VCU James Branch Cabell Library
Side by Side records
Side by Side
M 369
/repositories/5/resources/184
4.09 Linear Feet
2 record cartons, 1 letter document box, and 1 print box
701 Megabytes
2 CDs
1990-2023
1975-2023
English
1
2
3
4
Restrictions on Access
Collection is open for research, however, the contents of the "Slideshow Prom 08" disc may only be viewed in the Special Collections Reading Room and will not be made available electronically.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of John Dougherty (Executive Director of Side by Side, formerly ROSMY), June 26, 2006. The second donation was a gift of Marquis Mapp (Executive Director of Side by Side), April 4, 2025.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in four series. Folders are arranged alphabetically within each series.
Series 1 - Organizational files
Series 2 - Outreach and education
Series 3 - Photos
Series 4 - News clippings
Historical Information
Side by Side was founded in 1991 by local educators, mental health practitioners, and members of the LGBTQ+ community concerned about the welfare of LGBTQ+ youth struggling with identity issues, discrimination, and support. The organization was originally named Richmond Organization for Sexual Minority Youth (ROSMY), but rebranded under the name Side by Side in 2016. Side by Side serves LGBTQ+ youth (ages 11-25, depending on the service) in Virginia providing support groups, training and workshops, school programs, leadership opportunities, clinical services, housing services, and more.
Side by Side timeline (from their website):
1991 - ROSMY founded
1996 - First college scholarship for youth offered
1997 - First TV commercials advertising youth groups aired
1998 - Youth Advisory Council (now Youth Engaged in Leadership - YEL) founded
2001 - First Alternative Prom hosted
2007 - Steve Midgett Memorial Library founded
2008 - First Charlottesville support group started
2010 - Institute for Equality (now Side by Side Training) founded, educating youth service providers throughout Virginia
2011 - Hosted the first Run for ROSMY; Trans support group started
2013 - Middle school support group for youth ages 11-13 started
2016 - ROSMY renamed Side by Side
2017 - LGBTQ+ Youth of Color group launched in Richmond
2019 - Launched Host Home program and homelessness services for LGBTQ+ ages 18-25
2020 - Launched Pride Place at Virginia Home for Boys and Girls
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Contents of the "Slideshow Prom 08" and "ROSMY Mural Unveiling" discs are in .jpeg format. Contents of the "ROSMY Mural Unveiling" disc may be made available electronically. Contact Special Collections and Archives staff to request access at libsca@vcu.edu.
Preferred Citation
Side by Side records, 1990-2023, Collection # M 369, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
Scope and Contents
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.
The bulk of the collection dates from 1990-2023, although some news clippings date back to as early as 1975. There is a significant amount of information and files on the organization's board of directors' activities, various committee programs, and published newsletters devoted to fulfilling their mission of providing support, education, advocacy and opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth.
Conditions Governing Use
Contents of the "Slideshow Prom 08" disc, as well as the following folders containing photos of Side by Side events which may depict LGBTQ+ youth: Holiday event photos Miscellaneous group photos, Picnic photos, and Prom photos (Series 3, Box 3, Folders 6-8 and 11) are restricted. Restricted photos may only be viewed in the Special Collections Reading Room and may not be made available electronically, or be photographed or reproduced without permission from Special Collections and Archives. Contact Special Collections and Archives staff for more information libsca@vcu.edu.
Photos from public events in which privacy would not have been a reasonable expectation (e.g. Pride Millenium March photos and Richmond Pride photos) have no restrictions.
Processing Information
Three folders (Box 2, Folder 20: Support group data; Box 2, Folder 29: Youth speakers bureau; and Box 2, Folder 30: Youth suggestions) contain photocopies of redacted files. Redacted information includes the names, contact information, and other personally identifiable information about LGBTQ+ youth. The originals were weeded rather than restricted as the redacted information was not seen to hold enduring research value.
Pressure groups -- Virginia -- Richmond
Sexual minority youth -- Societies, etc. -- Virginia -- Richmond
LGBT activism -- Virginia -- Richmond
Side by Side
The Rainbow Minute (2006-)
Series 1: Organizational files/repositories/5/archival_objects/78223Advocacy meeting minutes/repositories/5/archival_objects/78224200211Annual reports/repositories/5/archival_objects/782251997-200112Annual reports/repositories/5/archival_objects/782262002-200313Annual reports/repositories/5/archival_objects/782272004-200514Auction committee planning materials/repositories/5/archival_objects/782282000-200115Black LGBTQ youth/repositories/5/archival_objects/78229202016Blank forms/repositories/5/archival_objects/78230circa 2000-202317Board of Directors binder/repositories/5/archival_objects/78231201718Board of Directors binder/repositories/5/archival_objects/78232201819Board of Directors - Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/78233circa 1998, 2009, and 2018110Board of Directors - Emails/repositories/5/archival_objects/782341998-1999111Board of Directors - Emails/repositories/5/archival_objects/782352004112Board of Directors - Emails/repositories/5/archival_objects/782362005-2006113Board of Directors - Meeting minutes/repositories/5/archival_objects/782371990-1991114Board of Directors - Meeting minutes/repositories/5/archival_objects/782381992115Board of Directors - Meeting minutes/repositories/5/archival_objects/782391993-1994116Board of Directors - Meeting minutes/repositories/5/archival_objects/782401997117Board of Directors - Meeting minutes/repositories/5/archival_objects/782411998118Board of Directors - Meeting minutes/repositories/5/archival_objects/782421999119Board of Directors - Meeting minutes/repositories/5/archival_objects/782432000120Board of Directors - Meeting minutes/repositories/5/archival_objects/782442001-2003121Board of Directors - Meeting minutes/repositories/5/archival_objects/782452004122Board of Directors - Meeting minutes/repositories/5/archival_objects/782462005123Board of Directors - Member handbook/repositories/5/archival_objects/782472008124Board of Directors - Memoranda/repositories/5/archival_objects/782481998-2003125Board of Directors - Rosters/repositories/5/archival_objects/782491992-2004126Board of Directors - Treasurer's reports/repositories/5/archival_objects/782501993 and 2005127Board retreat/repositories/5/archival_objects/782512017128Committee lists, roles, and organizational chart/repositories/5/archival_objects/782521998-2005129Development committee - Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/782532000-2005130Development committee - Emails/repositories/5/archival_objects/782542004-2005131Development committee - Development plans/repositories/5/archival_objects/782551999-2004132Development committee - Minutes and reports/repositories/5/archival_objects/782562000-2004133Development committee - Policies/repositories/5/archival_objects/78257circa 2002134Emergency procedures manual/repositories/5/archival_objects/782582023135Evaluations and assessments/repositories/5/archival_objects/78259circa 1990-2002136Finances/repositories/5/archival_objects/782602001-2002 and 2015-2019137Funding - Astrea/repositories/5/archival_objects/782612007-2008138Funding - Bama Works fund/repositories/5/archival_objects/782622008-2009139Funding - Homeless LGBTQ youth support/repositories/5/archival_objects/782632016140Funding - Laughing Gull/repositories/5/archival_objects/782642013141Funding - Memorial Foundation for Children/repositories/5/archival_objects/782652010-2013142Funding - Miscellaneous Virginia/repositories/5/archival_objects/782662007-2015143Funding - Starbucks - In Our Own Voices book/repositories/5/archival_objects/782672003-2005144Funding - Virginia Department of Health/repositories/5/archival_objects/782681995 and 2004145Grants committee/repositories/5/archival_objects/782691993-2006146Host Home program/repositories/5/archival_objects/78270circa 2020147Human resources committee/repositories/5/archival_objects/78271circa 1991-1998148Incorporation - Articles and certificate/repositories/5/archival_objects/782721991149Intern handbook/repositories/5/archival_objects/782732019150Job descriptions/repositories/5/archival_objects/782741998 and 2018151Leadership council/repositories/5/archival_objects/78275circa 200221Logic models/repositories/5/archival_objects/78276circa 201022Logos/repositories/5/archival_objects/78277200323Marketing/repositories/5/archival_objects/782782003-200624Meeting minutes - Miscellaneous committees/repositories/5/archival_objects/782791999-201925Organizational chart and committees/repositories/5/archival_objects/78280circa 1999-200526Personnel policies/repositories/5/archival_objects/782812001-200227Policies and procedures manual/repositories/5/archival_objects/78282201828Professional services committee/repositories/5/archival_objects/782831997-200229Public education committee/repositories/5/archival_objects/782842000-2005210Rebranding/repositories/5/archival_objects/78285circa 2016211Scholarship committee/repositories/5/archival_objects/782862000212Speaker's manual/repositories/5/archival_objects/782871993-07213Staff huddle agendas/repositories/5/archival_objects/782882017214Staff huddle agendas/repositories/5/archival_objects/782892018215Staff huddle agendas/repositories/5/archival_objects/782902019216Staff huddle agendas/repositories/5/archival_objects/782912020217Strategic planning/repositories/5/archival_objects/782922008-2016218Strategic planning/repositories/5/archival_objects/782932017-2018219Support group data (redacted)/repositories/5/archival_objects/782941998-1999 and 2016220Training guide/repositories/5/archival_objects/782952018221Virginia Anti-Violence Project Richmond area partnership/repositories/5/archival_objects/782962012-2013222Volunteer manual/repositories/5/archival_objects/782972005223Volunteering/repositories/5/archival_objects/78298circa 2000224Youth advisory council/repositories/5/archival_objects/782991999225Youth engaged in leadership committee/repositories/5/archival_objects/783002005-2019226Youth of color task force/repositories/5/archival_objects/783012016-2017227Youth programs and services committee/repositories/5/archival_objects/783022017-2020228Youth speakers bureau (redacted)/repositories/5/archival_objects/783032018-2019229Youth suggestions (redacted)/repositories/5/archival_objects/783042017230Youth support group - Youth generated topics program reviews/repositories/5/archival_objects/783052011231Youth support group - Youth generated topics program reviews/repositories/5/archival_objects/783062012232Youth support group - Youth generated topics program reviews/repositories/5/archival_objects/783072013233Youth support group - Youth generated topics program reviews/repositories/5/archival_objects/783082014234Youth support group - Youth generated topics program reviews/repositories/5/archival_objects/783092015235Youth support group - Youth generated topics program reviews/repositories/5/archival_objects/783102016236Youth support group - Youth generated topics program reviews/repositories/5/archival_objects/783112017237Youth support line/repositories/5/archival_objects/783122008238Series 2: Outreach and education/repositories/5/archival_objects/78313Annual auction ephemera/repositories/5/archival_objects/783141999-2004239Art auction ephemera/repositories/5/archival_objects/78315circa 2007240Auction and event posters/repositories/5/archival_objects/783161999-200841"A Day in the Life" ephemera/repositories/5/archival_objects/783172002241Dining for the Future ephemera/repositories/5/archival_objects/783182001-2005242Equality Virginia's 2020 Day of Action/repositories/5/archival_objects/783192020243Fiesta del Futuro ephemera/repositories/5/archival_objects/783202005244General resources and referrals/repositories/5/archival_objects/783211999-2008245Handouts/repositories/5/archival_objects/78322circa 2021246Housing programs/repositories/5/archival_objects/783232018-2023247LGBT Film Festival - Reel Pride Richmond/repositories/5/archival_objects/78324circa 2010248LGBTQ history training/repositories/5/archival_objects/78325circa 2012249Middle school curriculum/repositories/5/archival_objects/783262013250Miscellaneous event ephemera/repositories/5/archival_objects/783271993-2008251Miscellaneous flyers/repositories/5/archival_objects/78328circa 2018252Miscellaneous LGBTQ+ publications/repositories/5/archival_objects/783292002 and 2022253Newsletter/repositories/5/archival_objects/783301992-1997254Newsletter/repositories/5/archival_objects/783311998-2000255Newsletter/repositories/5/archival_objects/783322001-2004 and 2010-2011256Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) chapter manual/repositories/5/archival_objects/783332010257Rainbow Minute radio show episodes, transcripts, and index/repositories/5/archival_objects/78334circa 2011258Biographical / HistoricalThe Rainbow Minute is a serialized radio show airing on WRIR-LP, a nonprofit community public radio station licensed to Richmond, Virginia, and serving the metro Richmond area. The Rainbow Minute was created and produced by Judd Proctor and Brian Burns and consists of 60 second (or 1 minute) long show segments. The WRIR website describes the show as "a radio show about gay and lesbian heroes, history and culture." The first episode aired on September 25, 2006.
Reading recommendations/repositories/5/archival_objects/783362000-2023259Richmond Public Schools - SCORE Student Code of Responsible Ethics/repositories/5/archival_objects/783372019260ROSMY t-shirt/repositories/5/archival_objects/78338circa 1990-201541Safe Schools project/repositories/5/archival_objects/783392003261School trainings and Gender and Sexuality Alliance guides/repositories/5/archival_objects/78340circa 2021262Springtime auction/repositories/5/archival_objects/783412011-2012263Springtime auction/repositories/5/archival_objects/783422013-2014264Springtime auction/repositories/5/archival_objects/783432017 and 2019265Support group flyers/repositories/5/archival_objects/78344circa 2015-2023266Training and speaker evaluations/repositories/5/archival_objects/783452000267Trans and gender diverse inclusion training - Albemarle County Public Schools/repositories/5/archival_objects/783462023268Transgender resources and referrals/repositories/5/archival_objects/78347circa 2010-201931Series 3: Photos/repositories/5/archival_objects/78348Auction and fundraising photos/repositories/5/archival_objects/783491998-200532Chris Clarke going away party photos/repositories/5/archival_objects/78350circa 200033Conference photos/repositories/5/archival_objects/783511999-2001 and 201434Create retreat photos/repositories/5/archival_objects/783521999-200235Holiday event photos/repositories/5/archival_objects/783531999-200236Miscellaneous group photos/repositories/5/archival_objects/78354circa 1995-200537Picnic photos/repositories/5/archival_objects/78355200138Pride Millenium March photos/repositories/5/archival_objects/78356200039Prom and mural unveiling photos (CDs)/repositories/5/archival_objects/783572008 and 2013310Prom photos/repositories/5/archival_objects/78358circa 2008311Richmond Pride photos/repositories/5/archival_objects/783591997 and 2001312Series 4: News clippings/repositories/5/archival_objects/78360News clippings (photocopies) and online articles/repositories/5/archival_objects/783611979-2014313News clippings (originals)/repositories/5/archival_objects/783621975-200842