June 8 – October 26, 2025
Outliers and Outlaws showcases the vibrant history of Eugene’s lesbian community from the 1960s through the 1990s. This groundbreaking project captures the stories of 83 women who were instrumental in shaping the city’s social and political landscape. The women featured in the exhibition were transformative figures who influenced Oregon’s political landscape, challenged discriminatory policies, and created rich cultural spaces.
The exhibition highlights an extraordinary period when Eugene was known as a “lesbian mecca,” creating a unique community that challenged traditional societal norms. At OJMCHE, visitors can dive into the history of the Jewish-lesbian Baleboostehs community, including memories from the 1992 Freedom Seder organized around the opposition to the antigay Oregon ballot measure 9, which was eventually rejected by voters.
Outliers and Outlaws connects Oregon Jewish history with the diverse lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ people in Oregon, highlighting the importance of inclusion and the richness of our community. “Museums are essential spaces for fostering dialogue and deepening understanding. At OJMCHE, we are committed to educating our community and celebrating the rich intersectionality of identities. We firmly believe that LGBTQIA+ rights are fundamental human rights,” said Alisha Babbstein OJMCHE’s Director of Collection and Exhibitions.
Coordinated by Judith Raiskin, a professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Oregon, and Linda Long, Curator of Manuscripts at the University of Oregon Knight Library Special Collections and University Archives, this groundbreaking project was developed through the Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project and shared with many as a museum exhibition, digital exhibition, digital archive, and full-length documentary film.
Funding has been generously provided by the Community Endowment Fund of the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation as well as OJMCHE’s Judy Margles Education and Culture Fund, Craig E. Wollner Fund, and Arnold and Augusta Newman Photography Fund.
Image Above: Rakar West, Crescent Construction
Exhibition Related Events
-
Activism, Feminism, Judaism: An Intergenerational Roundtable
Join us for a free closing program on Zoom in celebration of Outliers & Outlaws! This roundtable dialogue will bring together four generations of Jewish women activists to discuss their individual advocacy and how their Jewish feminist identities have informed their dedication to activism.
October 30 | 5:30 – 6:30pm
-
Outliers and Outlaws Guided Tour
Join for a guided exhibition tour to learn about what made Eugene a “lesbian mecca” and the key role lesbians played in passing civil rights legislation in Oregon. Considered to be the world’s largest oral history collection dedicated solely to the lesbian community, Outliers and Outlaws draws from 83 oral history interviews with the lesbian community in Eugene, Oregon, from the 1960s through the 1990s.
July 27 | 1pm – 2pm | RSVP preferred but not required
August 16 | 1pm – 2pm | RSVP preferred but not required
September 13 | 1pm – 2pm | RSVP preferred but not required
October 12 | 1pm – 2pm | RSVP preferred but not required -
LGBTQ+ Experiences During the Nazi Era
In this Zoom presentation, Making Gay History’s executive director Eric Marcus will introduce the organization’s podcast series on the experiences of LGBTQ+ people during the rise of the Nazi regime, World War II, and the Holocaust. Drawing on extensive research conducted for this first-of-its-kind audio documentary, Eric will share archival clips that bring this painful, often hidden history to life through the voices of the people who lived it.
July 23 | 5 – 6pm | Zoom | $5 for general admission, free for members Purchase Ticket
-
Outliers and Outlaws Tour and Rooftop Nosh with the Lesbian Culture Club
Join Outliers and Outlaws curator Judith Raiskin for a private tour and light rooftop nosh at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education.
July 16 | 6pm – 7pm | $25 per participant | Purchase Ticket
-
Portland Lesbian Choir Community Concert
Join us for a night of music and community in honor of Outliers and Outlaws! Members of the Portland Lesbian Choir will perform a concert featuring music written and performed during the 1960s through the 1990s, including works by Melissa Etheridge, Elton John, Bob Dylan, and Tracy Chapman.
August 21 | 7pm, doors at 6:30pm | $20 for general admission, $15 for members | Purchase Ticket
-
Whole and Holy: Welcoming LGBTQ+ Community in Sacred Spaces (Virtual)
How can we make sacred spaces safe and welcoming for LGBTQ+ Jews, and what does the Torah have to say about queer identity? Learn more during a panel discussion featuring Rabbi Rachel Joseph of Congregation Beth Israel and Rabbi Ruhi Sophia Motzkin Rubenstein of Temple Beth Israel in Eugene, moderated by Rabbi Eliana Kayelle of Keshet.
September 3 | 6pm PT | $5 for general admission, Free for members | Purchase Ticket
-
Outliers and Outlaws Shabbat Dinner with Rabbi Rachel Joseph and OneTable
Lesbians and queer folks of all ages and their partners are invited to a Shabbat dinner in honor of Outliers and Outlaws, hosted by Rabbi Rachel Joseph of Congregation Beth Israel! This special Shabbat partnership between CBI, OneTable, and the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education welcomes queer and lesbian-identifying community members to join together for a night of celebration and connection.
September 12 | 7pm | $18 per person, financial assistance available | Purchase Ticket
-
Outliers and Outlaws: A Story of Lesbian World Builders in Oregon Film Screening
Join us for a screening followed by a Q&A with the film’s director and producer. Outliers and Outlaws premiered to a sold-out audience at the QDoc festival in November 2024, followed by a sold-out run of screenings at Cinema 21 in December.
October 5 | 4pm | Tomorrow Theater | $15 general, $10 members | Purchase Ticket
-
A Place of Our Own Book Talk with June Thomas
Join June Thomas, author of A Place of Our Own: Six Spaces That Shaped Queer Women’s Culture for a presentation on six iconic lesbian spaces over the course of the last sixty years, including the rural commune, the sex toy boutique, the vacation spot, and the feminist bookstore.
October 16 | 6pm – 7:30pm | $5 for general admission, free for members | Purchase Ticket
-
Art+Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon: Jewish Women Artists
OJMCHE, in partnership with artist Shoshana Gugenheim Kedem, Art/Lab and A Contemporary Jewish Museum and as part of the Art + Feminism Project, will host the 4th Annual Art + Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon to edit and/or create Wiki pages for Jewish women artists in all genres of art practice.
October 19 | 11:30am-3:30pm | RSVP