The History of Rochester’s LGBT Community
Since the early days of its founding, Rochester has been at the center for social, political and religious change. From the abolition of slavery to the suffrage movement to the civil rights struggles in the 1960’s, Rochester takes its place as part of the “Burned Over District”: a fertile ground for new ideas to take root and spread to other parts of the country. And, over the course of this history, we are finding evidence that our LGBT forefathers / mothers were often standing there, shoulder to shoulder, helping to champion the cause for civil and equal rights for all those who call Rochester home.
What is Shoulders to Stand On?
Shoulders to Stand On is an archival and documentary project chronicling nearly 100 years of LGBT history in Rochester and Western New York.
Why is this project important?
Our history is quickly being erased. Many of our elders are passing on, taking their stories with them. Important information and materials, stored in basements and in the back of closets, are deteriorating and being tossed away. Now is a crucial time to begin taking necessary steps to ensure that our history is preserved and available to educate and inspire future generations.
Who is producing the project:?
Shoulders to Stand On is a project of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley (GAGV) working in partnership with ImageOut Film Festival.
How will the project be produced?
The project is being produced in two phases. The first phase is the digitizing of New York’s oldest and longest running LGBT newspaper The Empty Closet. Since it’s inception, the EC has been a vital resource, chronicling the struggles and achievements of Rochester’s LGBT community and beyond. Digitizing the EC will result in the permanent preservation of a history that is currently at risk of being lost. The data collected from the digitizing process will then be incorporated into a searchable database, which will be housed on servers at the GAGV, local universities and libraries, accessible via the Internet.
Phase two of the project will be the production of a film documentary, celebrating the rich and ground-breaking history of Rochester’s LGBT community. The digitized data from The Empty Closet will serve as a foundation for the content of the documentary, along with interviews, photos and memorabilia collected from individuals in our community. The completed documentary work will be premiered at a future ImageOut Film Festival and will be made available on DVD and the internet.
Who is financing the project?
Both phases of the project are being funded from various avenues: corporate and foundation grants, fundraisers and individual gifts. The total project is projected to cost $185.000.00. All contributions are tax deductible under the auspice of GAGV’s non profit certification.
How can we learn more or get involved?
Simply log on to www.shoulderstostandon.org. There you can learn more about the project, share your stories, make a contribution or volunteer to help work on research and project development.