Our Voices: LGBTQ+ Stories of Northeastern Wisconsin
The UW-Green Bay Archives project, Our Voices: LGBTQ+ Stories of Northeastern Wisconsin will be formally launched as part of the upcoming Green Bay event, A Weekend of Pride!. The launch is in the form of a unique interactive exhibit highlighting the history of the local LGBTQ+ community. In addition to featuring photos, memorabilia, and a historical timeline, attendees will be invited to share their stories and experiences.
The display will be available for viewing at the Art Garage (1400 Cedar Street, Green Bay), August 21, from Noon to 6 p.m. and August 22, from Noon to 4 p.m.
A Weekend of Pride! is a three-day event that includes a LGBTQ+ Mural Uunveiling and Door-Opening Celebration and block party. See more at Napalese.com.
Our Voices grew out of a recent University course led by UW-Green Bay Associate Prof. Kimberley Reilly (Democracy and Justice Studies), in partnership with Deb Anderson, UW-Green Bay archivist. The goal of the course was to capture and save the history of Northeastern Wisconsin’s LGBTQ+ community. Participating students conducted oral history interviews, analyzed local LGBTQ+ publications, mapped Green Bay bars, and researched LGBTQ+ artists. At the same time, the Archives Department was asked to become the history keeper for two prominent local organizations, Rainbow Over Wisconsin, and Positive Voice. In the past year original materials were also received from Napalese Lounge and Grille, a local politician, and a drag queen.
These one-of-a-kind documents, along with the 20 oral history interviews, conducted thus far, are the basis for the Our Voices collection.
“This is meant to be a truly collaborative community project, Anderson noted. “By gathering historical materials as well as the memories and experiences of individuals, the Archives Department hopes to preserve the rich stories of Northeastern Wisconsin’s LGBTQ+ individuals and organizations.”
For more information on the pop-up exhibit, see the Archives Department Facebook page. For more information about A Weekend of Pride!, see www.napalese.com/lgbtq-mural.
For additional questions contact Deb Anderson at archives@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2539.
About the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Established in 1965, UW-Green Bay is a public institution serving 8,970 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students and 79,604 continuing education enrollees each year across all campus locations. We educate students from pre-college through retirement and offer 200+ degrees, programs and certificates. UW-Green Bay graduates are resilient, inclusive, sustaining and engaged members of their communities, ready to rise to fearlessly face challenges, solve problems and embrace diverse ideas and people. With four campus locations, the University welcomes students from every corner of the world. In 2020, UW-Green Bay was the fastest growing UW school in Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.