“Defiant Archives” tells the story of transgender activism in Philadelphia

The “Defiant Archives: Trans Histories of Existence, Resistance, and Brilliance” exhibit focuses on the history of transgender activism in Philadelphia. The exhibit will run at the William Way Community Center from July 24 to September 20.

The exhibit was curated and collected by local trans community members. It will include collection of oral history videos shared by the Trans Oral History Project and the short documentary video “Transpass.” The documentary is about the work of Riders Against Gender Exclusion, a local activist group who won the fight to end SEPTA’s use of gendered stickers in 2013.

Visitors will also get to participate in the exhibit by sharing their own histories on a timeline stretching from 1965 to 2015.

A free opening night reception will take place on Friday July 24 from 6-8 p.m. The exhibit is in memory of Charlene Arcila, who is credited with a number of pioneering LGBT and HIV/AIDS efforts including founding the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference in 2000.

William Way also partnered with the National Constitution for its special exhibit, Speaking Out for Equality: The Constitution, Gay Rights, and the Supreme Court, which chronicles the gay rights movement and the ongoing debate over how much the Constitution protects gay rights. That exhibit runs through January 2016.

Image via Trans Oral History Project