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Researching UVA and Charlottesville LGBTQ+ History

This guide compiles resources for researching the LGBTQ+ history of the University of Virginia and the greater Charlottesville area.

Introduction

The University of Virginia and the surrounding Charlottesville/Albemarle County area have long been home to many LGBTQ+ or queer people. The resources on this guide provide a starting point for learning more about this vibrant community.

This guide pulls together resources from a variety of groups and projects, many of which were not created or maintained by the UVA Library. Some resources may be out-of-date, have broken links, or contain outdated or harmful language.

Is there something missing from this guide? Contact Cecelia and she'll add it! Similarly, please contact Cecelia if there is information on this guide relating to you that you would like edited or removed.

Interviews

Several groups and individuals have done oral history interviews with a number of LGBTQ+ people in the Charlottesville area. Interviews are still being conducted - contact Cecelia if you would like to be interviewed or if you can recommend someone who should be interviewed!

Charlottesville Pride interviews conducted by Jenny Mead and Amy-Sarah Marshall in 2019

Charlottesville Queer Oral History Project interviews conducted by Cecelia Parks in 2022-23

Cville Queer History Project interviews conducted by Hestia Haske in 2024-25

Other Primary Sources