SAN FRANCISCO — On Thursday, October 11, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender Historical Society invites you to a book release party for Steve Gdula’s Wearing History: T-Shirts for the Gay Rights Movement. Much of the book’s material came from the Historical Society’s world-class archives and its extensive queer t-shirt collection. In addition to hearing from the author, visitors will also enjoy a one-of-a-kind T-shirt tour of the GLBT past. The event is free and open to all.

The T-shirt is a part of Americana . Nowhere is this reflected more than in the GLBT community’s struggle for civil rights. Through imagination, wit, and a passion for equality, the activists who wrote, designed—and more importantly—wore the shirts helped define a movement. From the sad to the troubling, the poignant to the humorous, the T-shirt has become, in many ways, a definitive pop culture chronicler of our lives.

The Wearing History event is part of the GLBT Historical Society’s celebration of GLBT History Month throughout October. Other events include a special screening of Pat Bond’s Gerty Gerty Gerty Stein Is Back Back Back (1981) and, on October 13, a panel discussion on the Women’s Music Movement from the late 1960s through the 1980s.

Steve Gdula has written for Details, The Advocate, and the Washington Post. He plans to develop Wearing History into an art exhibit, which would tour the country and be available online.

WHAT:  Book release party for Steve Gdula’s Wearing History: T-Shirts for the Gay Rights Movement. Free. All are welcome. Donations encouraged.

WHEN:  Thursday, October 11, 6-8 p.m.

WHERE: GLBT Historical Society, 657 Mission Street, Suite 300 (btwn. New Montgomery/Third), San Francisco . Wheelchair accessible. One block from the Montgomery BART/MUNI station. Inexpensive parking nearby on Third (btwn. Folsom/Howard).

The mission of the GLBT Historical Society is to increase public understanding, appreciation, and affirmation of the history and culture of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and other sexual minority individuals and communities. For more information, call 415.777.5455 or visit www.glbthistory.org.