Smithsonian adds sexual-path items

WASHINGTON — Hundreds of photographs, papers and historical objects documenting the history of gay, bisexual and transgender people were added to the Smithsonian Institution’s collection Tuesday, including items from the popular TV show Will & Grace.

Show creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, along with NBC, were donating objects to the National Museum of American History. The collection includes scripts, casting ideas, political memorabilia surrounding the show and the series finale. The network agreed to donate props, including a pill bottle and flask, a sign from “Grace Adler Interior Design” and Will Truman’s framed college diploma.

Some items being donated include the diplomatic passports of Ambassador David Huebner, the first openly gay U.S. ambassador confirmed by the Senate, and his husband; materials from a gay community center in Baltimore; and photography collections from Patsy Lynch and Silvia Ros documenting gay rights activism.

From sports history, the museum will receive a tennis racket from former professional player Renee Richards, who won a landmark New York Supreme Court decision for transgender rights after she was denied entry to the U.S. Open in 1975.

“There have always been gender nonconforming people in the U.S., and we’ve made contributions and lived life since the beginning of the country,” said Curator Katherine Ott, who focuses on sexuality and gender.

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