October is LGTBQ+ History Month
October 2, 2023 Jennifer Magdaloyo
Photo by Edson Rosas on Unsplash.
According to the Library of Congress LGBTQ+ History month was first officially celebrated in the United States in 1994. This coincided with National Coming Out Day on October 11. This month serves as a meaningful time for people to unite in celebration and remembrance of the achievements and struggles that the LGBTQ+ community has faced. It provides an opportunity to reflect on the profound impact of the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement on society and culture — spanning from historic national uprisings and political activism to the efforts of individuals on local levels dedicated to the cause of equality.
There is a rich tapestry of experiences and accomplishments that make-up the LGBTQ+ legacy and this month helps to spotlight the stories and struggles of LGBTQ+ individuals globally. Despite the significant progress made in the realms of equality, diversity, and inclusivity, the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights continues.
In both the United States and many parts of the world, the rights and lives of queer individuals are still subject to contentious debate and scrutiny in various political, social, cultural and economic arenas. For example, Banned Books Week (October 1-7) has highlighted a concerning trend of increased censorship of library materials — with many LGBTQ+ books being at the forefront for facing censorship attempts.
In reaffirmation of our institutional commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion and in recognition of the LGBTQ+ movement and the people who have lived and shaped it — here is a list of resources from the UHWO library collections and ʻUluʻulu Moving Image Archive. These resources are for students, faculty, and staff who wish to delve deeper into LGBTQ+ history and better understand its impact.
The formats for the resources in this list are primarily comprised of online access to various books, videos and book chapters; however a few books are only accessible at UHWO library, which is notated under the title of the resource.
For ʻUluʻulu archival resources, to request access for these clips please visit the ASK AN ARCHIVIST form on the ʻULUʻULU WEBSITE or email uluulu@hawaii.edu.
Please enjoy!!
LGBTQ+ HISTORY & POPULAR CULTURE
The Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Street
By Gayle E. Pitman
This book focuses on the Stonewall Riots which are credited as the spark that ignited the LGBTQ+ movement. This book focuses on the history surrounding the Riots, the Riots themselves, and its impact on history and society.
Why Marriage: The History Shaping Today’s Debate Over Gay Equality
By George Chauncey
This book explores how marriage became the most explosive issue regarding the LGBTQ+ struggle for equality. The author provides historical analysis and explanations of the shifting political attitudes of heterosexual Americans toward gay people over time.
Others of My Kind: Transatlantic Transgender Histories
By Alex Bakker, Rainer Herrn, Michael Thomas Taylor & Annette Tim
This book explores the transatlantic transgender community built from a series of privately exchanged letters and pictures. This community submitted their stories to medical journals and popular magazines to education doctors and the public about being transgender. Their work profoundly shaped the this history and study of gender identity.
Lesbians on Television
By Kate McNicholas Smith
This book examines and traces the historical shifts in understandings of lesbian visibility in western television, film and popular media. The author’s research is based on five case studies of popular British and American television shows featuring lesbian, bisexual, and queer woman characters — The L Word, Skins, Glee, Coronation Street and The Fosters.
Queer Voices in Hip Hop: Culture, Communities, and Contemporary Performance
By Lauron J. Kehrer
This book reclaims queer involvement in hip hop by tracing the histories of hip hop and analyzing it through the lens of Black, Latinx and Queer studies. Drawing from the music of openly queer and trans rappers the book uses their work to emphasize queer influence and impact in the Hip Hop industry.
LGBTQ+ INFLUENTIAL FIGURES
James Baldwin and the Queer Imagination
By Matt Brim
James Baldwin is a central figure in black gay history with both pioneering contributions to fiction and academic scholarship. This book draws from queer theory and black queer studies to examine and understand Baldwin and his work.
An Archive of Hope: Harvey Milk’s Speeches and Writings
By Harvey Milk, Jason Edward Black, and Charles E. Morris
Harvey Milk was one of the first openly and politically gay public officials in the United States. This book represents a collection of his speeches, columns, editorials, political campaign materials and other work gathered from public archives, newspapers, and personal collections.
RuPaul’s Drag Race and Philosophy: Sissy That Thought
Edited by Hendrik Kempt and Megan Volpert
RuPaul is a popular American drag queen credited with bringing drag into the mainstream with the popular show RuPaul’s Drag Race. This book examines the success of the show through a philosophical and analytical lens, focusing on the theories of gender construction and identity, the phenomenology of the drag queen, interpretations of RuPaul’s famous quoters and phrases, and the paradoxes of reality shows.
Pay It No Mind: Marsha P. Johnson (online video)
Directed and produced by Michael Kasino
Marsha P. Johnson was a revolutionary trans activist, participant in the Stonewall Riots and well-known queer figure in New York city from the 1960’s. This documentary features her interview with the director as she recalls her experiences at Stonewall and her life of activism.
“The Words of Woman who Breathes Fire (1983)”
Book chapter from In Chinese American Voices
By Kitty Tsui
Please visit Pages 340- 344 to view
Kitty Tsui is a pioneering figure in Asian queer history and is credited with publishing the first book (Words of a Woman Who Breathes Fire) written by a Chinese-American lesbian in 1983. Coming out in 1973, Tsui has led a life of activism within the LGBTQ+ movement. This book chapter showcases two poems from her book.
LGBTQ+ & PACIFIC RESOURCES
Gender on the Edge: Transgender, Gay, and Other Pacific Islanders
By Niko Besnier & Alexeyeff
This book explores sexuality and the non-normative gendering practices and cultural dynamics in Pacific areas such as Samoa, Tahiti, Hawai’i, Fiji, and New Zealand. Rather than trying to define gender identity, the authors focus on the malleability of identity and how identity is constantly negotiated in everyday life and the meaning and impact of this tension in society and popular culture.
Leitis in Waiting (online video)
Directed by Dean Hamer & Joe Wilson
This documentary follows the story of Joey Mataele and the Tonga Leitis, a group of transgender women fighting religious fundamentalism in their home. The film follows Joey as she organizes a beauty pageant, provides shelter for young contestant rejected by her family, and engages with American evangelicals who seek to resurrect laws that would criminalize their lives.
Kapaemahu
(Physical copy at UHWO library; located on 1st floor display shelf)
By Hinaleimoana Wong-Nalu, Dean Hamer, & Joe Wilson
Kapaemahu is based on an animated short film by the authors that was short listed for an Oscar at the 2021 Oscar awards. It is an indigenous legend that follows four dual male and female spirits from Tahiti as they bring their gifts of healing and gentle ways to the people of Hawaiʻi. This book also brings understanding to mahu history and identity.
The Healer’s Wound: A Queer Theirstory of Polynesia
(Physical copy at UHWO library; located on 1st floor display shelf)
By Dan Taulapapa Mcmullin
Artist Dan Taulapapa Mcmullin explores the conflict between colonialism and indigenous queer cultures of Polynesia. His art using texts and images from and of the peoples of Polynesia in collage format. It is an artist’s book and a poet’s collage based the research and experiences of the artist.
Samoan Queer Lives
(Physical copy at UHWO library; located on 1st floor display shelf)
By Dan Mcmullin and Shigeyuki Kihara
This book is an autobiographical collection of personal stories from the unique lives of Samoan people who identify as faʻafafine, which is broadly understood in Western context as persons who are transgender, intersexed, and third sex or gay, lesbian, bisexual or asexual. This book is the first of its kind and offers insight into the lives and histories of those who are faʻafafine.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
These are archival clips regarding LGBTQ+ issues in Hawaiʻi from various news stations. These clips are compiled by the ʻUluʻulu Moving Image Archive staff and come from the collections of the Uluʻulu The Henry Kuʻualoha Gigni Moving Image Archive of Hawaiʻi at UHWO.
Access to these resources must be requested from ʻUluʻulu.
To request access please visit the ASK AN ARCHIVIST form on the ʻULUʻULU WEBSITE or email uluulu@hawaii.edu.
Glades Nightclub Show (ca. 1973)
Bishop Museum Media Collection
Clip from a KHET-TV ca. 1973 program discussing gender roles and showing segments of Glades Nightclub show “Boys Will Be Girls Review.”
Moʻolelo O Ka Aina, 1984 – Tape 179B
KITV Collection
Programming Subcollection
Program summarizing news highlights of 25 years of statehood; includes segment on changing attitudes towards LGBTQ communities in the islands and highlighting adult nightclub owner Jack Cione, his controversial club the Dunes and his hiring of one of the first openly transgender performers at the time, Lin Loo.
Other archival clips
K-108 Radio Station Gay Issues Show Challenged by Christian Coalition Petition – ENG 189 (6/28/81)
Two segments included on challenges made by the Christian Coalition to a radio show that discussed gay issues.
KGMB Collection
KGMB News Subcollection
Ms.Gay Pacifica Pageant on Moloka’i – ENG 655 (11/1/1985)
LGBTQ beauty pageant for Kumu Billy Ka’aihue’s Halau Benefit. Mayor and local religious leaders challenged the pageant.
KGMB Collection
KGMB News Subcollection
“Nightbeat with Dick Allgire” ENG 757 (10/24/86)
3rd Annual Fantasy Ball Gay Pageant at Princess Ka’iulani Hotel
KGMB Collection
KGMB News Subcollection
Legislature Gay Rights Bill – ENG 786 (3/4/87)
Support for gay and lesbian rights bill disappears in Hawai’i Legislature.
KGMB Collection
KGMB News Subcollection
