The GLBT History Museum of Central Florida is an effort to collect, preserve and exhibit the histories of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities of Central Florida

Central Florida

Central Florida is a regional designation for the area surrounding Orlando in east central Florida, United States. The area represents the third largest population concentration in Florida, after the South Florida and Tampa Bay regions, respectively....

. It is currently part of the Regional Initiative for Collecting the History, Experiences and Stories of Central Florida (RICHES) program at the University of Central Florida

University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...

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History

The GLBT History Museum of Central Florida began as GLBT History Project in 2005 as part of the first Come Out With Pride (COWP) in front of the Orange County History Center. Ken Kazmerski and several others were approached by Metropolitan Business Association of Orlando's president, Debbie Simmons, to create a one day GLBT exhibit at the history center. Originally the project had no money and members of the project used their own memorabilia to create displays.

Although originally Debbie Simmons chaired most of the organization's meetings, by 2006 Ken Kazmerski took over full chairmanship and began a new focus on professionalization. Over the years, the project gained a broader focus and changed the name from Project to Museum. The GLBT History Museum of Central Florida is no longer simply an annual exhibit but now assumes the functions of a regular museum.

Mobile Displays

Along with their virtual museum, The GLBT History Museum of Central Florida maintains various mobile displays which have been exhibited in notable locations such as Universal Studios and Lake Eola Park

Lake Eola Park

Lake Eola Park is located at in Downtown Orlando, Florida. Lake Eola is the main feature of the park. Also located in the park is the Walt Disney Amphitheater, which hosts many community events and various performances year round. On the east side of the park is a Chinese pagoda, a Confederate...

. The organization's mobile displays include:

• Central Florida Timeline
• Parliament House History
• Wall of Remembrance
• GLBT T-shirt Display
• History of Local GLBT Newspapers
• Bears of Central Florida
• GLBSU - Display and DVD
• National Coming Out Day DVD
• Gay Power Unleashed: GLBT Activism in the 1960s
• GLBT Heroes and Pioneers
• Miss "p"
• The Center/GLBT Community Services

Staff

• President

Ken Kazmerski

• Vice-President

Dawn Rosendahl

• Secretary

Robert Kinney

• Treasurer

Russell Evans

• Director - Virtual Museum

David Bain

• Director - Mobile Display

Cheryl Turner