As part of LGBTQ+ History Month, the City of West Hollywood is co-sponsoring Circa: LGBTQ+ Histories Festival 2025, a month-long series of events dedicated to honoring queer history, art, and cultural resilience. Produced by One Institute, Circa is the first and only LGBTQ+ History Month festival of its kind in the United States.
The festival runs through October 31, 2025, and features more than 40 programs across West Hollywood and Los Angeles County — including exhibitions, panel discussions, film screenings, live performances, lectures, and community gatherings. Events are low-cost or free, and are open to audiences of all ages.
For a full event schedule and ticket information, visit: www.circafestival.org
A Theme of Resistance: “Reclaiming Freedom”
This year’s theme, “Reclaiming Freedom,” reflects the urgent need to protect LGBTQ+ visibility, especially in the current political climate. As trans rights and queer representation face increasing threats under the Trump administration, Circa’s programming offers a powerful counterpoint — lifting up voices from across the LGBTQ+ spectrum and showcasing the depth of queer history and activism in Los Angeles and beyond.
Headlining Exhibition: The Sky is Always Falling
The centerpiece of this year’s festival is the exhibition The Sky is Always Falling, open now through October 31, 2025, at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Advocate & Gochis Galleries, located at 1125 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles.
Curated by Anuradha Vikram, the exhibition includes original works by contemporary artists alongside rare materials from ONE Archives at the USC Libraries — the largest collection of LGBTQ+ materials in the world. It focuses on moments of radical queer resistance and the resilience of artists and activists during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Los Angeles.
WeHo at 40: Special Event Celebrates Local Queer History
To mark the City of West Hollywood’s 40th anniversary, Circa will include a special event spotlighting local LGBTQ+ history:
Stuart Timmons WeHo@40 LGBTQ History Tour
Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard
This one-night event honors the legacy of queer historian Stuart Timmons, whose unfinished manuscript inspired a beloved walking tour of West Hollywood. Produced by Jason Jenn, the event will feature highlights from the 2021 and 2025 filmed versions of the tour, rarely seen archival footage, and a presentation about Timmons’ life and work. A light reception will take place before and after the program.
About One Institute
Founded in 1952, One Institute (formerly ONE Archives Foundation and ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives) is the oldest active LGBTQ+ organization in the country. It produces public exhibitions and educational programs focused on queer and trans history. The Institute also supports K-12 teacher trainings, youth mentorship programs, and community events that bring LGBTQ+ history into classrooms and public discourse.
To learn more, visit oneinstitute.org, or follow @oneinstitutela on social media.
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