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sonicalligator

@sonicalligator

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Geek, gaymer, Chicagoan, activist, former librarian, beard-haver/lover. Film nerd. LGBTQ nonprofit Board Co-Chair. Account is on partial hiatus.

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Ten year anniversary rings for Kurt and James!

They each had a really strong vision for what they were looking for here: Kurt sought a design rife with craggy texture and depth, loosely inspired by an ouroboros. James wanted something more celestial, inspired by both his Peruvian heritage and the great northern lights. Together, these rings feel very much of the sky and of the earth — beautifully balanced opposites. Kurt’s mountainous, rocky sterling band features a cascading ombré of pink sapphires, rubies, and moissanite, like glowing embers in the blackened silver. James’s bright-polished 10k yellow gold band contains a galaxy of moissanites that flank the loveliest lab-created alexandrite, a nod to the lush violets and blues of the northern lights ebbing and flowing in the night sky.

These rings were my absolute honor to build, and it was such a joy working with these two lovely humans again. Cheers to ten years, friends! 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

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Halfway through Pride Month, and we’re still going strong!
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Here’s where you can find Gerber/Hart this upcoming week -
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Tomorrow’s free screening of Starrbooty is at capacity! But don’t worry, we’ll be planning more LGBTQ+ film screenings soon!
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Saturday, join AforAce at Ace Book Club at 1 PM where they’ll be chatting about Michael Paramo’s Ending the Pursuit: Asexuality, Aromanticism, & Agender Identity
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Also Saturday! Join Speak Des Plaines at Trinity Lutheran Church in Des Plains for the 5th Annual Des Plaines Community Pride Celebration! We’ll be there with materials from our collections at Gerber/Hart.
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On Sunday June 21st, stop by the Hungry Brain for an evening of Queer Poetry featuring readings by Riley Yaxley, Mar Romasco-Moore, and Fez Avery
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Next week - on Wednesday June 24th we’ll be hosting an author talk with Owen Keehnen about his new book, A Place for Us: Gay Life at Chicago’s Belmont Rocks.
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And stay tuned for more later this month! You can find a display of materials at the staged reading of Sisters: Some Theatrical Rituals About the Nunnery at United Church of Rogers , at the Chicago Dyke March on Saturday June 27th, and at the Chicago Pride Parade on Sunday June 28th!
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@aforacechicago @franniesprouls @franlovesbooks @speak_desplaines @hungrybrainchicago @simonemuenchie @supportyourlocalvibedealer @yoursweetlovemaker @marromasco @fezavery @owenkeehnen @sisters.play.chicago @_erinfeldman @chidykemarch @chicagoprideparade

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Giving Tuesday is here, and you can help fill our bookshelves! Please consider buying a book for Gerber/Hart from our wish list registry at bookshop.org, or give a tax-deductible donation that we’ll put to good use in our mission to collect, preserve and make accessible LGBTQ+ history and literature in Chicago and the Midwest. For more information on how to give, head to the link in our bio. Thank you!
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We’re showing off some of our volunteer, staff, and board picks from our LGBTQ+ library. Gerber/Hart board member James recommends Under the Whispering Door (2021) by TJ Klune
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From James: “Klune has an incredible generosity of spirit in his characters, crafting a powerful story about finding yourself, your community, and the fragility of life. Far from a morose treatise on passing, Under the Whispering Door focuses on lives lived and that it’s never too late to reconcile a beautiful peace within yourself. One of my new queer favorites!”
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Check out your next favorite LGBTQ+ read from Gerber/Hart! And help us stock our shelves this Giving Tuesday at the link in our bio!
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@sonicalligator
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#gerberhart #givingtuesday #lgbtqlibrary

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Did you know Gerber/Hart had a role in the creation of LGBT History Month? It’s true!
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In 1994, Kevin Boyer was president of the Board of Gerber/Hart at a transformational time in its history – and was instrumental in its growth from everything from publicity to technology (fax machines! emails!) to community outreach. Through his outreach, he was connected to Rodney Wilson, founder of the National Lesbian and Gay History Month, and became an integral member of its National Coordinating Committee. For his work in preserving and promoting LGBTQ+ history, Gerber/Hart honored Kevin with its first ever “Friendship and Freedom” award at least year’s fall benefit.
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You can help preserve this history every month by becoming a monthly donor to Gerber/Hart! As a non-profit organization, donations from individuals are vital to continue the day-to-day operations and further the important mission of Gerber/Hart.
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And if you become a monthly donor this week (Oct 20 - 25), you’ll be entered to win an autographed copy of famed historian John D’Emilio’s Queer Legacies: Stories from Chicago’s LGBTQ Archives!
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To donate, go to gerberhart.org/friends-of-henry-and-pearl. Thank you for helping us make every month LGBTQ History Month!
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#gerberhart #lgbtqhistorymonth

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Gerber/Hart is excited to co-present a screening of Velvet Vision: The Story of James Bidgood and the Making of Pink Narcissus at this year’s Reeling Film Festival on Sunday September 28th at 3:30 PM at Chicago Filmmakers (1326 W Hollywood Ave).
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Velvet Vision is the story of photographer/director James Bidgood whose 1960s beefcake photographs were unlike any others. Depicting elaborate fantasy scenarios drenched in lush color, his images transcended the genre. Join Gerber/Hart co-chair of the board James Conley who will introduce the film at the screening on September 28th. A Q&A with director Bart Everly will follow the screening.
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Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival is the second longest-running film festival of its kind, and prides itself on showcasing the best LGBTQ+ films and videos each year.
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See the full lineup and get your tickets to Velvet Vision from Reeling Film Festival!
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@reelingfilmfest @velvetvision.movie @chicagofilmmakers @sonicalligator
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#gerberhart #reelingfilmfestival #velvetvision #jamesbidgood

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We asked for a Gen Z Edit and Jack delivered!
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�Join us for Board Gayme night at Gerber/Hart on Saturday 9/28 from 1-4! Just over one week away!
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Bring a board game or play one of ours - including a couple of very special games from our archives. These archival games are ones that we have more than one copy of in our collection. So one copy will stay preserved in the archives and the other will be making an appearance for gentle play during this event. We’re so excited to share these special games with you! See you next Saturday, 9/28, at Gerber/Hart!
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Hosted by Jack!
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@_punintended @sonicalligator @voltronchris @kadalkuruvi
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#gerberhart #genzedit #boardgaymesatthearchives #lgbtq #everyqueenknowsthat

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Do you remember our 2020 exhibit on Queer 1990s activism?
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We held on to some of the photos from the exhibit and have papered one of the pillars in our reading room with information about Homocore Chicago, the Pink Angels, Queer Nation Chicago, Joan Jett Blakk, and the Lesbian Avengers!
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Stop by to take a look and learn about 1990s queer activism in Chicago! The library is open Wednesdays and Thursdays 6-9, Fridays 12-4, and Saturdays 10-4. Also don’t forget to check out our new exhibit, Do Say Gay: Book Bans and LGBTQ+ Freedom on display in the Sandfield Exhibition Gallery all summer. If you look closely you might also spot parts of the Homocorner that was on display in 2020 reworked and reused inside the exhibit!
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Want to know more about 1990s queer activism in Chicago? Listen in to our Queers Read This episode of our podcast Unboxing Queer History!
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Q: Activism at the Margins of Identity was curated by Chase Ollis, Whit Sadusky, Veronica Rodriguez, James Conley, and Kurt Conley.
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#gerberhart #qactivismatthemarginsofidentity #queerarchives #lgbtq

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So grateful for the beautiful weather, making our drive back smooth and quick. And that meant we got to spend our #Pride2024 in my favorite way- with our beautiful #polyfamily. I feel full, happy, and loved. 🥰

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Tomorrow! Doors at 6:30!
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Join us at The Hungry Brain on Sunday 6/16 for a special Pride Month meeting of The Sunday Series: Poetry, Prose, & Cocktails! This monthly, free reading series is hosted by Simone Muench and Kenyatta Rogers and features a fantastic lineup of poets!
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Alyssa Moore, C. Russell Price, Marty McConnell, and Noa Micaela Fields will all be reading!
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Doors at 6:30 with readings starting at 7! We’ll have a pop-up display of materials from Gerber/Hart with us. See you on Sunday!
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@hungrybrainchicago @simonemuenchie @supportyourlocalvibedealer @doyounoapoet @alyssanmo @c.russellprice @martyoutloud @sonicalligator
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#gerberhart #sundayreadingseries #poetry #queerpoetry #thehungrybrain #lgbtq #queerarchives

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Some of my favorite Chicago moments. So many more, but got to capture these ones. 🥰💖💖💖

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Thank you to all who attended and supported “Courage in Community: The Gerber/Hart Spring Soiree” last night!
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We had a fabulous night and are grateful to all our attendees, donors, businesses who gave to the silent auction, volunteers and staff who helped make it happen. And a big thank you to our co-sponsors GCM Grosvenor and Sidetrack!
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We’ll share more pictures after we’ve gotten some beauty sleep! If you missed the party but would like to support Gerber/Hart, please give at gerberhart.org/donatenow. Thank you!
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#gerberhart #thankyou #courageincommunity

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The pop-up exhibit about Chicago drag history is ready! Stop by the Leather Archives at 7 tonight for a Drag History Movie Night and discussion with Media Burn Archives, Irregular Girl, Kinley Preston, James Hosking, and James Conley!
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See you at 7!
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Notes: Attendees must be 18 years of age or older to attend. Admission is free, and allows full access to the Leather Archives & Museum’s exhibitions. In order to enter the building, guests need to ascend a flight of stairs. If you have accessibility needs, please contact info@mediaburn.org at least a week in advance so that we can advise and assist you.
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Arrive early to check out the exclusive pop-up exhibit on Chicago drag history curated by Gerber/Hart specifically for this event! Check the link in our bio for more information about the event, films, and speakers. See you Thursday!
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@_leatherarchives_ @mediaburnarchive @imirregulargirl @kinleypreston @jameshosking @sonicalligator
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#gerberhart #leatherarchives #mediaburnarchive

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