Picturing Equality: The Lambda Network at Kodak

In the mid 1990s through the early 2000s, the Lambda Network at Kodak, a groundbreaking LGBTQ employee resource group, challenged workplace homophobia and advocated for LGBTQ rights at the corporation's Rochester headquarters and beyond. While existing literature recognizes the importance of LGBTQ workplace rights and employee activism, few studies explore the specific impact of corporate-level LGBTQ advocacy, particularly within major companies like Kodak. This project offers a unique contribution by documenting the Lambda Network’s history, its successes, and its lasting influence on both corporate policy and broader cultural norms. The research methodology includes an in-depth analysis of Lambda’s archival materials, oral history interviews with former members, a review of Kodak's marketing campaigns and LGBTQ policy, and history of queer portrait photography, all of which will be showcased in a physical exhibition at the George Eastman Museum in 2026. Through analysis of these unique primary sources, the project demonstrates Lambda's role in shaping inclusive corporate cultures and advancing LGBTQ rights both in Rochester and nationally. The expected outcome is that visitors to the George Eastman Museum and online exhibition will learn about the history and legacy of the Lambda Network at Kodak and gain appreciation for the significance of worker activism and inclusive workplaces.