Celebrating and preserving Rochester's LGBTQIA+ community
The Roc Rainbow Rally was a multi-day event held in October, 2023, which focused on celebrating our LGBTQIA+ community while experimenting with virtual archiving and preservation. Studio X, Digital Scholarship, and the Writing Speaking and Argument Program, teamed up with sponsors from across the University to exhibit the world’s first LGBTQ+ VR Museum over a 3-day period. Simultaneously, we offered programming that invited students, staff, and faculty to discuss challenges and opportunities of digital archiving, learn from local LGBTQ+ community organizations, and create 3D objects to populate our own Rochester LGBTQIA+ Museum—the Roc Rainbow Experience. In spaces across the University, rally attendees participated in panel discussions, workshops, and learning sessions about object-oriented archiving and how artifacts help connect us to our histories and identities.
During the event, over 100 people attended Rally panels and workshops, experienced the world’s first LGBTQ+ Museum, and celebrated our thriving community together.
Day 1: Preparing to exhibit the Museum by diving into archiving
Many local organizations have collaborated on collecting and preserving artifacts and stories to celebrate the queer community in Rochester. This panel explored how we can build on their efforts with conversation about how archiving existing collections in the digital era allows us to learn from, appreciate, and enrich this history. The welcome event also featured a talk from Col Raimond, director of LGBTQ Life at the Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center, on the importance of pronouns in recognition of International Pronouns Day.
Panel speakers
RJ Alcalá ʼ71E, a collector, activist, and public speaker
Gerry Szymanski, librarian for the Lilac Library and reserves and digital services librarian at Sibley Music Library at the Eastman School of Music
Lisa Wright, a digitization specialist for the River Campus Libraries at the University of Rochester
Moderator
Jessica Lacher-Feldman, exhibits and special collections project manager for the Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation (RBSCP) at the University of Rochester
Roc Rainbow Demo
