Queer Asian Museum to open in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla — St. Petersburg is known for its many world-famous museums and this weekend there will be a brand new one in town.

On Saturday, the Queer Asian Museum is opening on Central Avenue.

What You Need To Know

The Queer Asian Museum is opening in downtown St. Petersburg on Saturday

The museum features the history of the queer movement in Asia

The St. Petersburg Arts Alliance said there will now be 13 museums in the city

They’ve been getting ready to open for months.

“Very proud, a lot of work,” said Leo Andersen, founder of the Queer Asian Museum.

Andersen was born in China and served as the director of an LGBTQ center there before moving to the U.S.

He said that when that center was forced to close, the final members sent him some of their materials to prevent them from being thrown away.

“I had eight boxes of things sitting in my garage,” Andersen said.

In an effort to make use of those items left behind, Andersen has been curating the new museum, featuring LGBTQ organizations as well as objects from the queer movement in Asia.

One of the museum’s treasures is the first lesbian magazine from China, published in 1999.

“Queer Asians, as you can see, we have such a rich community and culture. We’re not just two labels put together. We are our own thing,” he said.

It’s the 13th museum that St. Petersburg is adding to its world-famous catalog.

The executive director of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, Helen French, said the city is a rich environment for museums because of the weather and community interest.

“Our citizens and our community members want to hear the stories. I think that kind of percolates when you’re looking for where to put a museum. Why not do it in the city of the arts? Why not come to St. Pete?” said French. “To tell our story, to be heard, to be seen, creates an environment of healthy living, if you will. So, just like you want to get outside and get a breath of fresh air, you want to hear and see your story in your community.”

Andersen agrees and wants to see his museum also become a community space for LGBTQ Asians to gather.

“Our goal is in a year that this place becomes a destination for people to come and visit,” Andersen said.

While Asian LGBTQ history is long, the Queer Asian Museum is just beginning to write its next chapter.

The Arts Alliance said it expects the number of museums in the city to continue to grow.