A Night of Inclusivity
Come join The Daughters of Bilitis, The Historic New Orleans Collection, and the LGBTQ+ Archives of Louisiana on October 15 at the Williams Research Center in New Orleans between 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
The event is free to the public and will focus on the contributions the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) has made as a lesbian and civil rights organization throughout history. The event will feature talks with former DOB leaders and a presenting of documents that highlight the lesbian social scene and LGBTQ+ activism in New Orleans.
Who are the Daughters of Bilitis?
The Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) are the first known lesbian rights group and was started in San Francisco in 1955. What was meant to be a private club to protect
lesbians from harassment quickly grew into an organization acting for lesbian
rights and equality. The DOB expanded into other cities such as New
Orleans and introduced the first lesbian publication, The Ladder. The Ladder
would contain DOB updates, stories, and bring light to the lesbian community.
What is the LGBTQ+ Archives of Louisiana?
The LGBTQ+ Archives of Louisiana is a non-profit organization that preserves the history of the LGBTQ+ community in New Orleans and surrounding parishes. Executive editor Frank Perez, (who is also a speaker at the Daughters of Bilitis event on October 15) founded the LGBTQ+ Archives of Louisiana in New Orleans in 2012. Perez had access to many documents focusing on the queer community and wanted to preserve them for generations to come. The LGBTQ+ Archives of Louisiana has online access to their archives, but you can view them in person on October 15 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Williams Research Center.
What is HNOC?
The Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC) is home to the Williams Research Center, where rare documents, art, and more involving New Orleans' history are protected. The HNOC offers a wide variety of events, exhibits, artifacts, and books anyone can view. The Historic New Orleans Collection is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is free to the public.
