2026 GIVE STL DAY

Community historian Steven Louis Brawley created the St. Louis LGBT History Project in 2007, and his subsequent work leverages existing archival infrastructures to preserve and promote LGBTQIA+ history. Brawley was sadly inspired to begin this herculean effort after experiencing the passing of LGBTQIA+ friends and seeing their life stories and personal possessions forever lost or thrown away. Often, family members confided in him that they were embarrassed or ashamed because their loved ones were part of the LGBTQIA+ community - whether they lived openly or were closeted. For the past 19 years, Brawley has led this effort to preserve and promote St. Louis’ dynamic LGBTQIA+ history. The issue Brawley identified - and is still addressing as of 2026 - is the lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related to LGBTQIA+ history within St. Louis’s archival, business, community, educational, and news media organizations. When Brawley began these efforts, only one area archive had a dedicated LGBTQIA+ collection. As of 2026, there are five St. Louis area institutions actively engaged in LGBTQIA+ collecting and research through archival preservation, oral histories, presentations, and exhibits. It is estimated the local inventory of LGBTQIA+ oral histories have grown from 10 to more than 100. This work is sustainable due to the multiple community partners engaged. Brawley contends that by choosing to not create a standalone infrastructure, each partner brings a depth of long-term resources (funding, space, volunteers, staff expertise) that ensure a longer-term collaborative approach.