Gay and Lesbian Rights

AFT: Human Rights and Community Relations Records

dgolodner — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:04:52 -0400

The Human Rights and Community Relations Department of the American Federation of
Teachers was created by Vice President Richard Parrish October 2, 1966. Before the
official department was created it was a standing committee and then a permanent
committee with in the executive council. The department was created as an office in the
AFT that would be responsible for collecting and distributing information about the
government, education and community policies and programs dealing with civil and
human rights. The most important duty of the department is to guide the AFT in any
“involvement with or commitment to labor and other organizations concerned with civil
and human rights.”

Part One of the collection deals with the Racism in Education conference that the AFT sponsored throughout the late 1960s to the early 1970s. Other materials are general subject files and correspondence to and from the Civil Rights Department. Part Two of the collection pertains to black history, race relations and women’s rights on both national and local levels. The collection consists of AFT files as well as meeting and conference information. The department maintained a large section of subject files relating to civil and human rights in education.

Ferndale Civil Rights Ordinance Records

srafferty — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 11:35:48 -0500

The Ferndale Civil Rights Ordinance was put on a ballot for a November 1991 election vote. The ordinance was created to protect gay members of the community from discrimination based on sexual orientation in business, housing, and public accommodations. This collection contains a vote yes pamphlet, list of petition signers, and Memorandum 3 by County Commissioner Rudy Serra answering a number of questions about the proposed ordinance. Rudy Serra who served as a County Commissioner at the time of 1991 ordinance holds a law degree from Wayne State University and was later appointed as a Judge to the 36th District Court in 2004. Though this civil rights ordinance did not pass in 1991, or when a similar version was reintroduced in 2000, a human rights ordinance was passed in Ferndale in 2006. This collection contains pamphlets, ordinance memorandum 3, and a list of petition signers.

LGBT Detroit Records

kschmeling — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 14:51:43 -0400

LGBT Detroit started as Kick Publishing Company in 1994. Based in Detroit, Kick was the third Black American LGBT media company created in the United States. Distributed nationally, Kick Magazine provided the LGBT community with information, awareness, and a way to organize. In 2003, Kick Publishing Company was revitalized into the non-profit organization: KICK- The Agency for LGBT African Americans. KICK focused on health, education, employment, and social justice for the African American LGBT community in the Detroit area. Their mission was to increase awareness and to support Detroit’s dynamic LGBT culture through education and advocacy. They organized and sponsored many expos, exhibits, summits, and other social gatherings. In 2015, KICK was rebranded as LGBT Detroit to better reflect their leadership and connection to the Detroit LGBT community.

Wayne State University Lesbian Gay Bisexual Services Records

astankrauff — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 12:58:29 -0500

This collection documents Wayne State University’s first office to serve its lesbian, gay, and bisexual campus population, known as Lesbian Gay Bisexual Services. The office was started in 1994 and eventually was subsumed into other campus service departments by 1998. During its tenure, the office furnished a wide array of services including personal counseling, educational programming and outreach to the LGBTQ campus community and the Greater Detroit area.

Collection Spotlight: Gay Liberator

Public Relations Team — Wed, 10 May 2017 11:49:39 -0400

This blog post was contributed by Autumn Diaz, a student in Wayne State University's archives program in Winter 2017.

The Reuther Library holds many important historical collections, and as history inevitably repeats itself, many are more relevant than ever to current events. The Gay Liberator collection, in the space of just two compact boxes, offers a history unique to Detroit and its LGBT community. Published from 1970-1976, the Gay Liberator also reflects growing political awareness read more »

Collection Spotlight: LGBT Materials at the Reuther Library

Public Relations Team — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 10:10:14 -0400

The Reuther Library is pleased to announce the opening of several new collections related to LGBT History in Southeast Michigan.

Though collecting material related to civil rights and social movements in Southeast Detroit has always been a mission for the Walter P. Reuther Library, we aim to grow the LGBT collection to include a broader range of voices. To this end, the Reuther will have a table at Detroit’s Hotter Than July! picnic on July 30th at Palmer Park to bring greater awareness to our archival collections. This event is part of a week-long celebration of Black LGBT pride and is sponsored by LGBT Detroit.

In conjunction with this festival the Reuther is pleased to announce that the LGBT Detroit Records are open for research. read more »

(4923) Demonstrations, Free Speech, LGBTQ Rights, San Francisco, 1992

eclemens — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 12:26:32 -0400

Members and supporters of the IWW hold signs that support free speech and advocate for gay rights within organized labor through the creation of "militant queer unions." The demonstration took place outside of the EndUp night club located at Sixth Street and Harrison in San Francisco.

(4930) Pickets, "The EndUp," San Francisco, 1992

eclemens — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 12:26:32 -0400

IWW demonstrators picket “The EndUp” night club in San Francisco. Signs read: “What we demand - rehire fired Wobs, recognize our union,” and “End-Up Unfair to workers.”

(35943) Clipping from the Gay Liberator, 1970

mcourtney — Wed, 10 May 2017 11:44:03 -0400

(35999) Gay Rights Parade, AFSCME Banner, Washington, DC, 1993

scaloia — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 09:53:49 -0400

March participants hold an AFSCME banner at the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation, Washington, DC, April 25, 1993.

(36000) AFSCME, Rainbow Banner, Gay Rights March, 1993

scaloia — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 09:58:00 -0400

March participants hold a large rainbow banner at the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation, Washington, DC, April 25, 1993.

(36001) AFSCME, District Council 37 Members at Gay Rights March, 1993

scaloia — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 10:00:59 -0400

Members of AFSCME DC 37 New York, Lesbian and Gay Issues Committee (LAGIC), at the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation. Second from left is Regina Shavers, who spoke at the event as a representative of the American labor movement. Washington, DC, April 25, 1993.

(36002) AFSCME, President McEntee, Gay Rights Parade, 1993

scaloia — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 10:03:48 -0400

Then-President of AFSCME Gerald McEntee stands with Regina Shavers (right) and another individual outside the AFL-CIO headquarters building. Shavers, a member of AFSCME DC 37, spoke as the representative of the American labor movement at the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation, Washington, DC, April 25, 1993.

(36003) AFSCME, Labor Cares Banner, Gay Rights Parade, 1993

scaloia — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 10:06:15 -0400

A large group of people representing several labor unions, including AFSCME, hold a banner that reads “Labor Cares” on the National Mall at the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation, Washington, DC, April 25, 1993.

This Union Cause: The Queer History of the United Automobile Workers

teller — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 16:54:57 -0400

Wayne State history PhD candidate James McQuaid discusses his research on the gradual cognizance and acceptance of queer autoworkers in the twentieth century, leading toward the UAW’s rapid embrace of LGBTQ-friendly policies and initiatives in the 1990s. read more »

[Podcast] The Carter Presidency and Gay Rights

teller — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 15:14:33 -0500

Dr. Harris Dousemetzis shares the extraordinary impact of U.S. President Jimmy Carter on gay rights in the 1970s and early 1980s, from instituting policies to prevent anti-gay discrimination of most federal employees to facilitating IRS nonprofit status for gay rights organizations and community centers, enabling them to receive federal funding for educational materials and health clinics, among other things. read more »

Gay Liberator

kchinery — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 11:22:03 -0500

Processed. Vol. 1:1-48. Previous title: Detroit Gay Liberator, 1970-1971. No issues published April-August 1971. Published in Detroit, Michigan.