In response to an incident where a security guard told a lesbian couple that hand holding was not allowed, the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco will hold “Hand Holding Day” this Sunday.
“Hand Holding Day” will coincide with the previously scheduled event “LGBT Family Morning of Gertrude Stein,” an event celebrating the life of the famous lesbian artist and LGBT families.
The couple was approached by the security guard on Sunday while attending the current exhibit featured at the museum, “Seeing Gertrude Stein: Five Stories.”
The guard’s suggestion that handholding was not allowed at the museum sparked outrage from other museum patrons.
Museum officials responded swiftly to reports of the incident, and publicly announced that the guard’s actions did not reflect museum policy and that the security guard would not be employed at the museum in the future.
Daryl Carr, director of marketing and communications for the museum, said “I do believe the story got picked up because of the irony of it all,” referring to the fact that the incident happened at the Stein exhibit.
“The museum director is a lesbian, I’m gay, we have a very diverse workforce,” Carr said. “The commitment we have to the LGBT community with just this event is astounding.”
Sunday’s event will be held from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. and will include performances by the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, the Voices Lesbian Choral Ensemble, and the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco.
“LGBT Family Morning” is the latest in a summer of LGBT-themed events at the Contemporary Jewish Museum. The next will be “An Evening in Gay Paris” in conjunction with the San Francisco MOMA on Aug 4.
Scott Morris, Bay City News
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