Preservation Maryland

Preservation Maryland has been leading a statewide effort to research and preserve LGBTQ+ history in the Old Line State for several years, and the project outcomes and resources are available here online.

MARYLAND’S LGBTQ+ HISTORIC CONTEXT STUDY

The document and property database of nearly 400 sites important to LGBTQ+ life in each of Maryland’s counties are now part of the historic record. The report illuminates Maryland LGBTQ+ history in rural, suburban, and urban locations, including sites associated with non-binary historical figures, leading “out” elected officials, strong community groups and popular gay bars, advocacy for AIDS treatment and marriage equality, and many other important sites. The Context Study is a milestone in Preservation Maryland’s multi-year commitment to LGBTQ+ heritage visibility and diversification of the historic record.

ACCESS THE REPORT HERE (PDF)

In 2022, Preservation Maryland released an abridged version of the report as a designed booklet Planting the Rainbow Flag.  

Planting the Rainbow Flag

If you have questions about about the report, please contact Dana Cohen, Director of Communications at dcohen@presmd.org

Thank you to our partners Maryland Historical Trust, University of Maryland, City of Baltimore Commission on Architectural and Historical Preservation, Montgomery County Planning, and Baltimore Heritage

During this year’s Pride Month, join us as we highlight important LGBTQ+ history, sites, and individuals in Maryland. Preservation Maryland has been leading a statewide effort to research and preserve LGBTQ+ history in the Old Line State for several years, and the project outcomes and resources are available here online. These projects highlight research from our work on Maryland’s groundbreaking  LGBTQ+ Historic Context Study, as well as webinars, mapping, and resources focusing on LGBTQ+ history.

A collective of Maryland organizations and agencies have undertaken and completed a groundbreaking research document, the Maryland LGBTQ Historic Context Study – and is only the second state in the nation to do so. The report released in September 2020, illuminates Maryland LGBTQ history in rural, suburban, and urban locations, including sites associated with non-binary historical figures, leading “out” elected officials, strong community groups and popular gay bars, advocacy for AIDS treatment and marriage equality, and many other important sites. As hoped, the report has also already spurred local efforts to research and preserve specific properties – including two homes in Montgomery County associated with prominent LGBTQ Marylanders.

During National LGBTQ History Month, Preservation Maryland is proud to announce the completion and acceptance of Maryland’s groundbreaking LGBTQ Historic Context Study. The Context Study is a milestone in Preservation Maryland’s multi-year commitment to LGBTQ heritage visibility and diversification of the historic record.