Making the Invisible Visible: Documenting NYC’s LGBT Cultural Heritage

With introductory remarks by historian George Chauncey (author of Gay New York) and a brief salute to special guest Dick Leitsch, pioneering Mattachine Society activist.

Despite common misconception, New York City’s LGBT community has a long and vibrant history that predates the 1969 Stonewall rebellion. Existing historic sites associated with arts and culture, important social centers such as bars and LGBT organization locations, residences of notable figures, and activism (to name a few) span as far back as the 18th century. Yet despite this history, these tangible reminders of the city’s LGBT community remain largely unknown and potentially endangered.

At this program, learn about our project and our ongoing survey of historic and cultural sites throughout the city’s five boroughs. Directors Andrew S. Dolkart, Ken Lustbader, and Jay Shockley and project manager Amanda Davis will also discuss the interactive online map of sites that the public will be able to use in order to learn more about LGBT place-based history when it launches later this year. The map will also utilize the resources of the New York Public Library’s extensive LGBT collections.