LGBTQ Rights Exhibit Removed from Museum at Missouri Capitol
An LGBTQ exhibit documented the history of gay rights in Missouri has been removed from the state's Capitol mere days after its installation.
As reported by Fox 2 Now, the traveling exhibit "Making History: Kansas City and the Rise of Gay Rights" was reportedly removed over fears of it being vandalized. Sen. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, the only openly gay lawmaker in the upper chamber, is demanding answers.
In a statment, Razer called the move of the exhibit "a small example of closeting part of our history." The exhibit was supposed to be on display until Dec. 26.
"It sounds as if there were some members that were offended that my history would be told in the Capitol building and pushed on the Parks Department to remove it," Razer said. "Personally offended that this was taken down in my state Capitol building."
The Missouri governor's office said the exhibit was removed because it did not follow the proper protocols for installation. However, Razer believes the exhibit was removed because of complaints by some of his colleagues. A legislative aide for state Rep. Mitch Bogg posted pictures of the exhibit on Facebook and questioned why it was being displayed.
The museum is managed by Missouri State Parks, overseen by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Razer said he reached out to the department and was given several different reasons the exhibit was removed.
"One of the reasons was it had not been vetted properly, that grammar hasn't been check, that they hadn't double verified all that all the information was accurate," Razer said. "To that I responded, if it's security that we are worried about, I will commit to raising the money to provide the added security this exhibit needs to go back up."
He added, "A community that came to not only tolerate but embrace and love the LGBT community to a place that has now elected me, an openly gay senator without care if I'm gay or not."
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade put an endpoint on the matter with a statement condemning the act:
"The removal amid political pressure of a temporary display in the Missouri Capitol Museum commemorating the struggle for LGBT rights in Kansas City is just the latest example of the Republican war on the truth," said Quade. "Only scared people with small minds feel threatened by historical facts that challenge them to reevaluate what they think they know. The state Capitol belongs to all Missourians, and all Missourians deserve to have their history represented in it. This display must be reinstated immediately."