Badge Of Pride: Activating Queer History for Civic Change

Badge Of Pride, founded in 2022 in Dallas, Texas, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit devoted to collecting and “activating” LGBTQ+ historical artifacts to inform, enrich, and engage modern queer experiences.

Founding & Collection

Originating from a private collection spanning over thirty years, Badge Of Pride now safeguards 10,000+ artifacts from the early 1900s to today, sourced globally.

Mission & Values

• Mission: Preserve and activate queer historical artifacts to inform, enrich, and engage the modern LGBTQ+ community.

• Vision & Values: Center diversity, equity, inclusion, anti‐racism, creativity, collaboration, service, and reclaiming hidden queer narratives.

Programs & Exhibits

“From Silence…To Celebration!”

This cornerstone exhibit, running June 6–September 28, 2025 at the Irving Archives & Museum, features four immersive themes—identity, resistance, the AIDS crisis, and pride—anchored by a National AIDS Memorial Quilt panel.

Oral History Pop‑Ups & Community Venues

Badge Of Pride regularly hosts pop-ups, workshops, film screenings, and speaker series like Say It Loud: From the Shadows to the Mainstage, enriching the exhibit’s impact through live dialogue.

Here are several upcoming ways to engage, share your story, and support queer history preservation:

1. Oral History Pop‑Up with Pride Museum of Texas

Date: June 20, 2025 • 6:00 PM–11:00 PM - Location: Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas Arts District. Join Badge Of Pride and Pride Museum of Texas during the Dallas Arts District Pride Block Party. This one-night-only event invites visitors to record personal queer histories.

2. NOH8 Campaign Talk & Open Photo Shoot

Date: June 21, 2025 • 12:00 PM–4:00 PM CDT - Location: Irving Archives & Museum, Irving. Part of the NOH8 Campaign’s philanthropic efforts, this interactive event allows attendees to share messages of love and visibility in a professional photo setting.

3. Exclusive Exhibit Preview & Fundraiser

Date: June 5, 2025 • 5:30 PM–10:00 PM CDT - Location: Irving Archives & Museum, Irving, TXA ticketed sneak peek of the "From Silence…To Celebration!" exhibit. This event features a ribbon-cutting with the North Texas LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, performances by Brett Warner, Logen Cure, Aaron Glover, and the Uptown Players, plus unique curated experiences.

For more info, visit https://www.badgeofpride.org/