Oral history interviews with Patricia Vazquez conducted by Marcela Rodriguez-Campo, Monserrath Hernandez, and Rodrigo Vazquez on November 14, 2018 and June 14, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In these interviews, Vazquez discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada before moving to Mexico. She talks about the transition of moving back to the United States from Mexico in 1970. Vazquez then describes how she was selected for special education in elementary school because she did not speak English, her education experience in the Clark County School District, and later being placed into Advanced Placement classes. She then shares coming out as a lesbian, her family dynamics after announcing her sexuality, and talks about what it is like to come out in the Latinx community. Vazquez describes her art and explains that her paintings depict moments in her life that defined her as a person. Later, Vazquez describes her involvement in queer activism in Las Vegas through the Latino Youth Leadership Conference and Planned Parenthood. Lastly, Vazquez discusses her involvement in diverse hiring committees for the College of Southern Nevada (CSN), which is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), and teaching literature courses at CSN.
Archival Collection
This video records the commitment ceremony between African American lesbians Caroline [dressed in a gown] and Elsa [dressed in a suit]--their surnames are not given--in the courtyard of the LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada in celebration of National Freedom to Marry Day. Among those attending the ceremony are Lori Lipman Brown and Gary Peck of the ACLU. [00:00:00 - 00:07:30]
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The UNLV Center for Social Justice (CSJ) Records (2015-2016) are primarily comprised of postcards and fliers advertising events hosted and sponsored by CSJ at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Events advertised include the Stand Up. Speak Out. event series. This series aligned with Latin heritage celebrations; LGBTQIAA student, staff, and faculty luncheon;
Archival Collection
Tamara Pickett was born Terry Lee Pickett. As a male, he served as a soldier in the United States Army. Terry finished her transition to Tamara with sexual reassignment surgery in 1996. As Tamara, she is known for her activism in Las Vegas, Nevada, especially her successful campaign for better health care provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for transgender veterans. She was also involved with the Nevada Gender League and The Turnabouts, a transgender support group in Las Vegas.
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The Strutt Hurley Collection on the Southern Nevada Pride Association, Inc. (SNAPI) and Las Vegas Pride (1989-2000) contains materials collected and produced by Strutt Hurley during her tenure as Director of Entertainment of SNAPI. Materials include meeting minutes, advertising contracts, Las Vegas Pride programs, and ephemera collected from Pride celebrations in Las Vegas, Nevada and other parts of the United States and the world.
Archival Collection
Jahna Steele, aka Jahna Reis [d. January 24, 2008], was a renowned transgender performer in Las Vegas whose reputation became international through the 1990s and 2000s. Steele hosted The World's Most Beautiful Transsexual Contest at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 2004. For information on Steele, see Out of the Neon Closet: Queer Community in the Silver State, by Dennis McBride [North Charleston, SC: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016], pp. 153-154. For Steele's obituary, see the Las Vegas Review-Journal, January 29, 2008, p. 4B. Also see "Jahna Steele: Woman of Steele" [QVegas, December 2005, 34] and "Jahna Steele" [Las Vegas Review-Journal, October 10, 2010, 4J]. This videotape is a promotional item of Steele's entertainment career. [00:00:00 - 00:06:38]
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The Marge Jacques Papers (1960-1990) comprise the personal papers of Marge Jacques, a prominent member of the Las Vegas, Nevada gay and lesbian community, and owner of the gay bar, Le Cafe. The papers contain correspondence, licensing records, financial statements, and artifacts from clubs that Jacques owned or managed. Also included are photographs, videotapes, audiotapes, newspaper clippings, and Gipsy Nightclub promotional material.
Archival Collection
Established in 1982 in Las Vegas, the queer Satyricon Motorcycle Club hosted an annual run they called Hell on Heels, which was attended by queer motorcycle clubs from throughout the Western United States. Celebrated over two or three days, the run included a fundraising stage production featuring musical numbers and lip-synched drag performances by club members. This video records the 8th annual Hell on Heels stage production, which includes Las Vegas lesbian activist and Satyricons member Lisa Hernandez--here in top hat and tails. See "Satyricon Bash Celebrates 8th Year" [Las Vegas Bugle, May 1989, 1]. [00:00:00 - 01:56:00]
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