Pins of Dissent

Pins, Badges, and Buttons – A Brief History

The history of pins dates back to the 1860s, when they began appearing prominently in public spaces in the United States. Supporters of Abraham Lincoln wore metal badges featuring his image during the 1861 election campaign. Even earlier, pre-pins resembling buttons inscribed with “Long Live the President” and the initials of George Washington were used. The invention of modern pins is attributed to Benjamin Whitehead and Chester Hoag, who founded the company Whitehead & Hoag in 1892.

This American innovation quickly spread worldwide, reaching Europe and Poland. From its inception, the emerging non-heteronormative movement embraced this form of visual identity. Pins have been, and continue to be, worn on backpacks, bags, and clothing. They symbolize support for specific organizations, alignment with their values, or simply serve as decorative items.

The “Pins of Dissent” Exhibition

The exhibition Pins of Dissent will be open to the public on the upper floor of QueerMuseum starting December 31, 2024. The exhibition is being curated by Ingeborga Janikowska and Krzysztof Kliszczyński.

Illustrations Below:

  • A pin from the 1982 Washington March
  • A pin from London Pride, 1989
  • A pin from the gay and lesbian camping event in Olsztyn, 1996
  • A pin from Lambda Kraków, ca. 1997
  • A pin from the Lesbian Alliance, ca. 2005
  • A pin from the Campaign Against Homophobia, ca. 2005
  • A pin from the Le Madame club, ca. 2005
  • A pin from the Poznań Equality March, 2007
  • A pin from EuroPride 2010 in Warsaw, created by Lambda Warsaw
  • A pin from the Love Does Not Exclude association, ca. 2010
  • A pin from the first Equality March in Białystok, 2019
  • A pin from the first Equality March in Bolesławiec, 2023

All items come from the collections of QueerMuseum Warsaw.