HOLLAND — A new exhibit exploring the history of local nonprofit Out On The Lakeshore will launch Friday, Feb. 28, and continue until June 30 at Holland Museum,
“Waves of Pride: The Impact of Out On The Lakeshore,” is sponsored by Globe Design and Vision. The exhibit covers the history of Holland’s LGBTQ+ community and the pivotal role OOTL has played, including its evolution from a grassroots advocacy group to a hub for support, activism and empowerment.
Out On The Lakeshore celebrates 10 years in 2025. The nonprofit was given a new director in September: Jennifer Evans, who began volunteering with OOTL when she moved to Holland from Texas. OOTL, she said, gave her a space to make new connections.
“When you feel alone and you want to be around like-minded individuals, one of the first places where you feel the safest is a place like Out On The Lakeshore,” Evans told The Sentinel in December. “Through starting and volunteering, I’ve met some of my closest friends.”
In her transition to executive director, Evans is focused on “light and love.”
“Anytime you sit in a space of love and optimism and hope, it’s a good thing,” she said.
“This exhibit is an opportunity to celebrate the resilience and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community in Holland,” said Holland Museum Executive Director Michelle Stempien. “We hope it sparks meaningful conversations and deepens understanding of this important piece of our diverse community.”
Guests can gain insight into the organization’s efforts to foster a more inclusive community through personal narratives, archival materials and interactive displays. The exhibit is included with the cost of general admission.
It’s all part of the museum’s Cultural Lens Series, an ongoing series of exhibits, talks, performances, family programs and panel discussions that further the organization’s mission to welcome all stories. The series is sponsored by the MillerKnoll Foundation and Corewell Health.
— Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @cassideykava.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Learn about the history of LGBTQ+ advocacy in Holland during new exhibit
Reporting by Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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