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Finding Aid to the Tom Mertz Collection on Queer Nation, 1990-2000 Coll2014.025
Coll2014.025  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Historical Note
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Acquisition
  • Preferred Citation
  • Processing Information
  • Scope and Contents
  • Arrangement
  • Separated Materials

  • Title: Tom Mertz collection on Queer Nation
    Identifier/Call Number: Coll2014.025
    Contributing Institution: ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
    Language of Material: English
    Physical Description: 0.4 linear foot. 1 archive carton + 1 mapcase drawer.
    Date (inclusive): 1990-2000
    Abstract: Press material, flyers, clippings, correspondence, notes, protest signs, audiocassettes, and a VHS videocassette from Tom Mertz documenting the activities of the Los Angeles chapter of Queer Nation, 1990-2000. The collection documents the actions Queer Nation/LA organized and the media attention it received, including a zap on the Arsenio Hall Show in 1991.
    creator: Mertz, Tom

    Historical Note

    Queer Nation was an action-oriented movement formed in New York City in April 1990 in response to a sharp increase in violence against LGBT people. The group sought to increase LGBT visibility and fight "oppression, homophobia, racism, misogyny, the bigotry of religious hypocrites and our own self-hatred" through direct actions. By the next year, 60 chapters of Queer Nation sprung up in cities throughout North America. Queer Nation/Los Angeles formed in 1990 and engaged in actions such as protesting Governor Pete Wilson's veto of AB 101 anti-discrimination bill; picketting during the Academy Awards and encouraging Hollywood actors to come out; and organizing a zap on the Arsenio Hall Show to confront the host on his lack of LGBT guests.
    Source: Freeman, Elizabeth. "Queer Nation." Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History in America. 3 vols. Marc Stein, Ed. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons: Thomson Gale, 2003. 478-481.
    "Queer Nation (organization)," ONE Subject File collection, Coll2012-001, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California

    Conditions Governing Access

    The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

    Conditions Governing Use

    All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

    Acquisition

    Gift of Tom Mertz, December 14, 2006.

    Preferred Citation

    [Box/folder #, or item name] Tom Mertz Collection on Queer Nation, Coll2014-025, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

    Processing Information

    Formerly box #102-A135. Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama, May 2014.

    Scope and Contents

    The collection comprises press material, flyers, clippings, correspondence, notes, protest signs, audiocassettes, and a VHS videocassette from activist Tom Mertz documenting the activities of the Los Angeles chapter of Queer Nation, 1990-2000. The bulk of the materials documents the actions Queer Nation/LA organized and the media attention it received, including actions against the Arsenio Hall Show, Barney's Beanery, and Dr. Laura Schlesinger. Also included is material for a radio documentary on the 20th anniversary of the Los Angeles Gay Community Services Center, produced by Mertz for the IMRU radio program on KPFK.

    Arrangement

    This collection is arranged chronologically.

    Separated Materials

    Queer Nation News (December 1990-February 1991) has been separated to the periodicals.
    The following items have been separated to the ONE Archives garments collection:
    "ACT UP" circa 1990 (1 sweatshirt).
    "Make Queer Film" circa 1991 (1 t-shirt).
    "Queer Defense Squad; Queer Nation/LA" 1991 (1 t-shirt).
    "Stop Dr. Laura: are you a biological error?" 2000 (1 t-shirt).
    "We'll Have a Gay Old Time" circa 1992 (1 t-shirt).
    The following items have been separated to the ONE Archives posters collection:
    "Every 10th Jesus is a Queer" 1991.
    "Who is the Most Important Man in the World?" 2000.
    The following art works have been separated to the Jaime Green Collection (unprocessed):
    "Easter Eggs XII" 1996.
    "How to Use a Condom" 1996.
    "Sister X" 1993.
    "The Essence of Men" 1994.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Hall, Arsenio
    L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.
    Queer Nation (Organization).
    Schlessinger, Laura
    Demonstrations--California--Los Angeles
    Gay activists--California--Los Angeles
    Homophobia
    Mass media and gays--United States