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
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: Heidi Swank [Nevada State Assemblywoman, District 16, Democrat]; David Parks [Nevada State Senator, District 7, Democrat (gay)]; unidentified Asian man; Larry Edwards [African American female impersonator]; unidentified man; Nelson Araujo [representative from U. S. Senator-NV Harry Reid's office; Democrat (gay)]; unidentified man