Why a LGBT museum in Washington, DC?
The stories that are fundamental to the American LGBT experience—of the struggles for basic human rights, equality, and acceptance into society—need to be told and re-explored with every generation, every community, and every change of government. As a center of national and international activity, Washington, DC is a location where the LGBT movement can most effectively be channeled and presented. It will be a place where our understanding of the past can be enhanced and engaged, and our aspiration for the future discussed and envisaged. Why call this the Velvet Foundation? Velvet is a particularly apt metaphor for a museum of LGBT history and culture, as it has been used to describe periods in both lesbian and gay history. The look of velvet shifts with light and direction; the feel is one of comfort. It is known both for its strength and its magnificence. It is real. Velvet is woven for individuals who want to make a statement and who want warmth, utility, and beauty in their lives.
