From the Dennis McBride Photograph Collection (PH-00263) -- LGBTQ+ events and organizations in Las Vegas, Nevada -- Digital images file. Notes from the donor, Dennis McBride: Sevcik, et. Al. vs Sandoval was the court case which led in part to overturning Nevada's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. On April 10, 2012 the Lambda Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit on behalf of eight Nevada same-sex couples; the rally depicted in these photographs was called at the Center to celebrate the filing. For more on the same-sex marriage issue in Nevada, see Out of the Neon Closet: Queer Community in the Silver State, by Dennis McBride [North Charleston, SC: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016], pp. 273-318. Individuals identified by the donor, Dennis McBride: David Parks [Nevada State Senator, District 7, Democrat (gay)]
Bert Hood is celebrated in Las Vegas's gay history for his ownership of the Red Barn, one of our most famous gay bars. This is another of those serendipitous interviews I've conducted with someone I very much wanted to interview but didn't know how to find. Bert's in Las Vegas from Oklahoma City for just a short while visiting old friends, and I was lucky enough to have found him through Bill Schafer, president of the Southern Nevada Gay and Lesbian Historical Society. I want to thank you, Bert, for donating these two hours of your vacation time to me so I can preserve your stories for the gay community.
From the Dennis McBride Photograph Collection (PH-00263) -- LGBTQ+ events and organizations in Las Vegas, Nevada -- Digital images file. Notes from the donor, Dennis McBride: In recognition of Gay Pride Week the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority changed the bulbs outlining the Welcome to Las Vegas sign from yellow to rainbow-colored. For a detailed description of this event, see Dennis McBride journal entry for September 8, 2013. Individuals identified by the donor, Dennis McBride: Dina Titus [U. S. House of Representatives, Democrat]; Chris Giunchigliani [Clark County Commissioner, District E, Democrat]; Teresa Benitez-Thompson [Nevada State Assemblywoman, District 27, Democrat]; unidentified show boy; James Healey [Nevada State Assemblyman, District 35, Democrat (gay)]; Nelson Araujo [representative from U. S. Senator-NV Harry Reid's office; Democrat (gay)]; Larry Edwards [African American female impersonator]; unidentified man; Heidi Swank [Nevada State Assemblywoman, District 16, Democrat]; unidentified Asian man
From the Dennis McBride Photograph Collection (PH-00263) -- LGBTQ+ events and organizations in Las Vegas, Nevada -- Digital images file. Notes from the donor, Dennis McBride: This series of photographs of the Gipsy nightclub arson fire was downloaded from the Internet on August 20, 2018 and includes Guava Soleil's captions. Efforts to reach Soleil were unsuccessful. Soleil's caption for image no. 4653 reads, "Gipsy's/Evening Gown/Miss Gay Las Vegas Pageant." For more on the Gipsy fire see Out of the Neon Closet: Queer Community in the Silver State, by Dennis McBride [North Charleston, SC: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016], pp. 36-37. Also see the Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 9, 1988, 11E; the Bohemian Bugle extra, August 9, 1988; and the Las Vegas Bugle, December 1993, pp. 20-22. Individuals identified by the donor, Dennis McBride: Guava Soleil
From the Dennis McBride Photograph Collection (PH-00263) -- LGBTQ+ events and organizations in Las Vegas, Nevada -- Digital images file. Notes from the donor, Dennis McBride: This series of photographs of the Gipsy nightclub arson fire was downloaded from the Internet on August 20, 2018 and includes Guava Soleil's captions. Efforts to reach Soleil were unsuccessful. Soleil's caption for image no. 4654 reads, "Gipsy's/Talent Competition/Miss Gay Las Vegas Pageant." For more on the Gipsy fire see Out of the Neon Closet: Queer Community in the Silver State, by Dennis McBride [North Charleston, SC: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016], pp. 36-37. Also see the Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 9, 1988, 11E; the Bohemian Bugle extra, August 9, 1988; and the Las Vegas Bugle, December 1993, pp. 20-22. Individuals identified by the donor, Dennis McBride: Guava Soleil
From the Dennis McBride Photograph Collection (PH-00263) -- LGBTQ+ events and organizations in Las Vegas, Nevada -- Digital images file. Notes from the donor, Dennis McBride: This series of photographs of the Gipsy nightclub arson fire was downloaded from the Internet on August 20, 2018 and includes Guava Soleil's captions. Efforts to reach Soleil were unsuccessful. Soleil's caption for image no. 4655 reads, "Gipsy's/Talent Competition/Miss Gay Las Vegas Pageant." For more on the Gipsy fire see Out of the Neon Closet: Queer Community in the Silver State, by Dennis McBride [North Charleston, SC: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016], pp. 36-37. Also see the Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 9, 1988, 11E; the Bohemian Bugle extra, August 9, 1988; and the Las Vegas Bugle, December 1993, pp. 20-22. Individuals identified by the donor, Dennis McBride: Guava Soleil
Oral history interview with Christie Young conducted by Dennis McBride on October 18, 1998 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In the interview, Young talks about her early life in Reno, Nevada and her experiences with race and sexuality during this time. She then describes attending University of Nevada, Reno in 1974, getting pregnant, having an abortion, and the social implications of abortions. Young recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1979 to study anthropology at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, learning about gay culture, and attending the Metropolitan Community Church. She then explains joining gay rights organizations as a straight woman, gay rights activism in the 1980s and 1990s, and stories of individuals within the Las Vegas gay community.
From the Dennis McBride Photograph Collection (PH-00263) -- LGBTQ+ events and organizations in Las Vegas, Nevada -- Digital images file. Notes from the donor, Dennis McBride: This series of photographs of the Gipsy nightclub arson fire was downloaded from the Internet on August 20, 2018 and includes Guava Soleil's captions. Efforts to reach Soleil were unsuccessful. Soleil's caption for image no. 4644 reads, "The night they burned old Gipsy down...I took this pix. I was there that eve competing in the Miss Gay Las Vegas Pageant (hosted by Kenny Kerr). I was poised to take the crown.....somebody gas bombed the place and it burned to the ground!! One word: CARRIE !!!! — " For more on the Gipsy fire see Out of the Neon Closet: Queer Community in the Silver State, by Dennis McBride [North Charleston, SC: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016], pp. 36-37. Also see the Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 9, 1988, 11E; the Bohemian Bugle extra, August 9, 1988; and the Las Vegas Bugle, December 1993, pp. 20-22.
Oral history interviews with David Parks conducted by Dennis McBride on February 16 and 21, 2000 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In the interviews, Parks talks about his early life in Boston, Massachusetts, his education, and his service with the United States Air Force, where he was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1967. Parks then recalls understanding his sexuality during his military service and policies regarding gay military personnel. He remembers coming out as gay in 1972, when he attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and worked for the City of Las Vegas as a computer operator. He then talks about getting involved with politics, his involvement with gay support organizations including Aid for AIDS of Nevada, and his experiences running as the first openly gay Nevada State Assemblyman in 1996. Lastly, Parks discusses same sex rights legislation that was brought forward during his time in office.