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About Rainbow History Project

The Rainbow History Project formed November 4, 2000 in a meeting at the CyberStop Cafe on 17th Street NW (tolerant home of many of our meetings and oral history tapings!) following a notice placed by Mark Meinke in the Washington Blade. The notice came out of frustration at trying to identify archives and sources of information on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered history in metropolitan Washington DC. Five people showed up for that first Saturday meeting and decided to try organizing the history project; those attending were Mark Meinke, Charles Rose, Bruce Pennington, Jose Gutierrez, and James Crutchfield. The group's purpose has always been to preserve our community's memories. Among our highest priority initial projects was the capturing of community members' memories for an oral history project.

Our mission is

to collect, preserve, and promote an active knowledge of the history, arts, and culture relevant to sexually diverse communities in metropolitan Washington DC.

The Rainbow History Project welcomes any member of the community who wishes to support us as a member or volunteer to help with our work. The Rainbow History Project's activities are planned and organized by an executive board of directors. Board members are elected for two year terms. Elections are held at the Rainbow History Project's annual meeting in March. All dues-paying members are eligible to vote and to be elected to the Board. Board officers are elected at the April board meeting.

The Board includes

Chuck Goldfarb Chair  to 2014
Jim Marks Treasurer  to 2014
Jeff Donahoe Secretary  to 2013
Phillip Clark At-Large  to 2014
Richard Haight At-Large  to 2014
Patsy Lynch At-Large  to 2014
Steven Mandeville-Gamble At-Large  to 2013
Kim Sescoe At-Large  to 2013
Brock Thompson At-Large  to 2013


The Rainbow History Project is guided by an Advisory Board of community members, archivists, and historians who serve also as important resources reinforcing professional standards and guiding our research and presentations.

Annual Reports: 2011, 2010, 2009

Tax status information:

RHP Bylaws.

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