Finding Aid to the Tom Mertz Collection on Queer Nation, 1990-2000
Coll2014.025
Finding aid prepared by Loni Shibuyama
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
(c) 2014
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
Box 1, Folder 1
Actions and protests; clippings (miscellaneous)
1990-1992
Box 1, Folder 3
Media committee records
1990-1992
Box 1, Folder 4
March on Hollywood, Hollywood actions records
1990-1991
Box 1, Folder 5
Barney's Beanery
November 1990-February 1991
Box 1, Folder 6
Arsenio Hall Show
December 1990
Item VV3098
Arsenio Hall Show [video recording]
December 14, 1990
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS).
Box 1, Folder 7
Queer Bashing
December 1990-January 1991
Map-case 3.2
"Come Out of the Celluloid Closet" picket sign
1991
Map-case 3.2
"It's Okay to be Gay" picket sign
1991
Map-case 3.2
"Queer Hollywood, Come Out" picket sign
1991
Map-case 3.2
"Queer Stars Shine Brighter" picket sign
1991
Box 1, Folder 9
IMRU on KPFK; L.A. Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center
April-July 1991
Item AC2613
"20 Years of LA Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center" [sound recording]
July 1991
General Physical Description note: 1 audiocassette.
Item AC2614
"20 Years of LA Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center" raw interviews [sound recording]
1991
General Physical Description note: 1 audiocassette.
Box 1, Folder 10
Queer Pink, Dodger Blue
July 1991
Box 1, Folder 11
KCET and PBS, Stop the Church
August 1991
Box 1, Folder 12
Academy Awards, Hollywood Homophobia
January-March 1992
Box 1, Folder 13
Dr. Laura (Schlesinger)
March 2000
Map-case 3.2
"Hate the Sinner, Love the Sin" Dr. Laura picket sign
2000
Map-case 3.2
"No More Dr. Laura" picket sign
2000
