Walking the road
As we celebrate 40 years of service to our community, we honor the care, courage, and heart that have shaped our journey. Since The Project’s founding in 1986, our work has been guided by the power of belonging, a belief in chosen family, and resilience in the face of adversity. Cultural touchstones like The Wizard of Oz have echoed these values by reminding us that home and bravery are often found in community.
THE FRIENDS OF DOROTHY & THE POWER OF CONNECTION
Judy Garland’s voice and vulnerability touched generations, becoming a symbol of hope for many living life on the margins. For decades, LGBTQ+ people referred to one another as “Friends of Dorothy”—a discreet expression of identity and connection rooted in safety and a shared cultural experience. Garland’s legacy and her iconic portrayal of Dorothy Gale speak to the courage, authenticity, and power of being seen, all values that remain deeply connected to the history of the HIV movement.
There’s no place like home
In The Wizard of Oz, the ruby slippers represent safety, strength, and the ability to find one’s way home. Traditionally, a ruby marks 40 years of sustained commitment. It is an emblem of celebration and a reflection of a promise that has endured and strengthened over time. For The Project, the ruby reminds us of the fortitude and bravery demonstrated by the people we serve every single day. It also reflects the care, courage, and heart that have defined our work since our founding in 1986.
somewhere over the rainbow
The rainbow, often seen as a symbol of hope, has grown into a global representation of pride, unity, and survival. In the context of HIV, the rainbow means so much more; it embodies the perseverance, advocacy, and love are the core of the communities we are privileged to care for.
When HIV emerged in the 1980s, good human beings stepped up where systems failed. Our organization was part of that response by providing desperately needed care and support rooted in our steadfast belief that all people deserve access to dignity-affirming care.
MOVING FORWARD WITH PURPOSE
As we reflect on the last 40 years, we do so with care, courage, and heart. We are truly so proud to stand with our community by honoring those we’ve lost, celebrating the progress made, and looking ahead with reinvigorated purpose.
We invite you to keep walking this road with us. Whether by donating or attending one of our upcoming events, we hope you’ll consider pledging your support. Our 40th anniversary sponsorship opportunities invite partners to be part of a long-lasting legacy shaped by a promise to our community. One commitment supports care and advocacy all year long
Thank you for being part of our story and the next chapter still to come.
Upcoming Events
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Félix González-Torres Exhibition & Open House
Thursday, April 9 | 5-6 p.m.
Figge Art MuseumJoin us for an open house to view Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s powerful candy-spill work "Untitled" (L.A.), 1991, created the year his partner Ross Laycock died of an AIDS-related complication.
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The Wizard of Oz Screening & LGBTQ+ History Exhibit
Sunday, June 14 | 3 p.m.
Putnam MuseumEnjoy the classic 1939 film in crisp Imax definition at no cost.
History In Perspective: HIV Over 40 Years
Explore these resources to learn more about the history of HIV in the United States, the resilience of communities affected, and the cultural stories—like Judy Garland and the Friends of Dorothy—that helped shape queer identity and connection.
We Are Still Here Documentary - Created by The Project of the Quad Cities, "We Are Still Here" captures the history of HIV both in this country and in this community through the stories of survivors who remind us that we can’t really know where we’re going until we remember where we’ve been. View the Documentary.
HIV.gov – A Timeline of HIV and AIDS — A comprehensive, chronological timeline of the U.S. response to HIV/AIDS from its recognition in 1981 to today. HIV.gov Timeline of HIV/AIDS
National AIDS Memorial Quilt – The Quilt — Learn the history and meaning of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, a major community-led tribute to those lost to HIV/AIDS. AIDS Memorial Quilt – History Info
Interactive AIDS Quilt (Online) — Explore the AIDS Memorial Quilt online, panel by panel, to remember lives and stories from the epidemic. Interactive AIDS Quilt Online
ACT UP — Learn about ACT UP, the grassroots advocacy movement that transformed HIV/AIDS activism and policy. ACT UP Website
Are You a Friend of Dorothy? (Smithsonian) — Smithsonian article explaining the historical use of the phrase in LGBTQ+ folk speech and its cultural significance. Are You a Friend of Dorothy? (Smithsonian)
The Wizard of Oz — Library of Congress Exhibit — Explore the classic American story’s place in cultural history through the Library of Congress exhibition. The Wizard of Oz: An American Fairy Tale (Library of Congress)
How 'Friend of Dorothy' Became Code in the Gay Community (Mental Floss) — A concise explanation of how The Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland shaped coded community language and identity. How ‘Friend of Dorothy’ Became Code in the Gay Community