CHICAGO — Chicago’s Wrightwood 659 gallery in Lincoln Park has opened its doors to a landmark exhibition that many major museums worldwide declined: “The First Homosexuals: The Birth of a New Identity, 1869–1939.” Featuring over 300 artworks by 125 artists from 40 countries, the exhibit traces the historical emergence of “homosexual” as an identity term and showcases early queer visual culture.
The collection marks a pivotal moment in art history, documenting how the coining of “homosexual” in 1869 transformed same-sex desire into a socially defined identity—a shift vividly captured through paintings, photographs, sculptures, and prints.
Rejected by Many, Celebrated in Chicago
Lead curator Jonathan D. Katz—a prominent queer art historian—reveals that between 80–90 percent of global museums he approached declined to host the exhibition, often invoking vague programming concerns. Even major institutions like Tate Britain reportedly bowed out, despite strong initial interest .
However, according to Smithsonian Magazine, Wrightwood 659 courageously stepped in to present the full show, citing its mission to highlight marginalized narratives. Katz says it’s one of the gallery’s highest-attended exhibitions since its founding.
Themes: Identity, Visibility, and Resistance
Curators placed historical snapshots side by side with early queer imagery—ranging from Alice Austen’s romantic photos of women to Two-Spirit cultural depictions—revealing how visual media captured experiences before language could articulate them.
Katz explains to the Chicago Sun-Times and Fast Company that art served as a means to “figure what language could not” when words like “homosexual” constrained fluid identities. The exhibit includes early queer expressions from Europe, Asia, and the Americas, exploring how pre-modern cultures depicted gender and desire.
A Political and Contemporary Flashpoint
Although historical, the exhibit carries clear contemporary weight. Katz told Hoodline the show is “a political exhibition in part about the moment we are in”—at a time when museums face pushback over LGBTQ+ content.
Throughout the collection, curators draw parallels to modern-day erasure and censorship. Highlights include Nazi book-burning visuals from 1933, reminding visitors of the fragility and assaults on queer history .
Why It Matters to Chicago and Beyond
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Cultural significance: First time such a comprehensive medium spanning queer visual culture has been shown in Chicago proper .
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Historical correction: Fills a gap in mainstream museum narratives that have often avoided queer material .
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Local leadership: Puts Chicago at the forefront of cultural openness and historical reckoning—when other cities have declined the chance.
The exhibit remains on view through July 26 at 659 W. Wrightwood Ave, with curator-led tours scheduled for July 10 and 17.
Have you visited the exhibit? What did it teach you about LGBTQ+ history? Share your experience at chicagosuburbanfamily.com and join the conversation on representation and cultural legacy.
