Boston's LGBTQ+ History: Primary Sources & Government Documents
A guide to the historical resources about Boston's LGBTQ+ community collected at the Boston Public Library
Primary Sources & Government Documents
On this page you will find reports, studies, and other documents created by various governmental or lobbying organizations regarding the Boston LGBTQ+ community, as well as databases of newspapers and other primary sources.
Government Documents are documents published by the government. This includes pamphlets, books, posters, and more.
Primary Sources are items that were made at the same time period you are researching - such as photographs, letters, and newspaper articles.
Gay Marriage & Massachusetts Law
Provincetown Banner article dated September 22, 2005 reporting on the State legislatures vote to prohibit same sex marriages.
Related Guides
HIV/AIDS
"H.I.V." and the deadly trinity of fear, ignorance, and apathy. Tom Grabosky, 1989. Held by Boston Public Library.
An image from the AIDS documentary, Safe Harbor: Provincetown Responds to AIDS, 1983-1993. From the Provincetown History Project.Primary Sources from Greater Boston
- The Alliance BulletinNewsletter of the North Shore Gay and Lesbian Alliance. Published from Marblehead, this newsletter was published from 1978-1992. From the first issue, "The quarterly NSGLA newsletter is our way of letting you know what's going on in the North Shore lesbian/gay community, at the State House in Boston, and in the national movement."
- AMALGM NewsletterThe AMALGM was published quarterly by the Alliance of Massachusetts Asian Lesbians and Gay Men, an organization that was based on Boston. See more AMALGM materials via The History Project
- Bay Windows
Based in Boston, Bay Windows newspaper focuses on all of New England's LGBTQ+ community. It started publication in 1983 and is still in publication. - Bi Women Quarterly
BWQ a grassroots publication originally produced by the Boston Bisexual Women’s Network and now an independent project. They have been in continuous publication since 1983, and are the oldest bisexual+ women’s publication in the world, with a global readership. Their publications are available to read online via PDF. 1983-2010 issues were archived by Harvard, see them here. - Fag RagThis journal was published by the Boston-based Fag Rag Collective, which consisted of radical writers, artists and activists. It was published sporadically from 1971 to 1987, Fag Rag was a leading venue for discussions (and oftentimes explicit depictions) of gay male sexuality, gay liberation politics, literature, and history.
- Gay Community News
Gay Community News was an American weekly newspaper published in Boston, Massachusetts from 1973 to 1999. Designed as a resource for the LGBT community, the newspaper reported a wide variety of gay and lesbian-related news. BPL holds GCN for numerous communities and multiple formats. View the digitized collection via Digital Commonwealth or Internet Archive. - Harvard Gay & Lesbian Review
With the publication of the first issue in the winter of 1994, The HG&LR* rushed into a huge vacuum in gay and lesbian literary culture. Nowhere in Gaydom was there a publication for the literate non-specialist, offering the best writing and thinking the culture had to offer, covering a wide range of topics, handsomely produced, and always a pleasure to read. This was the kind of publication The G&LR set out to become. - In NewsweeklyBased in Boston, In Newsweekly was New England's largest gay & lesbian news & entertainment weekly. The publication ran from 1991-2008 with a few name changes along the way.
- Pink Pages or New England, East Coast Community Guide for Gay Men & Lesbians
A directory for services and business that welcome the LGBT+ community in Boston and the rest of New England. Published in Boston, BPL has physical copies of the Pink Pages from 1995-2020/22. - Transgender Tapestry
A magazine published by The International Foundation for Gender Education, located in Waltham, MA. Transgender Tapestry newsletter and/or magazine ran from 1979-2008, according to the holdings from the Digital Transgender Archive. - Boston TV News Digital Library
Audio and video content from Boston news sources (1960-1999): WGBH, WCVB, WHDH, and Cambridge Community Television. Content is searchable with keywords. Utilize the metadata subjects terms, like "Gay Rights" to find collections of related media clips.
In the early 1980s, long-serving Boston Mayor Kevin H. White began an initiative designed to bring more voices from the LGBTQ+ community into Boston municipal government. This initiative included a needs assessment of the community called "The Boston Project" and the hiring of a staff member with the job title "Mayor's Liaison to the Gay & Lesbian Community." The digitized records below, also available in the BPL's Government Documents collection, are reports and correspondence directly related to this effort. These documents grant a unique insight into the community and city government at a pivotal moment in history.
The Boston Project: Toward An Agenda for Gay & Lesbian Citizens : Executive Summary by
Includes nearly 200 recommendations for meeting the needs of gay men and women in the Boston community; includes transcripts of testimony related to police relations with the gay community, human services and health needs, women's concerns, and results of a public opinion survey of attitudes towards gays.[Letter From Brian R. McNaught to Mayor Raymond L. Flynn on the Transistion of His Office to the New Administration], 1984 Jan. 23 by
This short letter by Brian McNaught details the steps and provisions made to ensure that a new Mayor's Liaison to the Gay and Lesbian Community could step into the same role under the incoming administration of new mayor Raymond Flynn.Job Description for the Mayor's Liaison to the Gay & Lesbian Community by
In this document, Brian McNaught provides a detailed description of his duties and responsibilities as the Mayor's Liaison to the Gay and Lesbian Community, in service of the search committee for his replacement to serve in Mayor Flynn's administration. Ultimately, Ann M. Maguire would be hired to fill the role for the next three years, until 1987.
Fenway Health (fenwayhealth.org), founded in 1971 as the Fenway Community Health Center, is a Boston-based medical facility and advocacy organization that aims "...to enhance the wellbeing of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and all people in our neighborhoods and beyond through access to the highest quality health care, education, research and advocacy." In addition to providing direct medical services, Fenway Health has sponsored, initiated, and/or published many reports and studies on issues related to LGBTQ+ health in Boston and beyond.
8 in 10: a Special Report of the Victim Recovery Program of the Fenway Community Health CenterPublication Date: 1991Gives results of a survey conducted in 1989 to determine the incidence of anti-lesbian and anti-gay violence, harassment, and discrimination (including violence and harassment by police officers); makes recommendations for curbing hate crimes against gays- Anti-LGBT Violence & Harassment, MassachusettsPublication Date: 2003"This publications aims to provide information and resources regarding violence and harassment experienced by lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered people."; sections include: Anti-LGBT Violence (Prevalence, Types of Violence, Selected Indications [What can a victim of violence or harassment use to show that the crime was motivated by anti-LGBT bias?
- Blow the Whistle on Anti-gay and Lesbian ViolencePublication Date: Received 1991Tips on protecting yourself from violence and what to do if you become a victim of violence; includes a resource guide of phone number for further information/assistance
Frontlines by
Publication Date: 1992-1994A newsletter published by the FCHC providing updates on local and national HIV/AIDS medical and political updates, as well as regional events.- Out in Front Since 1971Discusses the role that the Fenway Community Health Center plays in the community; describes and lists services that are available including primary care, mental health and addiction services, health education, HIV prevention, testing, treatment and research acupuncture detoxification services, womens' health services, alternative insemination, family and parenting services and victim recovery program; includes information on hours of service, payment options, directions to the facility and volunteer opportunities
- The Violence Recovery Program for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender CommunitiesPublication Date: 1998Describes services offered to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender victims of assault, harassment, domestic violence and sexual assault
There are numerous laws related to and concerning the LGBTQ+ population of Massachusetts. For example, the 2003 decision that legalized same-sex marriage in Massachusetts is known as the Goodridge decision. Highlighted LGBTQ+ legal documents and are included in this section, search our catalog for all gov docs..
On Legal Matters
- Hillary Goodridge and Others Vs. Department of Public Health and Another, 2003 | Text of the decision of the MA Supreme Judicial Court in the so-called "gay marriage" or "same sex marriage" case; includes one concurring and three dissenting opinions. View the document at BPL or read it online from Mass.gov here.
- Massachusetts Law about Gender Identity or Expression | Laws, regulations, cases, and web sources on gender identity or expression law from the Massachusetts Trial Court Library. City of Boston bylaw, Human rights, chapter XII, § 12-9 Includes in its protections: "Gender identity or expression shall mean and include a person's actual or perceived gender, as well as a person's gender identity, gender-related self-image, gender-related appearance, or gender-related expression whether or not that gender identity, gender-related self-image, gender-related appearance, or gender-related expression is different from that traditionally associated with a person's sex at birth."
- Massachusetts by GLAD Law, 2010 | Overview of Legal Issues for Gay Men, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgender People.
- Rights of LGBT Public School Students. Massachusetts by GLAD Law, 2010
On Health
See also the tabs "Fenway Community Health Center" and "HIV/AIDS"
- The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Persons in Massachusetts by Massachusetts. Dept. of Public Health, 2009 | A Survey of Health Issues Comparing LGBT Persons With Their Heterosexual and Non-transgender Counterparts
- Same-sex Spousal Health Benefits, 2009 | Health insurance information in Massachusetts After Goodridge.
On Marriage
- List of Gay Marriages Registered With the State, by Residence by the Associated Press, 2004 |0 Gives the number of same sex marriage certificates issued by each city and town in Massachusetts from May 17, 2004 to about November 2004
- Now What Do We Do: Same-sex Couples and Marriage in Massachusetts: a Demographic and Economic Perspective by Randy Albelda, 2005 | Looks at the economic impact of same-sex marriage in the Commonwealth, using Census 2000 data compares married (heterosexual) and same sex (unmarried partner households of the same sex) households; includes statistics on number of same sex couples by MA county, 2000 and comparative statistics on household and individual characteristics, income and employment statistics, and children
- Same-sex Marriage by the State Library of Massachusetts, 2001 | A short bibliography of books, articles and web sites about gay marriage
- Marriage: Legal Protections for Families and Children by Sean Cahill, 200? | A pamphlet discussing gay marriage after the Goodridge decision legalized it in 2003
- Legal Issues for non-Massachusetts Same-sex Couples Who Married in Massachusetts Prior to July 31, 2008 by GLAD, 2010
Governor's Commission on Gay & Lesbian Youth
- These documents from the Commission were published in the 1990s. Northeastern University describes the Commission: "In response to studies showing the high suicide rate of gay and lesbian teenagers and the amount of discrimination and ostracism they suffer at schools, activists sponsored a bill in 1989 to create a gay and lesbian advisory board that would consider gay and lesbian youth in schools. In Spring 1990, the bill failed, but was refiled in December 1990. In December 1991, the bill passed the House but was killed in the Senate. In February 1992, Governor Weld signed an executive order instead, thereby establishing the Governor’s Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth. The Commission recommended measures for increasing the safety of gay and lesbian students, such as developing anti-harassment policies and offering training, support groups, and counseling services. In 1994, Massachusetts became the first state to outlaw discrimination against gay and lesbian students in public schools." The Commission still exists.
Reference & Other Materials
- Gay Jubilee, 1980 | A guidebook to Gay Boston--its History and Resources
- Proud of Our Past, Looking to the Future, 1990 | The Official Guide to Lesbian & Gay Pride Weeks in Boston
- A Historical Map of Lesbian and Gay Boston by Boston Gay and Lesbian Architects and Designers, 1995 (book and map) | Historical map of lesbian and gay Boston with descriptions of more than sixty sites
The HIV/AIDS crisis disproportionately impacted LGBTQ+ communities around the world. It is due largely to the LGBTQ+ community that we now have viable treatments that continue to save countless lives. Thanks to their heroic activism that overcame undue stigma because of this disease, we have safe, effective medical treatment. The documents here highlight primary resources pertaining to (or relevant to) HIV/AIDS in Greater Boston including governmental reports, activism, medical data, and more.
You Can Do Something About AIDS by Publication Date: 1988An anthology of essays written by members of the publishing industry and beyond including Elizabeth Taylor and Whoopi Goldberg. The book intends to provide ideas and strategies for the public to fight the AIDS epidemic. This book is also available to read online via Internet Archive. Sasha Alyson lived in Boston for a while and started Alyson Publications, a publishing house specializing in LGBT fiction and nonfiction.
- People with AIDS: An Exhibtion By Marnie Sammuelson 1980's
These color photographs by Marnie Sammnelson were part of an Exhibition at the Provincetown Art Assoc., and Fine Art Works Center.
- AIDS NewsletterPublication Date: 1985-1993A Monthly Publication From the Massachusetts Department of Public Health/Boston Department of Health and Hospitals
AIDS Weekly
Publication Date: 1991-CurrentNewsletter reporting on issues related to Acquired Immunological Deficiency Syndrome for the professional and general audience.
- Archives of Sexuality & Gender
An online database for LGBTQ+ history with fully-searchable newsletters, government documents, manuscripts, pamphlets, and other types of primary sources. Collections include:
• The International AIDS/HIV Crisis, Part 1: 1985–1999
• ACT UP: The AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power
• In Response to the AIDS Crisis: Records of the National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, 1983–1994, and
• The Bush Administration and the AIDS Crisis
To find these collections, enter the "LGBTQ History and Culture since 1940, Part I" archive within the database.
- ARTcetera '86Publication Date: 1986An Auction catalog for ARTcetera '86. This was an auction of paintings, photographs, prints, decorative arts, objects, and more to benefit the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts. The auction was held at Boston City Hall.
National Primary Sources & Government Documents at BPL
Government Documents listed here are examples of what BPL's collection holds. Please do not consider this an exhaustive list. Also note, government documents may or may not be fully catalogued. Make sure to reach out to us at ask@bpl.org if you cannot find what you are looking for. Remember that many documents are digitized and available online.
An Examination of Discrimination Against Transgender Americans in the Workplace by Publication Date: 2008Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, Hearing Held in Washington, DC.The Administration's Religious Liberty Assault on LGBTQ Rights by
Publication Date: 2020Hearing Before the Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, February 27, 2020The Rise of anti-LGBTQI+ Extremism and Violence in the United States by
Publication Date: 2022Hearing Before the Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, Second Session, December 14, 2022- Financial Services and the LGBTQ+ Community by Publication Date: 2020a Review of Discrimination in Lending and Housing : Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Financial Services
Founded in 1976 as the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National LGBTQ Task Force is an advocacy group which "advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people," according to the mission statement on their website. Over the years, as part of their advocacy and lobbying efforts, they have commissioned many reports on and guides to LGBTQ community life. Their website is www.thetaskforce.org.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Campus Organizing by Publication Date: 1996This user-friendly manual contains resources, strategies, suggestions, tips, photographs, charts, lists, and other information for gaining antidiscrimination protections, forming support groups, increasing visibility, and securing equality in higher education.- Dealing With Violence: A Guide for Gay and Lesbian People by Call Number: HV6250.4.H66 D4 1986Publication Date: 1986
Anti-gay/lesbian Violence, Victimization and Defamation in 1990: Local Trends, Victimization Studies, Incident Descriptions, Official and Community Response by Publication Date: annual; Library has 1988 to dateAnnual national report on anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered [sic] violence based on documentation provided by local anti-violence programs across the country; examines the nature and extent of anti-gay violence and other victimization; discusses trends in violence in specific cities; includes in-depth data on assaults, offenders, HIV-related violence and law enforcement response, plus list of participating programs, definitions, and state hate crime statutory provisions; describes incidents of murder, assault, defamation, arson and vandalism and hate group activity; includes detailed statistics for many cities, including Boston.- Marriage: Legal Protections for Families and Children by Call Number: GOV DOCS KFM2495.C3 2000x[A] pamphlet discussing gay marriage after the Goodridge decision legalized it in 2003; sections include: 2000 Census Data: Same-Sex Partnered Households (in Massachusetts) // The Benefits of Marriage (for same sex couples) (Health Related Rights and Protections, Increased Financial and Emotional Security, Protection for Children) // Civil Unions // Domestic Partnerships // Comparison of Marriage, Civil Unions, and Domestic Partnerships // A Trend Towards Respecting Marriages of Same-Sex Couples (International Context, Public Opinion Supports Equal Treatment for Same-Sex Partners, Religious Protection) // State and Federal Measures to Enact New Kinds of Discrimination (Super Domas, The Federal Marriage Amendment) // Goodridge v. Department of Public Health)
- The Gay & Lesbian Review WorldwidePublication Date: 1994 -The G&LR is a bimonthly magazine of history, culture, and politics targeting an educated readership of LGBT people, and their allies that publishes essays in a wide range of disciplines as well as reviews of books, movies, and plays.
Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health by Publication Date: 2009-2017This journal seeks out and publishes the most current clinical and research scholarship on LGBT mental health with a focus on clinical issues. The Journal strives to represent the full breadth of LGBT mental health treatment, including issues relevant to patients and mental health care providers in all types of settings. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health also strives to cover the full spectrum of sexual and gender minority populations -- lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and gender-queer. Previously known as the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy, also available at BPL.
QED: A Journal in GLBTQ Worldmaking by Publication Date: 2013 -QED brings together scholars, activists, public intellectuals, artists, and policy and culture makers to discuss, debate, and mobilize issues and initiatives that matter to the diverse lived experience, struggle, and transformation of GLBTQ peoples and communities wherever they may be. With an emphasis on worldmaking praxis, QED welcomes theory, criticism, history, policy analysis, public argument, and creative exhibition, seeking to foster intellectual and activist work through essays, commentaries, interviews, roundtable discussions, and book and event reviews.
Journal of Lesbian Studies by Publication Date: 1997 -The Journal of Lesbian Studies examines the cultural, historical, and interpersonal impact of the lesbian experience on society, keeping all readers – professional, academic, or general – informed and up-to-date on current findings, resources, and community concerns. The journal is interdisciplinary in scope and is essential reading for independent scholars, lay people, professors, and students.
- Fodor's Gay Guide to the USA
A comprehensive guide to the USA expressly for gay and lesbian travelers. - Gayellow Pages
A national directory of businesses safe for the LGBTQ+ community to visit. Published since 1973. - Pink Pages or New England, East Coast Community Guide for Gay Men & LesbiansA directory for services and business that welcome the LGBT+ community in Boston and the rest of New England. Published in Boston, BPL has physical copies of the Pink Pages from 1995-2020/22.
- Gay Travel A to Z
Gay and lesbian travel options detailed in this comprehensive guide produced by a gay publisher who specialized exclusively in gay and lesbian travel since 1980.
Finding LGBTQ+ Materials at BPL
In the upper right corner of any bpl.org webpage, you will find a search bar where you can 
search our catalog. Under the search bar click the hyperlink "Advanced Search."
- Once in Advanced Search, scroll to the drop down menu that says "Keyword Anywhere" and change it to "Genre"
- Search in "Genre" using one or any of these search terms (this is not an exhaustive list, try any term or phrase you would like): LGBT, LGTBQ, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Queer
- If using more than one term, select the "Add Another" link underneath the search bar or type all words separated by a space in one search bar
- If you want to search for items that have any of these terms, change "ALL" to "ANY" in the drop down menu. Searching "ALL" will exclude items that do not include every term included.
What doesn't this search achieve?
If you are looking specifically for LGBTQ+ authors, this search may not suffice. There is no way to search our catalog for only LGBTQ+ authors. However, BPL librarians have created numerous booklists for LGBTQ+ materials.
What is Digital Commonwealth?
Digital Commonwealth provides access to thousands of digitized images, documents, and sound recordings. Boston Public Library manages DC and is also a member institution. See DC's About page to learn more about who contributes materials.
How do I search for materials in Digital Commonwealth?
Option 1: Directly from bpl.org. On any webpage on bpl.org there is a search bar. Change the dropdown menu from "Catalog" to "Digital Commonwealth" enter keywords, and hit enter.
Option 2: Go to digitalcommonwealth.org. In the search bar, enter your keywords.
Which Subject terms will unveil the LGBTQ+ materials I'm looking for?
Make use of DC's Subject terms. As an example, try searching "LGBT". The menu on the left automatically lists Subject terms used by Digital Commonwealth. All terms are hyperlinked for easy searching.
What is Special Collections?
Special Collections manages BPL's rare, distinctive, and culturally significant materials. They have different finding aids, in addition to our regular catalog, that will help users discover their materials.
How Do I Find LGBTQ+ Materials in Special Collections?
Search bpl.org: Items in SC are noted in our regular
catalog. The first clue you will get after running a search will be to "Request an Item" (see right).
Archives: BPL archival collections are not fully described. Try searching different Subject headings, or make use of this list of Subject Headings.
Arts Collection: Search here to find works of art, documentary photography, original musical scores and so much more. Use the Subject search box to narrow down to LGBTQ+ subjects. For example, typing "Gay" automatically narrows the options to include "Gay Rights" and "Gays", amongst others.
Ask Special Collections: Due to the age and amount of items in Special Collections, many items are not findable using online catalogs. Librarians are happy to help you find LGBTQ+ materials! Email ask@bpl.org for more help or use this form: bpl.org/have-a-question-about-our-special-collections
What is the Internet Archive?
The Internet Archive is a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Like a paper library, they provide free access to researchers, historians, scholars, people with print disabilities, and the general public. IA has a scan center located at the BPL's Central Library. BPL has been working closely with the IA since 2007.
How Do I Find Boston LGBTQ+ Materials on IA?
Organizations have their own webpage on IA. Here are the pages for
Boston Public Library, The Boston Library Consortium, and Regional Digitization in Massachusetts. Type in the "Search this collection" box to search within a specific collection. Try various LGBTQ+ terms and see what you find (example to the right)! This same search process is applicable for searching all of IA, but going through these organizations will significantly narrow your search results.