Our History
1994 - Founding
Founded as the Gay & Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest (GLAPN), inspired by Allan Bérubé’s work at the nexus of queer archival preservation, activism, and advocacy, and initially sparked by Portland State University students.
Oregon’s first queer-led archival initiative.
1995–2005 - Grassroots efforts
Built statewide infrastructure for collecting and archiving overlooked LGBTQ2SIA+ histories, including papers, zines, oral histories, and ephemera; with special attention on Oregon’s rural, BIPOC, and working-class communities.
Walking tours public programming, Portland State University courses, and public panels to democratize access to queer history.
2005–2015 - Deepening public memory of queer organizing
Focused programming on political organizing, such as “Our Stories: Pioneers in Oregon’s Fight for Gay Rights” in collaboration with Q Center, publishing George Nicola’s article “Early Attempts at Oregon Gay Civil Rights”, initiating a 20 year memorialization of Oregon’s Ballot Measure 9 defeat, and supporting panel discussions on Social Justice Organizing.
Launched Oregon’s queer legal movement resource guides, including Oregon State Bar’s Diversity & Inclusion Wall chronicling the legal system’s gradual progress toward queer representation, and publishing “A History of Oregon’s Major LGBTQ Equality Organizations” and “A History of Oregon LGBTQ Equality Law Since 1970”.
Began relationships with Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Black Chapter and Portland Black Pride.
Focused work on reducing medical disparities, including an oral history project on Dr. Ira Pauly, former Oregon Health & Science University faculty and early supporter of gay rights, advocate of transgender health and affirming care, and co-sponsoring roundtables on lesbian histories during the early HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Honored leaders by creating the Queer Heroes Northwest Award Program.
2015–2020 - Scaling cultural education and partnerships
Grew community organizing through digital exhibits, school partnerships, and celebration of queer community leaders.
Collaborated and organized Q Center’s Black History Month and Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with exhibits, receptions, and film screenings.
Hosted in-person and digital exhibits such as, “Powerful Self: LGBTQIA2S+ Lives Today”, “Oregon Asian Pacific Islander LGBTQ History”, “Oregon Latinx LGBTA History”, “Oregon LGBTQ Black History”, and “Celebrating 50 Years of LGBTQ Activism”.
Continued volunteer-powered documentation efforts despite limited funding.
Worked with Oregon Governor Kate Brown to issue a proclamation designating October as LGBTQ History Month.
Created the George T. Nicola LGBTQ+ History Fellowship with Pride Northwest to uplift queer scholarship, foster public access to archives, and illuminate the vibrant queer history of Oregon.
Served as historical experts in street renaming projects, including Harvey Milk Street in Portland, Oregon.
2020–2023 - Pandemic, political crisis, and rebuilding
Organized multi-part series reflecting on history and lessons learned during the “No on 9” campaign in Oregon.
Launched our 2023 Feedback Survey with members sharing strong interest in expanding regional reach, centering racial justice, and organizing for social change. Members emphasized the need for safer spaces, deeper storytelling, and sustainability. Many respondents identified public history as a form of political action and healing.
Finalized a member-supported name change to Oregon Queer History Collective to reflect our intersectional and organizational focus on history as activism.
Community consultants and advocates for the construction of the Darcelle XV Plaza, City of Portland.
2024-2025 - Transformation and movement momentum
Launched a “Fence Free Darcelle XV Plaza” petition.
Continued producing, hosting, and supporting story-driven gatherings and exhibits, including “Love, Life, Resistance, and Solidarity”, “Come Together: Gathering Threads of Activism through the Generations”, “We Were All Living a Dream”, “When Doors Open,” and “Drag is for Everyone,” exhibits.
Developed workshops on Queer Archival Resistance & Resilience training, and publications on how to navigate turbulent political times, such as “How Do We Survive”, and “We Belong Here: A Memorial for all the lives lost to anti-trans violence.”
Supported “Intergenerational Lunches with Friendly House”with Elder Pride Services, and member-organized “Oregon Trans History for the Archives” and Lesbian Archive projects.