In creating the exhibit, historians examined newspaper accounts and other documents as well as conducting nine oral histories with leaders who were involved in LGBT milestone events in the city. In addition to the oral histories, the project collected thousands of photos, documents and artifacts from individuals and organizations including Long Beach Pride, The Center and the Imperial Court.
Photos and artifacts that represented the LGBT history and experience in Long Beach were curated into the exhibit along with quotes from the oral histories. Most of the photos, documents and other artifacts (which included buttons, banners, matchbooks, etc.) have become part of a permanent archive that can be used by researchers in the future.
“Before this project, no one had attempted to collect and chronicle the history of LGBT people in Long Beach,” Briegel said. “During the past year, we’ve had the chance to talk to the many people who’ve come to see the exhibit and to hear their recollections and to understand what the events depicted meant to them. My hope is that Porter Gilberg and I can begin to share and discuss our analyses of what we’ve learned.”
The event, which will be free to the public, will take place on Saturday, March 1 from 1pm to 3pm at the HSLB, 4260 Atlantic Ave. Reservations are not required. The event will take place at the HSLB gallery in which the Coming Out in Long Beach exhibit hangs. Visitors are welcome to come early and view the exhibit before the presentation begins.
Source: HSLB
