Conference Agenda

The Working Group on Sex-Affective and Gender Diversity Archives and Archivists of the International Council on Archives (ICA-SAGDAA-WG) and the Diverse Sexuality and Gender Section of the Society of American Archivists (SAA-DSGS) present jointly the session How to Queer the Archives, to introduce the work developed by them within the ICA community.

Examines the socio-political barriers faced by archivists in documenting LGBTQ histories in environments where such identities are marginalized. It highlights issues like legal restrictions,societal stigma and institutional neglect that inhibit the sharing of personal narratives.The importance of community engagement and the use of digital technologies for anonymity and protection are emphasized.Ethical considerations including informed consent and privacy are crucial for respectful archiving practices.

The collection and preservation of LGBTQ archives in conservative societies, particularly in developing countries, face multifaceted challenges that are deeply rooted in legal, cultural, and institutional frameworks. In many of these regions, restrictive laws criminalizing LGBTQ identities create an environment of fear and repression, discouraging individuals from openly sharing their experiences and contributing to archival projects. This fear is compounded by societal stigma, where prevailing cultural attitudes often marginalize LGBTQ individuals, making it difficult for archivists to engage with communities and collect meaningful narratives. Institutional resistance further complicates these efforts; many archives prioritize mainstream historical narratives that overlook or actively exclude LGBTQ voices, resulting in a lack of funding, resources, and trained personnel dedicated to preserving this vital aspect of history. Furthermore, the intersectionality of race, class, and gender adds another layer of complexity, as various marginalized groups within the LGBTQ community face additional barriers to representation and documentation. To navigate these challenges, this paper proposes several strategies aimed at fostering resilience and creativity in archival practices. Building alliances with local LGBTQ organizations is crucial for enhancing visibility and trust within communities, as these partnerships can facilitate access to materials and narratives that might otherwise remain hidden. Creating safe spaces for dialogue and documentation is equally important, allowing individuals to share their stories without fear of persecution or discrimination. Additionally, advocacy efforts aimed at educating the broader society about the importance of LGBTQ history can help shift cultural attitudes and garner institutional support for archival initiatives. Utilizing digital tools and platforms also offers innovative solutions for preservation and access, enabling archivists to document and share LGBTQ histories while minimizing risks associated with physical collections. By implementing these strategies, archivists and activists can work together to ensure that LGBTQ voices and experiences are not only preserved but also recognized within the broader historical narrative of their societies. This exploration underscores the critical need for ongoing dialogue and collaboration among archivists, activists, and community members to create a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of LGBTQ histories in developing countries, ultimately contributing to the global fight for equality and recognition of marginalized identities.

Cinema Nation, a queer and disabled led organisation from Liverpool, UK have been asking themselves how developing a queer notion of environment can offer an alternative approach to archiving LGBTQIA+ material. Working on community heritage over five years, where they have encountered mislabelling, lack of representation and erasure from public collections their mission is to present a fresh approach in order to readdress institutional archival practices for LGBTQIA+ heritage.

Their presentation will start with examples of their environmentally and LGBTQIA+ themed archive research projects under their Spirit of Liverpool initiative such as Recycle Cinema (exploring Liverpool's relationship to the environment and new reinterpretation of queer lives) and Headwaters (part of Abandon Normal Devices Festival that looked from a LGBTQIA+prospective at the history of water through film archives in the Wirral). By reflecting on these projects and how their queer identities disrupt traditional notions of archives, they developed the concept of Archive 3.0, based on the definition of Pier Luigi Sacco's Culture 3.0. Using this notion, Cinema Nation will present their current work, a partnership project with North West Film Archive, in how to take a radical reexamination of the collecting methods for LGBTQIA+ material with a special emphasis on the representation of rural lives offering an alternative to the usual frames of urban settings such as Pride events and nightlife in general.

In the presentation, Monika and Michael will invite the audience to explore the evolution of archives through technological advances from Archive 1.0 through to Archive 3.0, bringing environment and LGBTQIA+ heritage into the centre of this transition. They will invite the audience to co-create shared definitions and practical actions to connect archives and nature , resulting in a final provocation for the conference rooted in both responding to crises and opportunities to reshape the future of social archive.