Excavating Queer Histories
Queer history is the study of LGBTQ+ people's past experiences and contributions. It focuses on their social, cultural, political, and economic aspects. Traditional archives have often ignored this aspect of human existence because of colonial and heteronormative beliefs that considered it deviant behavior.
Queer archives are emerging to empower marginalized communities through their record-keeping practices. This article will discuss what excavating queer histories means when traditional archives ignore them and how emergent archival practices can empower communities rather than replicate colonial logics of record‑keeping.
Traditional archives neglect queer histories because they do not fit into mainstream historical narratives.
They may exclude LGBTQ+ individuals from important events, such as wars, revolutions, and social movements. They also deny their unique contributions, such as inventions or creations that shape contemporary life.
Traditional archives may prioritize elite voices and perspectives over marginalized ones, obscuring diverse experiences and erasures of gender nonconformity and sexual minorities.
Emergent archival practices seek to rectify these injustices by centering marginalized voices, including those from queer communities. These practices aim to decolonize records while preserving their integrity for future generations. They recognize diverse ways of knowing and being, challenging dominant narratives that privilege cisgender heterosexual white men. Emergent archives use different methods, such as community engagement and co‑creation, to collect and preserve materials, ensuring accuracy and authenticity.
One example is the Gay Asian Pacific Islander Men's Network (GAPIMNY), which created its Queer Archives Project to document queer history in New York City since the 1980s. It collects personal stories, photos, videos, artworks, and other material from queer people of color, focusing on Asians/Pacific Islanders but welcoming all identities. Another example is the Lesbian Herstory Archive, which has collected and preserved lesbian culture, identity, and political activism since 1974. It includes books, photographs, newspapers, magazines, and artifacts.
These archival practices have empowered marginalized communities by giving them agency in shaping their own histories. They acknowledge and validate queer experiences while promoting inclusive representation and diversity.
They challenge colonial logics of record-keeping that exclude certain groups or relegate their lives to the periphery. By doing so, emergent archives create a space for underrepresented perspectives and foster intergenerational dialogue about queer legacies.
Excavating queer histories means recognizing the importance of including diverse perspectives in traditional archives. Emergent archival practices can empower marginalized communities rather than replicate colonial logics of record‑keeping by centering their voices and experiences. This article hopes to inspire conversations and actions toward creating more inclusive and equitable historical narratives.
What does it mean to excavate queer histories when traditional archives ignore them, and how can emergent archival practices empower communities rather than replicate colonial logics of record‑keeping?
The term "excavating queer history" refers to the process of recovering and preserving historical accounts of non-heterosexual identities and experiences that have been intentionally excluded from official narratives by dominant power structures. Traditional archives have often privileged cisgendered heterosexual perspectives, leaving out crucial voices and stories from marginalized groups such as LGBTQ+ individuals.