Living Lesbian Legends Mural and Through the Lens Exhibit Spotlight Lesbian Trailblazers and Uplift Queer Women’s Visibility in San Francisco
By Heather Cassell
Lesbians and their enduring contributions to the LGBTQ community were honored Friday evening with the unveiling of the Living Lesbian Legends mural and the opening of Through the Lens: SF ‘90s Lesbian Culture, in the Castro.
The “Living Lesbian Legends” mural, located in the heart of the Castro, is a monumental tribute to eight pioneering women who have shaped the LGBTQ community.
Muralist Tanya Wischerath shared her personal connection to the trailblazing lesbian activists, artists and leaders depicted in the mural in the Castro.
“I had the opportunity to meet some of these women when I was in my 20s, and they were my heroes,” she told the crowd of about 50 people who came out to the late afternoon event. “Working on their portraits has been an inspiring experience.”
The trailblazing women – Lenore Chin, Leigh Crow, Jeanette Gandionco Lazam, Jewelle Gomez, Marga Gomez, Olga Talamante, Ruth Villaseñor, and Franco Stevens – featured in the mural were present for the celebration of their activism, art, and leadership that shaped our world.
The project was a collaboration between the cultural district and community leaders committed to centering the lives and legacies of queer women. Tina Aguirre, district manager for the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, emphasized the importance of documenting and celebrating this often-overlooked history.
Through the Lens is a three-part art series, one of the series are panels of the mural, at the San Francisco LGBT Center. The other parts of the exhibition showcased photographs from Curve magazine’s archives and photos from the 2025 Curve Photo Contest winners.
The celebrants gathered under the cloudy spring skies to recognize what Jen Reck, assistant professor of LGBTQ studies and sociology at the Department of Sociology and Sexuality Studies at San Francisco State University, highlighted the significance of the mural as a “revolutionary act” of visibility in the historic gay neighborhood before heading to the center for the opening of Through the Lens.
Jen noted the intentionality behind the mural’s creation, specifically designed to center queer women and acknowledge their contributions to the community. She continued emphasizing taking up space in the gayborhood as queer women is a statement of resistance and empowerment.
“We have to grab on to the wins that we’ve accomplished,” Jen said during the mural’s unveiling. “This mural is a win. It didn’t happen by accident — it came from intentionality and hard work.”
California State Senator Scott Wiener, a gay man, praised the mural, reflecting on his own coming-of-age surrounded by lesbians in his family, the critical role lesbians played during the AIDS crisis, when lesbian women often cared for gay men dying from HIV; and the ongoing struggle for visibility and recognition in the LGBTQ community.
“Lesbians have been so much the backbone of this community for so long,” Scott said. “They have not always gotten the recognition that they have earned a thousand times over.”
M Rocket, interim project director of the San Francisco Dyke March, who received a $5,000 check from the cultural district, told the crowd the return of the rally is critical for showcasing “dyke art, culture, and activism.”
The march was cancelled for the first time in its 33-year history in 2024. That didn’t stop queer women from gathering in Dolores Park and marching in an unofficial grassroots march last year. The march is currently in the middle of a $100,000 fundraising campaign to support the rally and march set for June 28.
Many women made their way to the center joining more women for the exhibition’s opening reception following the mural’s unveiling. The exhibition is a part of the center’s annual celebration of Lesbian Visibility Week USA (April 21-27).
Through the Lens art exhibition at the center provided a space to showcase the work of queer women artists, with a focus on themes of feminist activism, media representation, and lesbian visibility.
Jennifer Valles, director of community programs at the center, welcomed attendees to the exhibit.
“Spaces like these are more important than ever,” Jennifer told the crowd, noting the rise in anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country. She urged everyone to return to the center for its many services — from job counseling to art exhibits.
Jen Rainin, co-founder of The Curve Foundation, emphasized the importance of supporting the visibility of queer women in the arts, especially during a time when anti-LGBTQ legislation is on the rise. She reminded the crowd of the importance of standing together in the face of adversity.
“This is the time that I need you all to stand with us,” Jen urged attendees. “We need to stand together to protect our community, and to ensure that our stories are visible and heard.”
Using herself as a metaphor, she said if she stood alone she would be overwhelmed, but, “If you hold my hand, and we all hold each other’s hands, we are strong as hell,” Jen said.
Franco, a key figure in the lesbian community as the founder and publisher of Curve magazine and co-founder of the foundation, also addressed the audience, thanking the center and the artists involved in the exhibition.
She reflected on the impact of lesbian visibility in media.
“This artwork, this event, all of it is a reflection of the contributions that queer women have made to our culture and our society,” Franco said drawing attention to rare, never-before-seen photos of Rachel Maddow, at 21, a time when she made history as the first openly lesbian Rhodes Scholar. The photo was taken by lesbian photographer Chloe Atkins, long before Rachel became the renowned host of MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show.
Two of this year’s three award-winning photographers, Elodie Hekimian-Brogan and Mel Oliver, introduced themselves and invited guests to explore the center’s first and second floor exhibits. The photo contest’s third winner Samaya Norman did not attend the event.
Many of the artworks displayed in Through the Lens are available for purchase. Proceeds benefit the artists, the center, and the foundation.
Both the “Living Lesbian Legends” mural and the “Through the Lens” exhibit serve as poignant reminders of the strength, creativity, and activism of queer women in San Francisco. As the city’s LGBTQ community faces new challenges, these artistic projects stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of resistance and solidarity.
The event’s success was made possible through the support of the center, the cultural district, and the foundation.
As Jen Reck noted, “We have so much debt to pay to these amazing women who have done so much political and activist work in our community. This is our way of saying thank you.”
This article, photo captions, and alt text were human written and edited with the assistance of ChatGPT and Gemini.
