Pickets, Protests, and Parades: The History of Gay Pride in Washington
The exhibition "Pickets, Protests, and Parades: The History of Gay Pride in Washington" at Dupont Underground chronicles the local LGBTQ+ Pride movement in Washington, D.C., from the 1960s pickets and protests to the vibrant celebrations of the 2020s. It disrupts the commonly held belief that the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement began with the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York, highlighting D.C.'s earlier resistance — notably a 1965 picket by 10 members of the Mattachine Society of Washington in front of the White House, which the Rainbow History Project recognizes as the start of the city's rich queer history. The exhibition runs through Pride Month and closes on July 4, 2026.
When: June 5 through July 4, 2026, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except when closed for a matinee performance (closing at 1:00 p.m. on June 7 for the 2:00 p.m. matinee of *A Fine Madness*).
Showtimes: Regular hours are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Note the early closure on June 7.
Tickets: No fixed price; a suggested donation of $5 to Dupont Underground is recommended. Refunds are available up to 7 days before the event.
Venue: Dupont Underground, 19 Dupont Circle Northwest, Washington, DC 20036.
Organizer: The exhibition is presented by Dupont Underground in collaboration with the Rainbow History Project (RHP), an all-volunteer-run 501(c)(3) organization that collects, preserves, and promotes the history and culture of the diverse LGBTQ communities in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area.
Highlights: In-person exhibition.
Accessibility: No specific accessibility information is provided in the raw text; contact Dupont Underground for details.
Note: This exhibition is a deep dive into D.C.’s pre‑Stonewall LGBTQ+ history, centering local activism and the evolution of Pride. All donations support Dupont Underground’s mission to provide a venue for important local cultural history and art exhibitions to the public.