Preserving LGBTQ+ History in the Ozarks

LGBTQ+ History Month is observed each October to celebrate the history, achievements and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community.

Tracie Gieselman France from Missouri State University's special collections and archives discusses the Ozarks Lesbian and Gay Archives (OLGA) collection. It documents the LGBTQ+ experience in the Ozarks.

The archivist shares the origins of the OLGA, highlighting key moments like the 1989 MSU production of "The Normal Heart" and the addition of sexual orientation to the university's non-discrimination policy. The collection continues to grow, preserving newsletters, oral histories and other media that capture pivotal moments in LGBTQ+ advocacy and culture in the greater Ozarks region.

Community members can view the collection in the Meyer Library, Room 306, or digitally on the special collections and archives website.

Read the full transcript