The Sacramento City Council has greenlit the LGBTQ+ Historic Experience Project, set out to document and make Sacramento's LGBTQ+ past more visible. Approved last Tuesday, per Sacramento City Express, the initiative is a follow-up to the successful African American Experience Project and has been charged with unfolding the layered history of the city's LGBTQ+ community, especially that of Lavender Heights.
Associate Planner Henry Feuss highlighted that much of Sacramento's LGBTQ+ history has flown under the radar, unrecorded and unprotected, now the new project will compile these narratives, "This project has made it possible to create a document to gather stories and recognize people and places that paved the way for the LGBTQ+ community," Feuss reflected in a statement. In-depth research for the project is bolstered by a grant from the California Office of Historic Preservation, and the subsequent Historic Context Statement will spotlight historical LGBTQ+ sites and spaces throughout the city, as per Sacramento City Express.
The community had a hand in shaping the project document, offering their input through public meetings, small group talks, and direct interviews, with city preservation planners even embedding themselves into local LGBTQ+ events to ensure broad participation. Historic consultants from Page & Turnbull led the research phase, drafting the Historic Context Statement, aided by volunteered stories and insights, including over 15 oral history interviews, which will be housed at the Center for Sacramento History.
Support for this preservation initiative has been extensive with financial boosts from the National Trust and Preservation Sacramento; logistical backing came from The Lavender Library, contributing to a stipend program designed to acknowledge the community's contributions with these collaborative efforts, the project will begin notifying owners of the identified sites, laying the groundwork for potential historic designation. For further details, or to engage with the project, the public is encouraged to visit the official Sacramento City Express website or reach out via email at [email protected].
