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The many contributions of LGBTQ people to the political, social and cultural fabric of Middle Tennessee are explored in a new exhibit at the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries.
Alive with Pride: LGBTQ Existence and Resistance in Middle Tennessee is on view in the Central Library fourth-floor lobby through Oct. 4. The exhibit draws from Vanderbilt’s Special Collections and University Archives and documents the increasing visibility of LGBTQ Middle Tennesseans during the second half of the 20th century through publications, performance, activism and more.
An opening reception for the exhibit will be on Tuesday, June 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Curator of Community Histories Sarah Calise will lead a discussion beginning at 5:45 p.m., and light refreshments will be served. Paid parking is available in the Wesley Place Garage across 21st Avenue South from Central Library.
In addition, a series of curator talks will be held at Central Library on three Saturdays—July 12, July 19 and Aug. 9—this summer. Patrons are invited to view the exhibit from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each session, with guided tours scheduled at 11 a.m. and at noon.
Alive with Pride aims to provide valuable historical context for the experiences of LGBTQ individuals in Nashville and the surrounding community. The exhibit includes rare publications, such as grassroots newsletters, newspapers and magazines, that were pivotal to the development of political and social networks from the 1970s through the 1990s. Writings, recordings, artwork and memorabilia from groundbreaking performers who left a lasting impact on entertainment and popular culture are featured. Photographs, documents and other artifacts that chronicle LGBTQ life as well as efforts to organize, foster support and build community are part of the exhibit, as are landmark moments of political advocacy such as Pride celebrations and the community’s response to the AIDS crisis.
Alive with Pride: LGBTQ Existence and Resistance in Middle Tennessee is on display through Oct. 4. The exhibit is open to the public during Central Library’s regular hours of operation. For more information or to request a private tour, contact specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu.
Media contact: Kara Furlong
kara.furlong@vanderbilt.edu
615-343-3787
