The 2017 addition contains research files (1929-2016) created by Dennis McBride in writing his book, Out of the Neon Closet: Queer Community in the Silver State. This series contains several biographical materials on prominent LGBTQ persons in Las Vegas, as well as brochures and pamphlets on LGBTQ organizations in Las Vegas, bars and nightclubs, and transgender persons.
Archival Collection
Dennis McBride Collection on LGBTQ Las Vegas, Nevada
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Collection Number: MS-00802 Collection Name: Dennis McBride Collection on LGBTQ Las Vegas, Nevada Box/Folder: N/A
The Kendall Stagg Collection (1998-2000) consists of material documenting Kendall Stagg’s political races in northern Nevada and also details gay activism in Reno. The collection consists of Stagg campaign materials, a t-shirt from one of his campaigns, and documents pertaining to the Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Student Union at the University of Nevada, Reno and Gay Pride parade organizing in Reno.
The Nevada State Protection of Marriage Initiative Collection (2000) consists of Clark County, Nevada petition signatures in favor of the initiative to exclude gay and lesbian Nevadans from marriage. The "Protection of Marriage Initiative" was also known as Question Two on the ballot. Much of this material is photocopied from the Nevada State Archives and contains pages from Clark County, including Boulder City, as well as notable Southern Nevada signatures.
The Gay Business Directories Collection, compiled by Dennis McBride, dates from 1992 to 2015 and consists of gay and lesbian business telephone directories from sixteen North American markets, including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver.
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 Collection
Las Vegas, Nevada LGBTQ Collection
To request this item in person:
Collection Number: MS-00251 Collection Name: Las Vegas, Nevada LGBTQ Collection Box/Folder: Box 19, Digital File 00
Jonathan “Jon” Sparer of Las Vegas, Nevada, is a retired architect who is active in the local Jewish and LGBTQ communities. He grew up on Long Island, New York, in the hamlet of Woodmere, where his father was an importer. After graduating in Architecture from Ohio State University in 1977 Jon moved to Los Angeles, California, where he worked first with architect Jack Chernoff, then with architect Bob Barnett until 1981, when he accompanied his future wife and college classmate who worked for Martin Stern to Las Vegas. Stern sent her to open a field office to supervise the reconstruction of the MGM Grand after it burned in November 1980. Once in Las Vegas, Jon began working for architect Homer Rissman on Steve Wynn’s future project, The Mirage. Although Jon switched firms, he continued working on The Mirage and other Wynn projects with Marnell Corrao, where he would stay until 2001. Ironically, Jon’s original supervisor at Marnell Corrao was his future husband, architect John R. Klai II; Klai’s subordinate in turn was Jon’s Spring Valley neighbor. After Jon left Marnell in 2001, he became a founding principal architect at YWS Design & Architecture. Although he has retired from full-time architecture, Jon has since designed the Temple for Congregation Ner Tamid (pictured above) and The Center (Las Vegas's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer community center). Jon remains active in the AIA Las Vegas Chapter as the incoming president as well as serving as a board member for Jewish Family Services Agency and The Center.
The Daniel Hinkley papers are comprised of material documenting Hinkley's work on behalf of the gay community in Las Vegas, Nevada between the years of 1991 to 2016. It includes Hinkley's files on the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, the campaign against Question 2, and various subjects related to the gay community in Las Vegas.
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.