The central administrative office of IHP is located at the AIDS Alabama campus, one of our community partners. After collecting for a year IHP received a $300,000 Andrew W Mellon Foundation grant with our fiscal sponsor The University of Alabama College of Arts & Sciences. The Mellon Foundation grant allows IHP to expand the work in Alabama to Mississippi and Georgia over two years.

Alabama IHP Collections can be found at the following repositories.

• Birmingham Public Library
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Alabama Department of Archives & History

There will be more repository partners added in the future. To learn more or to inquire about a collection, email us at contact@invisiblehistory.org.

Bar Collections

The “Gay bar” is an important part of the history of the LGBTQ community. These sites were not just for celebration, but also for community organizing. We are currently looking for even more objects for our collections.

Birmingham Black Gay Pride

Bham Black Pride held its 1st event in 2018 and seeks to mobilize, organize, educate, and empower LGBTQ communities of color in Alabama.

Druid City Pride

Located in Tuscaloosa Alabama, Druid City Pride is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization that serves and advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) members of the West Alabama community and their allies. We host several events, and fundraisers throughout the year culminating with our annual Druid City Pride festival in October!

Bronzie De’Marco

For over 50 years Bronzie De’Marco has been a leading figure in the drag community in the South. She got inspired to do drag after growing up with an uncle who did female impersonation, and went on to support the drag careers of hundreds of Queens. Bronzie donated over 900 photos that include her own performances and those of many other drag Queens she worked with.

The Mystic Krewe of Caritas

The Mystic Krewe of Caritas is a nonprofit organization that raises funds for AIDS Alabama and the BAO Paws Program through fun events and the annual Mardi Gras Ball. Caritas has its home in Birmingham Alabama.

The Gay Student Union & the Auburn Gay & Lesbian Association

Students at the University of Alabama organized the first Gay and Lesbian student group in 1983 called the Gay Student Union. This organization was the 1st of its kind in the state of Alabama. Working collaboratively with other university student organizations this group helped inspire the Auburn Gay & Lesbian Association to start up in 1993. After many legal battles over the years, LGBTQ student organizations now exist on campuses all over the state.

Mobile Aids Support Services (MASS)

Begun in 1984 as a response to a large number of men returning to the Gulf Coast with HIV, Mobile Aids Support Services formed to make sure that vital access to healthcare and housing was available to people with HIV. This organization was grassroots and helped to build a stronger community of all LGBTQ people in Mobile Alabama

Mystic Krewe of Osiris

The Order of Osiris is an all inclusive Mardis Gras Krewe located in Mobile Alabama and was founded in 1981. Osiris is the second oldest LGBTQ Mardis Gras Krewe in the state of Alabama.

SHOUT Film Festival

Launched in 2006, SHOUT showcases features, documentaries, and short films that explore issues and situations involving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities. SHOUT is Alabama’s first queer film showcase and is proud to support the Magic City’s LGBTQ+ community by advocating for awareness, acceptance, and appreciation of diversity.

First Pride March in Alabama

June 24th, 1989. Over 250 people attended. Special thanks to director Bob Huff.

*Items of interest are those directly relating to LGBTQ history in the Southeastern United States. Click Here for a list of items we accept.