The BAYMEC Community Foundation led by its executive director Ken Yeager, a former Santa Clara County supervisor and first openly gay county official, oversaw the creation of an exhibit called “Coming Out: 50 years of Queer Resistance and Resilience in Silicon Valley.”

According to its website, the foundation wanted to create an “expansive and representative showcase of our rich cultural and political history,” of the LGBTQ+ movement in Silicon Valley.

The gallery opens Saturday and is located in the Pacific Hotel at History Park. Gallery hours are from noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Space is limited, and visitors will need to reserve tickets at https://www.historysanjose.org/wp/exhibits-activities/hotel-gallery.

Please see full story by columnist Sal Pizarro here.

Photographs by Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group.

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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, center, jokes around with Ken Yeager, far right, executive director of BAYMEC Community Foundation, as they are photographed by Andrew Urata, far left, with Luis Pedro Castillo Pictures, during a reception for the exhibit “Coming Out: 50 years of Queer Resistance and Resilience in Silicon Valley” at the Pacific Hotel in History Park in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, June 24, 2021. 
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: A sign at the entrance during a reception for the exhibit “Coming Out: 50 years of Queer Resistance and Resilience in Silicon Valley.” 
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: Visitors browse through the exhibit “Coming Out: 50 years of Queer Resistance and Resilience in Silicon Valley.” 
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: “Mr. South Bay Leather,” from 1992 on display. 
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: Ken Yeager, executive director of BAYMEC Community Foundation, speaks during a reception. 
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: A “Progress” Pride Flag hangs next to an American Flag outside of the Pacific Hotel in History Park. 
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: Jeff Leech, left, and his husband Ray Mueller take a selfie in front of a “Walk for AIDS Memorial Quilt,” from 2001 that Mueller donated to the exhibit. 
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: Visitors browse through the exhibit “Coming Out: 50 years of Queer Resistance and Resilience in Silicon Valley.” 
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: Wiggsy Siversten shakes hands during a reception. 
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: Kae Papula, left, and Molly Rubin, center, chat with Ken Yeager, executive director of BAYMEC Community Foundation. 
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: A Macintosh 128k from 1984 is on display next to the HTG (High Tech Gays) Newsletter, from 1990. 
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: Ken Yeager, left, executive director of BAYMEC Community Foundation, chats with Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian. 
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: Fedel “Lady Shockra” Sanchez poses for a photograph next to a dress Sanchez created called “Lady Shocker Drag Outfit.” 
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: “The New Face of AIDS” mask by Jeff Leech and Ray Mueller, on display. 
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: Visitors listen to speakers during the reception. 

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