The month of June is recognized as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month (aka Pride Month). It is celebrated to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan; however, “Gay Pride Day” was also initially celebrated the last Sunday in June and was later expanded to include this month-long celebration.
To recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history, literature and culture, we invite you to explore the following books and materials that feature LGBTQ+ voices from Special Collections.
- I Am Your Sister: Black Women Organizing Across Sexualities (1985) by Audre Lorde – The internationally acclaimed author challenges homophobia as a divisive force, particularly among Black women. This copy is accompanied by a button.
- LGBTQ+Voices: A Mini Poetry Anthology in Honor of Stonewall Remembrance Days (2017) – Poetry zine to remember Stonewall and acknowledge the continued struggle of the LGBTQ+ community. “In order to have a positive future we must remember the past, and pay tribute to those before us who had the courage to make a stand, no matter what the sacrifice” (from back cover).
- Gay Sunshine Interview (1974) – Transcript of an interview with Allen Ginsberg in which he discloses that he and Jack Kerouac had an ongoing sexual relationship. This work is part of the Bemis/Flaherty Collection of Gay Poetry.
- Square Pegs: Queer Youth Zine (link coming soon) (1995) – Zine of poetry, essays, short fiction and art from queer youth in mid-90s Santa Cruz, California. Authors include BAMGARNER, Sean Josh Wolff, Alan Lopez and Lanetta Smyth who cover topics from racial fetishization, bisexual erasure, religious trauma and fat reclamation in the queer community.
- Poetry of Sappho (2011) – Greek love poetry by Sappho, poet and symbol of love and desire between women, with wood engravings by Anita Cowles Rearden; in Greek with English translation by John Daley with Page duBois; interspersed with twenty prints by Julie Mehretu.
- Tony Scott Collection of Alice B. Toklas and Thornton Wilder – Original letters and postcards from Alice B. Toklas, life partner of Gertrude Stein, to Pomona College alumnus, writer and TV critic Tony Scott.
- Social Movement Collection – Features LGBTQ+ periodicals, like “Lewd Conduct” and issues of the “Black Lesbian Newsletter,” and a flyer for the 1st Annual Latino Female Impersonators Beauty Pageant in Los Angeles.
If you are interested in examining any of these materials, we invite you to make a Special Collections Reading Room appointment. Questions can be directed to specialcollections@claremont.edu or (909) 607-3977.