Though the path to queer liberation still has its obstacles, there is a vast history of resilience and perseverance shown by the community that many of us don’t know about. While our high school textbooks still overlook queer history, hoping that turning a blind eye will ensure that we do not attempt to even go down the path of discovery, there are multiple Instagram accounts dedicated to preserving queer past. And for that we are thankful. These showcase the culture in its truest form that reminds us about how far we’ve come and how far we still need to go. Some of these are archives that urge us to remember the LGBTQ+ heroes and protests while others give a platform to queer artists to tell a story through their work. Here are 6 such accounts that you can follow RN to brush up on your history and learn more about LGBTQ+ culture.
1. @queerbible
View this post on Instagram
Founded by Jack Guinness, The Queer Bible offers a platform for the LGTBQ+ community to tell their stories in their own voices. The Queer Bible invites their queer heroes to write about theirs and posts snippets of the essays on Instagram. Each essay is accompanied by an original illustration created by an up-and-coming LGBTQ+ artist. Launched in 2017, The Queer Bible is a database of queer characters who changed the world through activism, art, performance and more. “We want young people to stand tall, knowing that they follow in the footsteps of some of the most incredible human beings to walk the face of this planet!” their website says.
2. @h_e_r_s_t_o_r_y
View this post on Instagram
Started by Kelly Rakowski, a photo editor from Brooklyn, @h_e_r_s_t_o_r_y is a lesbian history account featuring herstoric images from the 1800s to late 1990s, including rare pictures of Ellen, Jodie Foster, Queen Latifa and plenty of protest images sourced from digital and real archives.
3. @lgbt_history
View this post on Instagram
For the queer history that our high school textbooks didn’t teach, @lgbt_history is the account to follow. Reflects on key moments in LGBTQ history as well as cultural shifts, the creators and curators of the account Matthew L. Riemer and Leighton Brown blend striking imagery and meticulously researched narratives to uncover details too often overlooked.
4. @lgbthistoryindia
View this post on Instagram
Run by Dr Anindya Kar, @lgbthistoryindia unarchives the rich history of the queer community in India. The account brings forth the notes, news, videos, images that may have been forgotten over the years and highlights the struggles and joys of the LGBTQ+ community in our country.
5. @queermuslimproject
View this post on Instagram
The Queer Muslim Project is South Asia’s largest virtual network of Queer, Muslim and allied individuals countering queerphobia and Muslim hate, one story at a time. They use digital advocacy, storytelling and visual arts to create avenues for young people from underserved communities to express themselves, build community and forge creative collaborations.
6. @thequeerarchives
View this post on Instagram
A platform for queer arts, @thequeerarchive has everything from avant-garde art and photography to high-camp humour. They elect queer artists at different points throughout the month to run the account with the aim of promoting diverse artistic practices emanating from different issues and aspects of queer life and existence, created by both, local and international, emerging and already established artists. Based in Athens, the collective behind the account also organises events, festivals and immersive experiences.
