Abstract
The Las Vegas, Nevada Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) Collection documents the social and political activities of Las Vegas, Nevada's LGBTQ community from 1955 to 2020. The collection includes hundreds of newspaper articles about LGBTQ issues, ranging from AIDS to Nevada legislation. The collection also documents the presence of the LGBTQ community in Las Vegas, including material from gay bars, nightclubs, social clubs, advocacy and political organizations, entertainers, and student groups. Previously known as the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Collection.
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Scope and Contents Note
The Las Vegas, Nevada Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) Collection documents the LGBTQ community's social and political activities in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1955 to 2020. The collection includes newspaper articles on AIDS, homophobia, LGBTQ events and clubs, sexual assault, education, equal rights movements, prostitution, religious reactions and outreach, legislation, drag shows, pornography, transsexuality, and various LGBTQ bars and restaurants. The collection also includes fliers for LGBTQ entertainment, public health outreach, and political organizations.
In addition, the collection contains copies of several LGBTQ newspapers and newsletters, including Bohemian Bugle (1986-1990), The Directory (1984), Nevada Gay Times (1983-1984), and Vegas Gay Times (1978-1981). Also included are public health reports, conference programs, educational literature, official proclamations, and documents from several political advocacy groups including Nevadans for Human Rights, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, the Lesbian and Gay Academic Union, and Las Vegas Pride.
Previously known as the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Collection.
Access Note
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See xlink:title="Reproductions and Use"> Reproductions and Use
Arrangement
These records are organized into two series:
Series I. Alphabetical subject files, 1955-1997;
Series II. Additional accessions, 1970s-2020.
Biographical / Historical Note
In 1861, the Nevada Territory legislative assembly passed a law punishing "the infamous crime against nature," sodomy. The statute, not repealed until 1993, was broadly enforced across the state and created an atmosphere of fear and repression that prevented the development of an active LGBTQ community until the 1970s. Today, the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) community exists as an essential element of the Las Vegas, Nevada social, political, and economic environment, supporting and promoting the development and well-being of its members and allies. The community's entertainment and nightclub scene, active social and community organizations, and political advocacy groups inform, entertain, and work to protect and encourage LGBTQ individuals and groups often marginalized by larger society.
Source:
McBride, Dennis. Out of the Neon Closet: Queer Community in the Silver State. North Charleston, SC: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.
Preferred Citation
Las Vegas, Nevada LGBTQ Collection, 1955-2020. MS-00251. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/f1p01p
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Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 1985, 2001, 2017, and 2023 by Dennis McBride; accession numbers 1985-121, 2001-23, 2017-164, and 2023-045. Multiple unnumbered donations between 1985 and 1997 have also been added to the collection.
Processing Note
Materials were processed by Dennis McBride in 1985. In 2014, as part of a legacy finding aid conversion project, Lindsay Oden revised and enhanced the collection description to bring it into compliance with current professional standards. Subsequently Lindsay Oden entered the data into ArchivesSpace. In 2019, as part of an archival backlog elimination project, Melise Leech added additional material from later accessions and revised the collection description to bring it into compliance with current professional standards. In 2022, Sarah Jones added the 2022 accession to the collection (box 17). In 2023, Sarah Jones updated the finding aid to include the 2023 audiovisual material and corresponding digital files.