The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society has a mission to collect and preserve the history of LGBTQ people and make it accessible through its archive, exhibits and public programming. In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the GLBT Historical Society is holding a series of important conversations across generations. As the first event in the Silver Anniversary Speakers Series, co-presented by MoAD, we are proud to present activist, educator, former political prisoner and leader of the Black Panther Party, Ericka Huggins, in conversation with UC Berkeley doctoral student in Social and Cultural Studies in Education, Ronald K. Porter. In addition to his dissertation research, which traces the intellectual history of African-American educational thought, Porter is conducting work on how the Black Panther Party considered both the nature and elimination of lesbian and gay oppression. Ericka and Ronald will discuss perspectives on LGBTQ history, the Black Panther Party’s relationship with the Gay Liberation Movement, sustaining activism, and promoting social justice. This conversation is critical not only to illuminate how black organizations of the past focused on the issue of sexuality, but also how such actions help us understand the connections between race and sexuality in today’s political climate.

Free with MoAD Admission.

For more information on Ericka Huggins, Ronald K. Porter, and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society, please consult these sites:

http://erickahuggins.com/Home.html

http://glbthistory.org/

http://townsendlab.berkeley.edu/members/ronald-k-porter