In 2015, two friends, Joshua Burford and Maigen Sullivan, who had professional and educational experience in LGBTQ history began wondering why the Queer South was so underrepresented in mainstream and national narratives around LGBTQ history. Was this due to a lack of historical people, events and places? Is the South, as we are so often told, truly 20 years behind? Or was something more complicated at hand? Was there in fact, a rich and diverse history of the Queer and Trans South that was simply hidden and desperately in need of research and preservation? It was quickly decided that this history was alive, numerous in measure, and suffered from a lack of resources and investment not a lack of supply. 

This conversation led to the Invisible Histories Project (IHP) which began officially collecting LGBTQ archival materials in February 2018 throughout Alabama. IHP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Birmingham, AL. IHP is an intermediary organization that connects resourced institutions like libraries, museums, and universities to LGBTQ people and organizations. IHP is a conduit of information and access. We work with individuals to locate and collect archival materials; transfer those materials to permanent housing in local libraries and archives; and work with students, faculty, and community scholars to ensure that materials are researched and made accessible to the communities with whom they matter most. 

In April 2019, IHP received a generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This grant allowed IHP to expand from Alabama into Mississippi and Georgia. IHP kicked off our Georgia expansion on March 5th of this year, right before the COVID-19 outbreak shut things down.  Not a great time to start a new venture but with the help of our site at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, we have been able to continue to collect new materials related to LGBTQ Georgia and our research for new collections is well under way. 

We are working with Dr. Stephanie Chalifoux in the Department of History at UWG to give students a chance to work with donors and collections.  This past Spring and Fall the students in her class worked with our first donors, the Gourd Girls.  The Gourd Girls are an amazing pair of lesbian artists from North Georgia whose collections go back to the 1970s.  

We are hoping to reach out to communities across the state of Georgia in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas whose history is often overlooked.  If you are part of the LGBTQ community in Georgia then we want to talk with you about how we can preserve and make your collections accessible.  Not sure if you have collections?  Well the truth is that everyone has materials that are an important part of the story of LGBTQ Georiga.  If you visit our website at www.invisiblehistory.org and click on “Archiving from Home” you will be able to read about how the process works and see a description of the types of materials that we are looking for.  Once you have located materials simply reach out to email hidden; JavaScript is required and get the process started. If you do not have materials, but would like to support the preservation of LGBTQ Southern history, you can donate here: https://invisiblehistory.org/donations/donate-to-ihp/. To stay up-to-date with IHP, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Invisible Histories Project.

As we all woke up to a brand new blue world in Georgia this morning, I couldn’t help but think of the words from the musical Hamilton:

“And just like that, it’s over… 

Black and white soldiers wonder alike 

if this really means freedom – Not yet.” 

 

While the vote count continues to trickle in across the country, it is vital that we stay focused during this historic moment. The President is currently doing everything he can to undermine our Democracy. While it is easy to dismiss him as a sore loser, we must remember that time and time again we have dismissed him; time and time again he has manipulated his way into more power and more oppression. In the coming days, it is imperative that we stand up for the count and support the people across the country that are doing the hard work of democracy. 

There are two concrete things you can do RIGHT NOW to help ensure a smooth transition of power in this country.

1. Sign the Pledge: Every last vote will count in this election. Georgia and other states will most certainly have a recount and we cannot take anything for granted.
   Please sign our petition to COUNT EVERY VOTE in Georgia, and share through your networks!

https://actionnetwork.org/forms/georgia-every-vote-must-count?emci=35b14b1c-c81f-eb11-96f5-00155d03bda0&emdi=7930a6d9-ca1f-eb11-96f5-00155d03bda0&ceid=4002530 

1. Attend A Rally: There will be a National Day of Action on Saturday, November 7 at 12PM at Freedom Park in Atlanta, GA. We will join partners across the country to celebrate democracy and demand that every vote is counted in every state, No Matter What.
     You can RSVP to the event in Atlanta HERE (https://fb.me/e/3eMj5uvlW)  or Look up a local action HERE (https://protecttheresults.com/?utm_source=Choose-Democracy) .

Lastly, as you have conversations with friends and family, or post on social media, I encourage you to spread messages of calm, unity, and faith in our democratic process. The lies being spread right now can be infuriating, but we must become the safe harbor in the storm. Invite others in to celebrate the hard work of election volunteers, small-town elections officials, and every day citizens coming together to participate in the most American institution: The Vote. In the coming days, our rallying cry will be Count Every Vote, and let the will of the people be heard. Together, we can and will bring a better day in Georgia and our United States of America.

This year’s Pride festivities looked a lot different from the colorful crowds of parades past, due to covid-19 Public health concerns. Across Georgia, Pride committees in large & rural communities celebrated their LGBTQ+ community in commemoration of the Stonewall Uprising through virtual events. Across all virtual Pride events, this month voting was a recurring theme. Many Pride commissions had discussions on the importance of voting, and were encouraging LGBTQ individuals, and their allies, to create a voting plan. Georgia Equality did their part in bringing in The Pride Celebration by co hosting an Advocacy training series for HIV focused organizations across the south. Staff members Chanel Haley and Alexa Bryant held an intimate discussion on the intersections of the LGBTQ+ Community & Black Lives, which Featured Georgia quality board members Patricia Lassiter and Justine Ingram.

LGBTQ community and allies did not get the opportunity to parade down Peachtree Street with colorful rainbow memorabilia for Atlanta Pride. The Atlanta Pride committee approved a few virtual events. There were some unofficial Pride events that made headlines due to the large crowds defying covid-19 standards. But approved events ranged from a Cooking Class with Big Feedia, Voguing With Jeterbydameter, a Gender, Diversity, and Disability Discussion co hosted by Compassionate Atlanta and SOJOURN , and SWEET TEA: A Queer Variety Show.

Out of Macon, Macon Pride teamed with Theater Macon for a drive-in movie event featuring the 1985 Mystery/Comedy film “Clue.” For October, Macon Pride also partnered with the Historic Macon Foundation to introduce a weekly LGBT history docu-series that featured young, up-and-coming, and legendary local LGBT activists.

In Savannah, there were no crowds dancing in Ellis Square or dazzling drag shows at Club One for Savannah Pride. However, Barrelhouse South, Rogue Water Tap House, Congress Street Social Club, Boomys, The Rail Pub, The Grove Savannah, Moon River Brewing Company, and Stafford’s Public House co hosted an outdoor, happy hour bar crawl to help raise money for the programs and services of the Savannah LGBT Center.

In the Southwest part of the state, people were able to attend the virtual South Georgia Pride, being able to participate in COMING OUT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE PANEL; a panel discussion on addressing racism in LGBTQIA experiences. The esteemed panelists included Lorin Kelly, Tegra Myanna, and Ravion Starr. The guest speaker was  Chanel Haley, Gender Policy Manager for Gender Equality, who spoke on advocacy and trans inclusion. Virtual attendees also were able to experience drag performances from Sabryna Chanyl, Khona LaBeija Velour Phoenix, and many more.

Boro Pride in Statesboro, GA, was jam-packed with Virtual Pride events. Those who tuned in saw spectacular performances from drag performers Brigitte Bidet, CoCo Iman Starr, and Miss Terra Cotta Sugarbaker. There were a slew of performances from musicians and comedic talents like Thea Jones, Kristen Ford, and Kia Barnes. One Boro (the city commission on diversity) also welcomed participants to be a part of a virtual town hall meeting to discuss issues that the LGBTQ community in Statesboro face. 

On Tuesday, October 20th, after the Pride weekend festivities ended, the Statesboro City Council passed a nondiscrimination ordinance,  the measure being 4 to 1. Statesboro’s non-discrimination ordinance would protect residents from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and public spaces like restaurant, businesses, and more. This decision makes Statesboro the eleventh city in Georgia to pass these protections, and it’s further evidence of the undeniable momentum of the LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination protections statewide.

Chanel Haley, Gender Policy Manager for Georgia Equality, was featured on Project Q, Q Atlanta, the podcast, her discussing topics ranging from her experience as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention to helping to change the culture of local law enforcement agencies.

Interviewed by Matt Hennie, this intimate discussion of Haley’s career and how it intersects with her life experience showcases her willingness to fight, not only for the protection and safety of the transgender community, but also her work to affect change in policy and in self-advocacy. Haley speaks candidly about voter education and suppression, Trans visibility in Black Lives Matter Atlanta, as well as a grant Georgia Equality received, Haley using and managing the funds to create a Trans leadership academy. The training academy is currently on its third cohort of students. The pandemic has forced many organizations and social activists to pivot quickly, a lot of justice work becoming a digital effort, but that has not stopped or discouraged Haley from speaking publicly, letting us all know that advocating for oneself is a skill and a necessity. 

“Everything that I had to do, I had to learn on my own to be able to navigate through the systems to be able to survive and make it to where I am today,” says Haley. “It’s an important skill that people need to understand and learn.” 

 

 To listen to the entire Project Q Podcast episode, click HERE.