Buttons, magazines and shirts: Take a look inside the archives of N.L.'s queer history

Buttons, t-shirts and magazines are just some of the physical items that make up Newfoundland and Labrador's 2SLGBTQ+ history.

People were able to flick through the artifactsand speak with community elders on Sundayat the pop-up interactive archive hosted by the Newfoundland and LabradorQueer Research Initiative.

Executive directorSarah Worthmansaid the purpose of the event wasto make the archives accessible to more community members.

"It's all well and good to collect these materials," said Worthman. "It's really special for the seniors in the community that are able to keep it and maintain it."

One of the items on display was a copy of the Lesbian Insider Insighter Inciter magazine from April 1982.

"I think it's so interesting because it's so radical," said Worthman.

"We've got all these really cool pictures from what's happening at this time periodwhat was happening in the movement, in the queer history movement."

In the magazine was anarticle about over 100 lesbians who gathered in Minneapolis to protest against Ronald ReaganonFeb.8, 1982.

Other magazines in the archiveincludethe Body Politic, which was Canada's staple queer magazine from 1971 to 1987. The publication eventually evolved into Xtra! magazine, which is still around today.

The N.L. Queer Research Initiative is the province's first 2SLGBTQ+ archive documenting the province's queer history.

Those who paved the way forthe queer community

The archive also featured an assortment of buttons donated by 61-year-oldPam Sheaves.

She said her collection goes as far back as 1980 and 1990. Many are from St. John's Pride, where Sheaves was once very active.

Her favourite pin, she said, is aRCMPPride pin.

"I know quite a few officers who are members of the community, and that one's always been special," said Sheaves.

Sheaves said that a lot of the province's queer history is oral, so it's important to have a space to get together and chat.

She also said that young people often don't realizethere are seniors in the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

"They're not alone and there have been people here before them and who've tried to pavethe way as much as possible," Sheaves said.

Wally Upward was another elder in attendance at the event. His tablehad a T-shirt from a 1970s Water Streetdrag bar called Madame's.

On the shirt is a picture of the drag queen that ran the bar named Bart.

"He was quite a personality himself," said Upward.

He also had some buttons from AIDS committeesand newspaper articles from the Sunday Express about his AIDS activism.

Upward says he was involved with political activism in St. John's since he was 30 years old.

"I'm glad we've come so far," he said. "There's still a long ways to go but you knowit's a lot better than the 1970s."

Online hate

Worthman promoted the event in a Facebook group titled Old St. John's,which is dedicated to sharing pictures, stories and memories from St. John's.

"We unfortunately got a number of homophobic and transphobic comments, which I think is unfortunate," said Worthman.

She said the comments demonstrate the need for more education on the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

"Some people said it was disgusting, but I think that just kind of puts a little bit of fire under my butt to do this type of work even more," she said, adding that having the opportunity to chat with elders can help with dealing with negative attitudes.

"It gives you the courage to kind of press on, because after everything [Sheaves] kind of overcame and lived through, you know, maybe a few hateful comments are a wash, right?"

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