The alphabetical subject files (1955-1997) contains newspaper clippings articles, business information, conference materials, and community organizational materials related to the Las Vegas, Nevada Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) community. Subjects include HIV, LGBTQ businesses, censorship, conferences, education, entertainment, human rights, publications, religion, rodeo, and social events.
Archival Component
From the Las Vegas Bugle Photograph Collection on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History (PH-00336). Unidentified event evidently sponsored by the Imperial Royal Court of the Desert Empire Inc., c. 1998 [known in 1998 as the Imperial Royal Sovereign Court of the Desert Empire, Inc.]. See paper inside envelope for ID's. Xeroxed insert in envelope with identification out of order: "Unidentified event, evidently sponsored by the Imperial Royal Court of the Desert Empire, Inc., c. 1998 [known in 1998 as the Imperial Royal Sovereign Court of the Desert Empire, Inc.]. In the red gown: Baroness I DeShannon; in the dress uniform: Baron I Mark. Identification of those posed with the Baron and Baroness: nos. 0-1) Ken Tomoroy; nos. 5-6) Dr. Jerry Cade; nos. 7-8) Antioco Carrillo of the Community Counseling Center, and Youth Director at teh [the] Gay and Lesbian Community Center; nos. 9-10) Sue Ann Melfi; nos. 11-12) Rev. [Reverend] David Gillentine of the Metroplitan Community Church; no. 15) Vincent Frey; nos. 16-18) Jack Novick, owner of the Spotlight Lounge [19 images (duplicates; with negatives)]."
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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
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The Rick L. May Papers document social and political activities of Las Vegas, Nevada's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community from 1982 to 1997. The papers include records from the Gay Academic Union of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; various gay pride celebrations in Los Angeles, California and Las Vegas; the Metropolitan Community Church's outreach to the LGBT community; as well as Rick L. May's own notes and collections about LGBT-supportive stores like R and R Assordid Sundries. The collection also includes several t-shirts that commemorate the pride celebrations. The papers demonstrate how the pride celebrations that began in 1984 were the result of efforts from several sectors of Las Vegas' LGBT community.
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]
Archival Component
The additional accessions series (1970-2020) contains additional material related to the Las Vegas, Nevada Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) community, including articles, newsletters, serial publications, conference materials, certificates, awards, and proclamations. Also included are artifacts related to LGBTQ social and political activities in Nevada. Also included are audiovisual materials that have been reformatted into digital files by the donor.
Archival Component
Out of the Neon Closet: Queer Community in the Silver State records (2007-2017) are comprised of Dennis McBride's research and working files for his book on the history of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) community in Nevada. The records include correspondence from Dennis McBride to different publishers detailing his research. The collection also includes copies of his book proposal, peer reviews, manuscript drafts, and proofs.
Archival Collection