Michigan Memories

LGBTQ+ Pride Month

LGBTQ+ Pride Month

In honor of LGBTQ Pride Month in June, Michigan Memories is highlighting some of the photographs from the rich collections of our state's cultural institutions. Please see our Facebook page for updates.

Detroit Counterculture Venues

Possible research questions:

  • What is a "counterculture"? What does it mean to be a part of one?

  • Why would social and activist groups be important for members of a counterculture? 

  • How might an LGBTQ+ social or activist group in the 1990s, or the 1970s, be different from (or similar to) a group today? Why is that?

Year: 1992

Source: LPF Detroit Counterculture Values Collection: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/s/scl/x-lpf.1490/lpf1490

Stonewall Means Fight Back!

Stonewall Means Fight Back!

Possible research questions:

  • What is Stonewall?

  • Why would people want to fight back?

  • Instead of LGBTQ+, this pin mentions gay and lesbian oppression. Why? How has this terminology changed over time?

Year: Unknown

Source: Pinback Buttons, Joseph A. Labadie Collection, University of Michigan: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lbc1ic/x-lbc.0624/lbc0624.tif

Stonewall 20 March for Lesbian & Gay Rights

Stonewall 20 March for Lesbian & Gay Rights

Possible research questions:

  • Take a look at the banner in this picture. What is the event being described?

  • Why do people commemorate past events?

Year: 1989

Source: Michigan Organization for Human Rights Collection: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/b/bhl/x-hs7571/hs7571

Demonstration outside the Chancery Building in support of Brian McNaught

Demonstration outside the Chancery Building in support of Brian McNaught

Possible research questions:

  • What are these people doing? Who is Brian?

  • Think about how this picture's description can help you find out more. Consider the signs you see, especially those on the far right of the picture. What happened in Brian McNaught's life in 1974? How can you find out?

Year: 1974

Source: Virtual Motor City Collection: https://digital.library.wayne.edu/item/wayne:vmc54172_1

Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays, Detroit March

Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays, Detroit March

Possible research question:

  • What is PFLAG and what impact has it had on the LGBTQ+ community?

Year: 1986

Source: Michigan Organization for Human Rights Collection: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/b/bhl/x-hs7576/hs7576

Margareth Miller wins custody of her daughter

Margareth Miller wins custody of her daughter

Possible research questions:

  • Why would a lesbian in the 1970s lose custody of her children?

  • What kinds of rights do LGBTQ+ people have now that they didn’t in 1979? How are these rights different in each state, and why?

Year: 1979

Source: Virtual Motor City collection: https://digital.library.wayne.edu/item/wayne:vmc9175

Lesbian Connection, Gay Pride Parade

Lesbian Connection, Gay Pride Parade

Possible research questions:

  • What clues to do you see in this picture that might help you understand what is going on? What is Lesbian Connection (written on the sign)?

  • Why might lesbians have a magazine all their own?

Year: 1988

Source: Michigan Organization for Human Rights Collection: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/b/bhl/x-hs7570/hs7570

"Snub by Mayor Archer upsets gay groups"

Newspaper clipping titled "Snub by Mayor Archer upsets gay groups"

Possible research questions:

  • Why is it important for there to be LGBTQ+ events aimed at specific races and ethnicities? 

  • What is the concept of "intersectionality"? How do events like these support it? 

Year: 1998

Source: LGBT Detroit Records: https://digital.library.wayne.edu/item/wayne:LGBTDetroitUR002652_1_17_01