Search

The Elizabeth Cramer LGBT activism collection mostly consists of correspondence and newsletters that Dr. Cramer collected from various LGBT activism organizations. Although some of the organizations and materials used "LGBT" or covered LGBT issues, especially during the later years of the collection, the vast majority of the collection is focused on lesbian and gay related issues. The strongest subject coverage of the collection was advocacy for legal change related to LGBT issues, most noticeably, the advocacy for marriage equality. Dr. Cramer collected largely from national organizations, with about 25% of the collection from Virginia or Richmond based organizations. The material spans from 1991-2013, with the most material collected being from these organizations: In the Family, 1997-2005; Lambda Legal, 1993-2013; National Center for Lesbian Rights, 1996-2010; National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 1993-2009; and Virginians for Justice, 1996-2001. Additionally, the collection contains some organizational resources on legislative action from Equality Virginia and Virginians for Justice. Dr. Cramer also collected materials on the fight for nondiscrimination of domestic partnerships, spanning 1992-2005. Ephemera in the collection includes information from religious organizations supporting LGBT issues, a flyer for an award-winning internationally distributed weekly LGBT radio program, a newsletter from a Richmond organization called the Gatekeepers, lesbian or LGBT themed bookmarks, and LGBT themed magnets.

The Naomi Benoit lesbian publications collection predominately consists of two lesbian publications, Lesbian Connection and the Richmond Lesbian-Feminist Flyer, previously named the Lesbian Feminist Flyer. Issues from Lesbian Connection span 1990-2002 and issues of Richmond Lesbian-Feminists Flyer span 1981-1998. The Richmond Lesbian-Feminists Flyer was ran and distributed by the Richmond Lesbian Feminists organization, co-founded by Beth Marschak, Stephanie Myers, and Mary Dean Carter.[1] Additionally, the collection contains a couple of instances of correspondence with lesbian organizations and with congress people about gay and lesbian rights, as well as a budget and policies from Richmond Lesbian Feminist (RLF) organization from the early 1990s. Ephemera in the collection includes a WomensBooks newsletter, a news clipping of a picture from the Lesbian and Gay pride parade on Broad Street in September 1993, and a directory of lesbian-friendly Richmond businesses collocated and distributed by RLF. -- [1] Cindy Bray, "Richmond Lesbian Feminists and the Women's Movement." OutHistory, 2013. https://outhistory.org/exhibits/show/rainbow-richmond/the-beginnings-of-pride/lesbian-feminists; Rose Norman, "Mary Dean Carter: Cofounder of Richmond Lesbian Feminists." Southern Lesbian Feminist Activist Herstory Project, 2022. https://slfaherstoryproject.org/mary-dean-carter-cofounder-of-richmond-lesbian-feminists/

The Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Richmond Chapter records documents support for and attitudes around LGBTQ+ youth in the 1990s and early 2000s in Richmond, VA, and other parts of the south. The collection also documents how various LGBTQ+ identities were understood or explained to allies and others during this time period. The collection does not contain many administrative records documenting the activities of the PFLAG Richmond Chapter.

The collection consists of organizational files, which includes agendas, minutes, reports, training materials, policy manuals, financial records, and correspondence; outreach and education materials, which includes newsletters, info sheets, event ephemera, and Rainbow Minute broadcast transcripts and index; photos from events; and news clippings about Side by Side activities and some coverage of LGBTQ+ issues in local and national papers.