Pride and Joy: Nebraska History

"Pride and Joy: Nebraska History" is a traveling exhibit that begins the exploration of the history of LGBTQIA2S+ communities throughout the state of Nebraska. LGBTQ+ individuals and communities’ histories are an important part of Nebraska and the nation. This traveling exhibit seeks to share evidence of community gatherings, activism, publications, organizations, and other important topics.

Here you will find copies of the traveling exhibit panels and free zines citing and highlighting materials used for exhibit research. To print these zines, download the file and print Landscape Orientation and with a Binding Location of Short Edge Left.

Printing is not supported at the primary Gallery Thumbnail page. Please first navigate to a specific Image before printing.

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LGBTQIA2S+ Communities in Rural Nebraska

Claire Du Laney and Haleigh Diltz

Note: This is a zine.

LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, families, and communities exist everywhere. This includes rural and non-urban spaces. There were many groups and organizations that provided belonging and events for LGBTQIA2S+ people in Nebraska's rural areas
LGBTQIA2S+ Histories at Universities and College in Nebraska

Claire Du Laney and Haleigh Diltz

Universities and colleges have served as a space for community building, scholarship, and activism. This is no different for the LGBTQIA2S+ community in Nebraska. Colleges and universities provided space for groups to form, giving Nebraskan LGBTQIA2S+ students, faculty, staff, and allies avenues for collaboration, celebration, and activism. This zines highlights student experiences at UNO, but includes institutions across the state.
Nebraska's LGBTQIA2S+ Laws and Politicians Timeline

Claire Du Laney and Haleigh Diltz

Note: This is a zine.

The legal system in the United States has a long history of discrimination towards the LGBTQIA2S+ community. This was no different in Nebraska. Beginning in the seventies and continuing today, people have been advocating for protections for the LGBTQ+ community and electing representatives of the community to office.

While there have been setbacks, there has also been considerable progress in these goals. This timeline is by no means a comprehensive list of the policies, people, and officials that impacted the LGBTQ+ community in Nebraska.
Pride and Joy: Exhibit Sources

Claire Du Laney and Haleigh Diltz

Note: This is a zine

Pride and Joy: Nebraska History" begins the exploration of the history of LGBTQIA2S+ communities throughout the state of Nebraska. LGBTQ+ individual and community histories are an important part of Nebraska and the nation. This traveling exhibit seeks to share evidence of community gatherings, activism, publications, organizations, and other important topics.

This history is more complex than can be expressed in a single exhibit. Communities continue to experience joy and sorrow, community engagement and turmoil, resilience and discrimination. This is not an exhaustive LGBTQIA2S+ history. At this time, no one has written that comprehensive history. There are more stories to be told. We invite you to share, reflect, and learn with us.
Pride and Joy: Nebraska History (Banners)

Claire Du Laney and Haleigh Diltz

Banners for the "Pride and Joy: Nebraska History" exhibit that explores the history of LGBTQIA2S+ communities throughout the state of Nebraska. LGBTQ+ individual and community histories are an important part of Nebraska and the nation. This traveling exhibit seeks to share evidence of community gatherings, activism, publications, organizations, and other important topics.

This history is more complex than can be expressed in a single exhibit. Communities continue to experience joy and sorrow, community engagement and turmoil, resilience and discrimination. This is not an exhaustive LGBTQIA2S+ history. At this time, no one has written that comprehensive history. There are more stories to be told. We invite you to share, reflect, and learn with us.
Pride and Joy: Nebraska History (Introduction Banner)

Claire Du Laney and Haleigh Diltz

Banner featuring a collage of images from Nebraska's LGBTQIAS2+ history.
Pride and National Coming Out Day in Nebraska

Claire Du Laney and Haleigh Diltz

Note: This is a zine

In June, we celebrate Pride, which acknowledges and highlights the lives, legacies, loves, and joys of LGBTQIA2S+ individuals and communities. Pride events promote the rights, dignity, equality, and visibility of LGBTQIA2S+ people and are examples of liberation and activism. The first Pride events commemorated the Stonewall Uprisings, which occurred in New York City in 1969. Nebraskans celebrated LGBTQ+ dignity and visibility with picnics and gathers in the 1970s, but the first Pride parades and festivals in Nebraska would not occur until the 1980's.
Responding to the HIV / AIDS Epidemic

Claire Du Laney and Haleigh Diltz

Note: This is a Zine

The HIV/AIDS epidemic, from its start in the 1980s, disproportionately affected members of the gay community. This circumstance directly led to further discrimination against members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and lack of federal funding for research and treatment. As a result, over 700,000 individuals in the United States have died of HIV/AIDS.