The Black LGBTQ Collection at the Auburn Avenue Research Library highlights the legacies of activists, artists, and community members who expanded the possibilities of freedom and belonging. This collection emphasizes Atlanta’s role as a hub of Black LGBTQ organizing, cultural production, and resilience, while situating these stories within broader histories of African American struggle and creativity.
From the personal papers of figures such as Aida Rentas, Craig Washington, and Carolyn Mobley, to the organizational records of groups like ZAMI, In The Life Atlanta, and ADODI Muse, these archives reflect both intimate narratives and collective movements. Materials include correspondence, photographs, publications, event programs, and administrative records that document decades of advocacy and self-expression.
By preserving these histories, the Auburn Avenue Research Library affirms that Black LGBTQ stories are central to African American culture and history. This collection invites exploration, reflection, and recognition of the complexity, brilliance, and resilience of Black queer life across generations.
AARL Large Print LGBTQ Collection
Narrative
The Large Print LGBTQ Collection at the Auburn Avenue Research Library preserves a wide-ranging archive of newsletters, magazines, and community periodicals that document the voices, struggles, and creativity of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities. Produced largely between the 1980s and early 2000s, these publications offered critical platforms for representation, advocacy, and cultural expression at a time when mainstream media often excluded or misrepresented LGBTQ people of color.
Collection Scope
Highlights include:
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Venus Magazine: A pioneering publication for lesbians and gays of color, covering issues such as political mobilization, cultural production, and responses to national events like the Million Man March.
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GMAD Newsletter (Gay Men of African Descent): A periodical dedicated to education, social support, health and wellness, and political advocacy for Black gay men.
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Black Dates: A community listing service highlighting events, conferences, and cultural gatherings for Black LGBTQ people nationwide.
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Between Brothers: A publication centering the voices and experiences of Black gay men, addressing topics from mentorship to health advocacy.
Collectively, these periodicals provide an invaluable record of community building, self-representation, and activism, illustrating how print culture became a powerful tool for connection and empowerment across the African American LGBTQ diaspora.
Significance
By preserving these publications, the Auburn Avenue Research Library ensures access to histories that demonstrate both the local impact and national reach of Black LGBTQ print culture. They reveal the networks of resilience, political thought, and artistic expression that continue to inform conversations about race, gender, sexuality, and liberation. For researchers, students, and the public, this collection opens a window into the grassroots cultural production that shaped Black queer identity in the late twentieth century.
