texas.