Smith-Rosenberg, Carroll

Peter Sewally/Mary Jones, June 11, 1836, by Jonathan Ned Katz and Tavia Nyong'o

Two historians, Jonathan Ned Katz and Tavia Nyong’o, present and analyze the story and visual depiction of Peter Sewally/Mary Jones, a Black transgender person in New York City, in 1836. First published on OutHistory in 2017.

Bars and the Queer Economy, 2017, by Jeffrey Escoffier and Christopher Mitchel

Writing about queer bars and drag culture in the 1972 classic Mother Camp, Esther Newton observed that queer communities had “an economics but no economy.” In this exhibit, Jeffrey Escoffier and Christopher Mitchell address the economics of gay bars…

Sexuality and the Modern American Gossip Magazine, 1879-1950s, by Christopher Michael Elias

The growth of gossip magazines and tabloids during the first half of the twentieth century was partially fueled by the industry's embrace of sensational topics such as murder, violence, crime, and corruption. But no subject seemed to attract…

Zapping the New York Academy of Medicine, April 6, 1976, by John D'Emilio and Jonathan Ned Katz

On April 6, 1976, two gay liberation organizations "zapped" (demonstrated at) the New York Academy of Medicine, in New York City, which was hosting a panel on homosexuality sponsored by the Association for Psychoanalytic Medicine, and…

Barbara Gittings: Founding the New York Daughters of Bilitis in 1958, by Jonathan Ned Katz

Barbara Gittings interviewed by Jonathan Ned Katz in 1974 about her development as a Lesbian, and about the founding and early history of the New York Daughters of Bilitis.

Queer Newark, 1885-present, by Timothy Stewart-Winter and Whitney Strub

An exhibit on the often overlooked queer history of Newark, New Jersey, a history that is "tragic at times, but also bold, defiant, and resistant." First published on OutHistory in 2014.

Gay Liberation in New York City, 1969-1973, by Lindsay Branson

An exhibit focusing on the strains of activism that dominated the LGBT political scene in New York City and across the country from 1969 to 1973.

Profiles of Ten LGBT Activists for Social Justice, 2013/2017, by Rich Wilson

Profiles of ten LGBT social justice activists by Rich Wilson. First published December 10, 2013. Last edited: May 28, 2017.

Ruth Peter Worth, 1915 -1997, by Jonathan Ned Katz

Ruth Peter Worth, originally Ruth Wertheimer, was a Jewish Holocaust survivor, a U.S. immigrant, a lesbian, and a long-time home owner in Cherry Grove, Fire Island, New York. Published originally on OutHistory in 2011.

A Gay Youth Group, the FBI, and the Community, 1984, by Mitchell Halberstadt

An exhibit on Gay and Lesbian Youth of New York and its relationship to the FBI in the 1980s.

The Gorilla Was Gay: Remembering Ronald Tavel's "Gorilla Queen," March 1967, by David Kerry Heefner

David Kerry Heefner's reflections on a much loved off-off-Broadway play of the 1960s. Published originally on OutHistory in 2013.

FIERCE: Empowering LGBT Youth of Color, New York City

FIERCE is a membership-based organization building the leadership and power of LGBTQ youth of color in New York City. Text by FIERCE, compiled by Andre Banks, Thomas J. Lax and Ellen Vaz. Photographs courtesy of FIERCE © 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Jennie June/Ralph Werther/Earl Lind: The Riddle of the Underworld, 1921, by Randall Sell

An introduction to the 2010 discovery by historian Randall Sell of Riddle of the Underworld (1921), a long-missing trans memoir by Jennie June/Ralph Werther/Earl Lind, with thanks to Ted Faigle for his transcription work. See also Who Was Jennie…

Chicago Stories, 2008, by John D'Emilio

A series of articles by John D'Emilio written for the Windy City Times about Chicago's gay history and his own career as an historian of sexuality. Published on OutHistory February 5, 2013.

New York City Transgender Rights Law, 2000-2002, by Pauline Park

A historical account of the campaign for a transgender rights law in New York City that occurred from 2000 to 2002. This exhibit was created by Pauline Park, co-chair and co-founder of the New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA).…

Coming Out! A Documentary Play, 1972, by Jonathan Ned Katz

A collection of items about a gay liberation play, including 2013 reflections by the author (OutHistory's founder), reviews, and excerpts.

Colonial America: The Age of Sodomitical Sin, 1607-1783, by Jonathan Ned Katz

The years from 1607 to 1783 constitute the founding era of what became the United States. In the early years of this era, in these American colonies, the penalty for sodomy was death, and a number of executions are documented. Sodomy was usually…

The Campaign for a Gay Rights Bill in New York City: Documents and Photographs, 1971-1986

This exhibit provides a glimpse of events and documents that helped to change New York City laws as they relate to the LGBT communities. The documents and photographs shown here are housed at the La Guardia and Wagner Archives, La Guardia Community…

"Chosen Girl," 2003, by Faith S. Holsaert

A short story set in 1950s Greenwich Village about the love between two women--one white, one black--as observed by the white woman's daughter. Reprinted with the permission of Faith S. Holsaert. Copyright (c) 2003 by Faith S. Holsaert.