History and Culture: An LGBTQ+ Archival Films Showcase

History and Culture: An LGBTQ+ Archival Films Showcase

In collaboration with the Providence Public Library and the Rhode Island Historical Society, AARP Rhode Island offers a look back at the story of the state’s LGBTQ+ community through film footage and audio-video recordings related to Pride parades and celebrations, LGBTQ youth, and creating LGBTQ spaces such as bars and performances. The accompanying discussion will explore the importance of film and audio archives to researchers and historians and how you can best preserve your own home movies.  

Preserving historical evidence allows viewers to learn from the past and celebrate the communities and lives of those who came before. Engaging with archival records of the LGBTQ+ experience can be emotional, especially since materials may contain a reflection of oppression and trauma. But it’s a way to celebrate the lives of LGBTQ+ people and to honor their legacy with preservation.