HISTORY TOPICS
Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Movement
Since the 1970s, the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender (GLBT) movement in Minnesota has worked to create mental health, social service, religious, and political institutions that work with GLBT individuals and voice their concerns to the public. GLBT activists demanded reforms in the way that Minnesota press covers GLBT stories. Activists also publicly confronted the hate crimes that terrorized their community in the 1980s, leading to the passage of a hate crimes penalty bill in 1989. Due to the GLBT movement, GLBT individuals, culture, and issues have become increasingly visible and accepted in Minnesota.
GET STARTED WITH SECONDARY SOURCES:
- "A Chronology of Gay and Lesbian Life in Hennepin County,"
by Timothy Trent Blade.
In Hennepin History vol. 52, no. 2 (spring 1993), pp. 28-34.
MHS call number: Reading Room F 612 .H52 H42 v.52:2. - The Directory: Entertainment, Business, and Service Guide to
the Twin Cities for the Lesbian and Gay Community.
[Champlin, Minn.: Unique Enterprises]
MHS call number: Microfilm 1292; MHS has 1983-1984 (on 1 reel of microfilm). - The Evening Crowd at Kirmser's: A Gay Life in the 1940s,
by Ricardo J. Brown.
Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2001.
MHS call number: HQ 76.3 .U52 S253 2001. - Northstar Project: Out and Counted, a Survey of the Twin Cities
Gay & Lesbian Community.
Minneapolis, Minn.: Gay & Lesbian Community Action Council, [1988?].
MHS call number: HQ 76.3 .U5 N67 1988. - Passages of Pride: Lesbian and Gay Youth Come of Age,
by Kurt Chandler.
New York: Times Books, c2995.
MHS call number: HQ 76.26 .C43 1995. - Promotional Literature from Minnesota Gay and Lesbian Organizations.
New York: Times Books, 1995.
MHS call number: HQ 76.26 .C43 1995.
PRIMARY RESOURCES:
- Campaign 90s, Organizational Records.
This archival collection includes correspondence, memoranda, notes, agendas, lists, news clippings, press releases, campaign literature, and other materials documenting the efforts of Campaign 90s and its predecessor groups, Campaign 90 and Yes For Human Rights, to pass and protect from repeal a human rights ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in the city of St. Paul.
MHS call number: See green the Manuscripts Alpha Notebooks—filed alphabetically under Campaign 90s—for a detailed list of boxes and locator numbers (there is 1 box), or use an electronic version of the inventory. - Coffeehouse Collective Records.
This archival collection (1975-1990) consists of correspondence, minutes, financial statements, calendars, flyers, contracts, a mailing list, and a directory of performers that document the history of one of the first women's coffeehouses in the U.S. The coffeehouse was promoted as "a chemically-free meeting place for all women, which supports and nurtures the social, cultural, and political life of the Twin Cities lesbian community." A Woman's Coffeehouse originally opened in late 1975 as a fundraiser for the Lesbian Resource Center. The Coffeehouse Collective assumed management in early 1976 and operated the coffeehouse until its closing on Sept. 9, 1989. Topics include the collective's philosophy, routine management, hiring of collective members, fund raising, publicity, programming-which included live performances, dancing, and political or educational presentations, and the coffeehouse's dissolution.
MHS call number: P1971; see the green Manuscripts Notebooks for a detailed list of boxes and locator numbers (there are 3 boxes plus 1 oversize folder of material), or use an electronic version of the inventory. - Conference of Gay/Lesbian Elected and Appointed Officials, Candidates,
Prospective Candidates, and Campaign Workers Records (1987).
Orientation materials, press releases, news clippings, notes, audio-taped proceedings, and other materials from a nonpartisan conference focusing on the mutual concerns and experiences of lesbian and gay elected and appointed officials, candidates, potential candidates, and campaign workers.
Note: Additional records from the 3rd annual conference and from conferences held in previous and subsequent years may be found in the Brian J. Coyle Papers (see next entry).
MHS call number: P2399; see the green Manuscripts Notebooks for a detailed list of boxes and locator numbers (there is only 1 box of material), or use an electronic version of the inventory. - Brian J. Coyle Papers.
Personal, political, and official papers documenting the life and career of a gay activist and Minneapolis city council member. The papers include correspondence, memoranda, notes, agendas, minutes, calendars, financial statements, legal documents, appointment books, journals, bills, resolutions, ordinances, maps, campaign literature, flyers, pamphlets, newsletters, programs, a briefing book, comic books, newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, scrapbooks, posters, slide shows, audio tapes, and video tapes. They document Coyle's political career from the mid-1960s, when he became active in the New Left, through his membership in the New American Movement (1972-1974), his work as a tenants' rights activist (1974-1981), and his tenure on the Minneapolis city council as sixth ward alderman (1984-1991). The papers also reflect Coyle's membership in a number of gay organizations and work on gay-related issues such as violence against gays (1984-1987), the promotion of gay elected officials, sponsorship of a domestic partnership ordinance (1983-1991), and AIDS prevention and treatment (1986-1991). Coyle was infected with HIV and his struggle with the disease and decision to publicly disclose his status are also documented (1989-1991).
MHS call number: See the green Manuscripts Alpha Notebooks—filed alphabetically under Coyle, Brian J.—for a detailed list of boxes and locator numbers (there are 19 boxes, 3 oversize folders), or use an electronic version of the inventory. - Gay and Lesbian Activities in Minneapolis: Photographs.
Views of Gay Pride celebrations, a 1979 meeting with Minneapolis Chief of Police D.R. Dwyer, Tim Campbell's "Mayoral Ball" in August 1979, a gay march on Washington D.C. Oct. 1979, a 1980 meeting with Mayor Don Fraser and Chief of Police Tony Bouza, and Tom Burke's campaign fundraiser in Feb. 1980. Also includes portraits of Minneapolis councilwoman Barbara Carlson. Photographed by Gary Johnson.
MHS call number: III.29 (in the A-V Collection; there are 324 prints). - GLBT Pride Festival Photographs.
Views of vendor booths at the 25th anniversary (1994) celebration of Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Pride Day in Minneapolis' Loring Park. Photographed by Leo Treadway.
MHS call number: I.162 (in the A-V Collection; there are 44 prints). - Governor's Task Force on Lesbian and Gay Minnesotans Records.
The Governor's Task Force on Lesbian and Gay Minnesotans was appointed by Governor Rudy Perpich in 1990 to conduct hearings and gather information about violence and discrimination against Minnesota's lesbian and gay population. Governor Arne Carlson continued the task force and its report was completed in 1991. This archival collection contains minutes, a final report, subject files, a videotape, and audiotapes retained by task force chair Geraldine Sell.
MHS call number: Unprocessed; see the blue State Archives Acquisition Reports Notebooks behind the Information Desk (there is only 1 box of material). - Integrity National Convention Records.
This archival collection (1978) consists of orientation materials, including schedules, a letter of welcome, budgets, reports, and other materials for the annual national convention of Integrity, an organization of lesbian and gay Episcopalians and their supporters working for the full inclusion of homosexual persons in the Episcopal Church.
MHS call number: P970; see the green Manuscripts Notebooks for a detailed list of boxes and locator numbers (there is only 1 folder of material), or use an electronic version of the inventory. - Lesbian Elders Oral History Project Interviews.
The interviews explore the lives of seven women who lived lesbian lives before 1969. The women recount many aspects of their lives during this time: the process of coming out, support networks for lesbians, public places in the lesbian community, language and identity, the process of growing old, and changes in the lesbian community over the years.
MHS call number: OH 67; see the blue Oral History Notebooks for detailed description sheets (there are 2 60-minute cassettes and 5 90-minute cassettes). - Minnesota Committee for Gay and Lesbian Rights Records.
Board and annual meeting minutes, news clippings, financial data, office logs, correspondence, lobbying files, and other records of an organization formed in 1974 to work for passing local ordinances and state laws guaranteeing rights for gays and lesbians, to combat homophobia and violence against gays and lesbians, and to educate the public and legislature about gay and lesbian issues.
Restriction: "Human Sexuality Resources: Speaking File (Res. 52)" will not be made available to patrons under the age of 18 years. Consult the reference staff for more information.
MHS call number: See the green Manuscripts Alpha Notebooks-filed under Minnesota Committee for Gay and Lesbian Rights-for a detailed list of boxes and locator numbers (there are 2 boxes of material), or use an electronic version of the inventory. - Minnesota Lesbian/Gay Committee of the International Gay Athletic
Association, International Gay Olympics Records.
Minutes, correspondence, notes, newsletters, and other materials documenting the efforts of the Minnesota gay and lesbian community to host the 1986 winter games of the International Lesbian/Gay Olympics (later known as the Gay Games) and the participation by Minnesotans in the 1982 games in San Francisco.
MHS call number: See the green Manuscripts Alpha Notebooks—filed under Minnesota Lesbian/Gay Committee of the International Gay Athletic Association—for a detailed list of boxes and locator numbers (there are 2 boxes of material), or use an electronic version of the inventory. - Minnesota Queer Student Conference Records (1994).
Agenda, audiotaped proceedings, and other materials-including a directory of gay/lesbian/bisexual/ transgender organizations on Minnesota college campuses-of the Minnesota Queer Student Conference, held on the campus of the University of Minnesota in May of 1994.
MHS call number: P2393; see the green Manuscripts Notebooks for a list of locator numbers (there is only 1 box of material), or use an electronic version of the inventory. - Records Related to the Gay Rights Movement in Minnesota,
collected by Leo Treadway.
Leo Treadway was involved with numerous secular and religious organizations dedicated to the advancement of gay rights and human justice issues. The collection (1971-1995) documents the internal operations, management, and finances of the organizations as well as the political and religious issues they focused on. Topics include civil rights legislation, violence and hate crimes, acceptance of homosexuality within the major religious denominations, AIDS, and organized efforts to restrict the gay and lesbian community's growth and visibility.
Restriction: "Human Sexuality Resource: Speaking File" will not be made available to patrons under the age of 18 years. Until 2004 use of portions of the collection requires written permission. Consult the reference staff for more information.
MHS call number: See the green Manuscripts Alpha Notebooks—filed under Treadway, Leo, collector—for a detailed list of boxes and locator numbers (there are 17 boxes of material), or use an electronic version of the inventory. - Wallace K. Swan Papers.
The papers document Swan's selection as a presidential elector, his unsuccessful election bid for the Minneapolis Public Library Board, his election to the Minneapolis Board of Estimate and Taxation, and his activities as a member of the American Society for Public Administrators. The papers also reflect Swan's active role in the Minneapolis gay community as a parent, church member, patron of the arts, and civil rights advocate. Topics include Swan and his partner's registration as the first male partners to register under the Minneapolis domestic partners ordinance (1991), his work as co-chair and secretary of the Northland Business Association, the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, and Stonewall 25, an international march on the United Nations (1994).
MHS call number: P2138; see the green Manuscripts Notebooks for more details (there is only 1 box). - Treading Water, a film by Jamie Lee and Dawn Mikkelson.
St. Paul, Minn.: Aquaries Media, 2001.
"In a region that revels in its Scandinavian culture … the stories of the queer northland could easily get lost. Quirky and often poignant, rural Minnesota has a story to tell that creates a new vision of what it is to be GLBT in America today."
MHS call number: Videotape 879 (1 90-minute color videocassette). - Twin Cities Gay and Lesbian Community Oral History Project Interviews.
These interviews look into the lives of eight people connected with the local gay/lesbian community from the 1940s to the advent of AIDS in the early 1980s. Throughout the interviews, the narrators recount: early impressions of what they thought homosexuality was, personal experiences of how they came to terms with their sexuality, where they socialized with other lesbians and gays, and the overall social environment they experienced in the Twin Cities. Interviewees include: Richard Bosard, Dennis E. Miller, Koreen Phelps, Ashley Ann Rukes, Allan Spear, Leo Treadway, Jean-Nicholas Tretter, and Kerry Woodward.
Restriction: The Phelps interview is restricted.
MHS call number: OH 42; see the blue Oral History Notebooks for detailed description sheets (there are 17 60-minute cassettes and 1 90-minute cassette). - University Lesbian-Gay Community Records.
Constitution, newsletters, correspondence, steering committee minutes, and other records of a lesbian and gay social organization at the University of Minnesota.
MHS call number: P2398; see the green Manuscripts Notebooks for the locator number (there is only 1 box of material), or use an electronic version of the inventory.
- Newspapers that may be useful for this topic:
- Minneapolis Star-Tribune (an index for articles published after 1970 is located in the Hubbs Microfilm Room)
- St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch (an index for articles published in 1967 or after is located in the Hubbs Microfilm Room)
- Visual Resources Database subjects that may be useful for this topic:
- Check the library catalog for other materials.
