Out and Proud in San Antonio
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Online via Zoom
Retracing the History of Pride Celebrations in the Alamo City
Every June, LGBTQ communities across the nation celebrate Pride month to commemorate the Stonewall riots of 1969—the catalyst that launched the modern gay rights movement. For many gay men, lesbians, and transgendered persons, gay liberation translated into visibility, the path out of the darkness of the closet. Newfound visibility was cause for celebration and in large cities throughout the U.S., Pride parades, picnics and rainbow flags marked the collective coming out of a community once relegated to silence and invisibility. But what about San Antonio? Did the city’s LGBTQ community join in the national veneration of Stonewall? In this presentation, LGBTQ historian and archivist, Melissa Gohlke will explore the rich history and evolution of Pride celebrations in San Antonio drawing on archival collections held at UTSA Special Collections.