Democrat Rep. introduces bills to create a National Museum of American LGBTQ History and Culture

A Democrat politician has introduced two bills to the U.S. Congress aimed at beginning the process of creating a national museum dedicated to queer history and culture. 

The two bills were introduced by openly gay Wisconsin Democrat Mark Pocan, who has campaigned for LGBTQ rights for a number of years and is also the chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. 

In order to create the National Museum of American LGBTQ History and Culture, the two bills would establish a commission to study the potential of creating the museum and  then establish it within the Smithsonian Institution.

The commission would undertake an 18 month study to examine the viability of establishing the museum, whereby they would be required to develop a fundraising plan, look at the availability and cost of acquiring collections and submit a plan of action to Congress to establish and construct the museum. 

After the commission completes its work and issues its recommendations, Congress would then consider the second bill which would formally create the museum.

The initiative has garnered support from all eight LGBTQ co-chairs of the Equality Caucus, including Representatives Mark Takano of California, Sharice Davids of Kansas, Robert Garcia of California, Becca Balint of Vermont, Ritchie Torres of New York, Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, Angie Craig of Minnesota, and Eric Sorensen of Illinois, who joined Pocan in introducing the legislation.