October 2025
Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month, this exhibit highlighted stories from the last hundred years of Cambridge LGBTQ+ history featuring materials from the archives of Queer History Boston and beyond. The collection was not a definitive account — no single project could capture the full richness of queer lives here — but it was a dive into the archives, memories, and movements that have shaped this place.
about the exhibit
stories upon stories
Cambridge is a place where LGBTQ+ people have organized, celebrated, and reimagined the world.
From underground networks to city-wide commissions, from radical publishing collectives to the Northeast’s first Gay-Straight Alliance in a public school, this city has nurtured queer life in ways both ordinary and revolutionary.
Our friends at Queer History Boston know there are always more stories to be told, and they’d love to hear yours. Reach out at info@queerhistoryboston.org to share your history.
walking through history
We hosted two events at the KiOSK as part of this exhibition: 1) a button-making workshop, and 2) a spooky-season walking tour into Cambridge’s queer past! Our guide, Peter Muise, led us in uncovering chilling and fabulous tales of drag performers, radical fags, witches, ghosts, and the many spirits (living and otherwise) who shaped LGBTQ+ life in Cambridge. From hidden gathering places to public celebrations, participants saw Harvard Square and its streets through the lens of queer resilience, revelry, and resistance.
magical moments
Some visitors came to the KiOSK specifically to see the Queer History exhibition; others stumbled upon it. Either way, we noticed folks spending longer than usual in the space, taking their time to read and asking staff follow up questions.
about the artist
Queer History Boston is a community archives that has documented, preserved, and shared LGBTQ+ histories of Greater Boston and New England since 1980. QHB is a community archives that has documented, preserved, and shared LGBTQ+ histories of Boston and New England since 1980.
This project was made possible by the vision, care, and labor of our volunteer curators and staff. Deep thanks to Hannah, Joan, Maci, Mark, Matisse, Mik, Oscar, Robin, Toni, and Tony for helping bring this exhibit to life.