Local history of LGBT movement finds its way to RiverStones a second year

Photos and other artifacts chronicling the LGBT movement in the Seacoast. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - You don't have to go far to find out who made LGBT history on the Seacoast. It's as close as your backyard.

RiverStones Custom Framing and The Franklin Gallery are hosting an exhibit that opens Aug. 2: "Seacoast LGBT History: More Impact and Influence."

"This is the second year we are exhibiting in Rochester," Tom Kaufhold, founder of the Seacoast LGBT History project, said. "We will have a special section on Transgender history and are looking forward to sharing other new items we have collected."

Items range from vintage guides, to posters, DVDs, brochures, pins, photographs, awards, newspaper clippings and other items that tell the story of the Seacoast LGBT community, Kaufhold said.

"Our purpose is to research, document and preserve the history of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people on the Seacoast of New Hampshire," he said.

The exhibit's grand opening is from 5-7 p.m. on Aug 2 at The Franklin Gallery, located at RiverStones Custom Framing, 33 North Main St, Rochester. Light refreshments will be served and the public is invited.

"I am excited to offer my gallery space again to display new artifacts from this very important project", said Kris Ebbeson, proprietor of RiverStones Custom Framing and Franklin Gallery.

The exhibit will be open through Aug. 31. Rochester Pride Day is Aug. 25 and the gallery will be opened until 4 p.m. that day.

"We will have sorted the items into categories: Arts/Culture, Health, Politics/Activism, Commerce, Social Life and Spirituality and will have artifacts in each and profiling individuals who have influenced the Seacoast," Kaufhold said.

He said he hopes people will be inspired to "check out their closets" for artifacts for a 2019 exhibit at the Portsmouth Athenaeum to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Inn uprising in New York City, considered by many to be the birth of the modern gay rights movement.

RiverStones Custom Framing and the Franklin Gallery are open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit the Seacoast NH LGBT Facebook page.