Pocan Introduces Bills to Create National Museum of American LGBTQI+ History and Culture

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As LGBTQI+ History Month comes to a close, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, introduced two bills to begin the process of creating a National Museum of American LGBTQI+ History and Culture.

“As our community faces unprecedented attacks and attempts to erase our history, we must preserve and protect our stories for future generations,” Rep. Pocan said. “It is vital to remember our collective past – particularly when certain states, and even Members of Congress, seek to constrain and repeal existing rights by passing bills that harm LGBTQI+ youth and our community at large. Let’s tell these stories, the good and the bad, and honor the many contributions the LGBTQI+ community has made to this nation with a museum in Washington, D.C. I look forward to the passage of this legislation and to visiting this museum in the near future.”    

Rep. Pocan introduced bills to establish a commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum of American LGBTQI+ History and Culture and to establish it within the Smithsonian Institution. Both bills are required to be signed into law to create a new Smithsonian Museum. 

The first bill creates an eight-member commission – consisting of individuals with various expertise in museum planning or LGBTQI+ research and culture – to look into the viability of establishing such a facility in the nation’s Capital. The measure would require this commission to:

• Report recommendations for a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance of a National Museum of American LGBTQI+ History and Culture;
• Develop a fundraising plan to support the establishment, operation, and maintenance of the museum through public contributions;
• Obtain an independent review of this fundraising plan, including an analysis of the resources necessary to fund the construction of the museum and its operations and maintenance without reliance on federal funds;
• Report on the availability and cost of acquiring collections for the museum, identify potential locations for the facility in Washington, D.C., and determine its regional impact on other museums; and,
• Submit to Congress a legislative plan of action to establish and construct the museum.

The bill would also direct the commission's recommendations to address whether the museum should be part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex. The commission would have 18 months to complete the full study.

After the commission completes its work and issues its recommendations, Congress can consider the second bill to formally create the museum.

Chair Pocan was joined by all 8 openly LGBTQI+ Co-Chairs of the Equality Caucus in introducing this legislation, including Representatives Mark Takano (D-CA), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Becca Balint (D-VT), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Angie Craig (D-MN), and Eric Sorensen (D-IL).