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

Executive Director of the N.L. Queer Research Initiative said making the archive accessible is important.  (Abby Cole/CBC - image credit)
Executive Director of the N.L. Queer Research Initiative said making the archive accessible is important. (Abby Cole/CBC - image credit)
Executive Director of the N.L. Queer Research Initiative said making the archive accessible is important.
Executive Director of the N.L. Queer Research Initiative said making the archive accessible is important.

Sarah Worthman, executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Queer Research Initiative, says making the archive accessible is important. (Abby Cole/CBC)

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 artifacts and speak with community elders on Sunday at the pop-up interactive archive hosted by the Newfoundland and Labrador Queer Research Initiative.

Executive director Sarah Worthman said the purpose of the event was to 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 period … what was happening in the movement, in the queer history movement."

In the magazine was an article about over 100 lesbians who gathered in Minneapolis to protest against Ronald Reagan on Feb. 8, 1982.

This 8 edition of the Lesbian Insider Insighter Inciter was published in April 1982, and features an article about 100 lesbians who gathered to protest U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
This 8 edition of the Lesbian Insider Insighter Inciter was published in April 1982, and features an article about 100 lesbians who gathered to protest U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

This edition of the Lesbian Insider Insighter Inciter was published in April 1982, and features an article about 100 lesbians who gathered to protest Ronald Reagan. (Abby Cole/CBC)

Other magazines in the archive include the 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 for the queer community

The archive also featured an assortment of buttons donated by 61-year-old Pam 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 a RCMP Pride pin.

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

Pam Sheaves used to be very involved with St. John's Pride, and has a collection of 2SLGBTQ+ buttons that go as far back as the 1980s and 1990s, including an RCMP pride pin from the 1990s.
Pam Sheaves used to be very involved with St. John's Pride, and has a collection of 2SLGBTQ+ buttons that go as far back as the 1980s and 1990s, including an RCMP pride pin from the 1990s.

Pam Sheaves was once very involved with St. John's Pride, and has a collection of 2SLGBTQ+ buttons that go as far back as the 1980s and 1990s, including an RCMP Pride pin. (Abby Cole/CBC)

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 realize there are seniors in the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

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

Wally Upward was another elder in attendance at the event. His table had a T-shirt from a 1970s Water Street drag 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.

Wally Upward was involved with AIDs activism in St. John's in the 1980's. He brought a t-shirt from a 1970s St. John's drag bar called Madame's.
Wally Upward was involved with AIDs activism in St. John's in the 1980's. He brought a t-shirt from a 1970s St. John's drag bar called Madame's.

Wally Upward was involved with AIDS activism in St. John's in the 1980's. He showcased a T-shirt from a 1970s St. John's drag bar called Madame's. (Abby Cole/CBC)

He also had some buttons from AIDS committees and 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 know … it'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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