A weathered wooden bench, a rainbow flag, and the recorded voices of community members are quietly rewriting Holland’s historical narrative.
These artifacts, now on display at the Holland Museum, anchor “Waves of Pride: The Impact of Out on the Lakeshore,” a new exhibit that offers a spotlight on the city’s LGBTQ+ community and the grassroots organization that has helped lead the push for visibility, inclusion, and equality over the past decade.
“This was a much-needed exhibit to tell the story of the local LGBTQ+ community, because we want to tell everyone's story?” says Maddalena Frissora, who curated the exhibit in collaboration with current and former leaders of Out on the Lakeshore. “The museum hasn’t really had any LGBTQ+ inclusion or related representation in exhibits or even our history gallery. This was a big missing piece.”
The exhibit explores the evolution of Out On The Lakeshore from its early organizing roots to its present-day role as a hub for advocacy, support, and celebration. The project is part of the museum’s Cultural Lens series, created to amplify historically underrepresented voices.
The project blends archival materials with community storytelling to foster deeper understanding and belonging. Among the highlights: a bench dedicated to founding board members, the first Pride flag flown outside the center’s building when it opened in 2017, and oral history interviews from those who pushed for Holland’s non-discrimination ordinance, which passed in 2020.
“It’s nice to have that oral history aspect,” Frissora says. “Those are just a few of the things that make this exhibit so meaningful.”
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Courtesy of The Holland Museum"Waves of Pride: The Impact of Out on the Lakeshore" blends archival materials with community storytelling to foster deeper understanding and belonging.
Community input
While the exhibit’s timing coincides with the organization’s 10th anniversary, Frissora says the project has been years in the making.
“The Holland Museum and Out On The Lakeshore had been wanting to do something for a little bit, and it finally came to fruition this year,” she says.
Frissora says the focus was on creating the exhibit with the community. She consulted with past and current leaders, including Jennifer Evans, April Johnson, Sarah Van Tongeren, and former executive director Jeffrey Sorensen, to make sure the story is told authentically and inclusively.
“They already had a really good grasp on the organization’s impact in the Holland area before I even came on board,” says Evans, who joined as executive director during the planning process. “Once I was hired, I just jumped right in and helped bring all of the history and artifacts together.”
Evans hopes visitors leave with a deeper understanding of the individuals and communities who have worked, often quietly and against resistance, to make Holland more welcoming.
“I think it does a really incredible job of showing all of the hard work that’s been put into creating a more inclusive, all-in community,” Evans says. “And it puts faces and names to the individuals who have done all the work.”
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Courtesy of The Holland Museum"Waves of Pride: The Impact of Out on the Lakeshore" explores the evolution of Out On The Lakeshore from its early organizing roots to its present-day role as a hub for advocacy, support, and celebration.
Pride in face of adversity
One item that holds special meaning for Evans is the commemorative bench, which honors the founding advocates. But she’s also moved by how the display illustrates the collaborative roots of Out on the Lakeshore, which formed through partnerships with groups like PFLAG and Holland is Ready, often meeting in local churches.
“I think that’s incredibly beautiful,” Evans says.
The exhibit also sheds light on an unexpected but powerful allyship from the faith community. One example of this is Hope Church, which continues to maintain close ties with the organization.
She says LGBTQ+ advocacy has existed in Holland for far longer than many realized. For those featured in the exhibit, that visibility brings a sense of long-overdue pride.
“It has been really neat to see them feel so proud about a lot of the work they’ve done, especially because a lot of it had to be done in the face of adversity,” Evans says.
The exhibit will be accompanied by special Pride Month programming. On June 2, the museum will host the inaugural Jen Adams Queer Leadership Award ceremony, honoring its namesake for her advocacy and allyship.
“This exhibit is an opportunity to celebrate the resilience and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community in Holland,” says museum Executive Director Michelle Stempien. “We hope it sparks meaningful conversations and deepens understanding of this important piece of our diverse community.”
The Cultural Lens series is sponsored by the MillerKnoll Foundation and Corewell Health. “Waves of Pride” is sponsored by Globe Design & Vision. For more information, visit
hollandmuseum.org.