The Paul D. Lerner and Stephen Reis Lectures on LGBTQ+ History: Dr. Lydia Otero

One Institute Presents: The Paul D. Lerner and Stephen Reis Lectures on LGBTQ+ History

Program Dates:

Sunday, August 16, 2 p.m.
Dr. Lydia Otero, “1987: Reflections on a Brown and Queer Life in Los Angeles”

October
Lecturer, Location and Date TBD

December
Lecturer, Location and Date TBD

This summer, One Institute launched The Paul D. Lerner and Stephen Reis Lectures on LGBTQ+ History, a new public speaker series celebrating the enduring impact of LGBTQ+ historians, activists, and authors. The quarterly series will provide audiences with opportunities to learn from and engage with experts in the field and consider how historical knowledge can inform current struggles for equity, visibility, and social justice.

The inaugural event, “1987: Reflections on a Brown and Queer Life in Los Angeles,” taking place on August 16 at 2 p.m., will feature guest speaker Dr. Lydia Otero, whose work illuminates the intersections of Mexican American history, queer activism, and urban renewal in the Southwest.

Made possible through the generous support of Paul D. Lerner and Stephen Reis, this series brings distinguished speakers to Los Angeles and creates a dedicated space for public engagement centered around the preservation and celebration of queer histories. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with leading thinkers whose work continues to shape contemporary understandings of LGBTQ+ histories.

As the nation's oldest active LGBTQ+ organization, One Institute recognizes the vital role that public scholarship plays in making history accessible outside of universities and archives.

At a time when LGBTQ+ history continues to face erasure and censorship, the preservation of these histories is more important than ever. By inviting influential scholars and historians to speak on their expertise, One Institute reaffirms its belief that LGBTQ+ history is an essential part of our shared cultural heritage, and an informant to our future. These stories deepen our understanding of social-political movements, expand our perspectives on identity and belonging, and remind us that the pursuit of equality continues to be shaped by voices excluded from the historical record. Through this new speaker series, One Institute acknowledges that LGBTQ+ history is an essential part of our collective past and an indispensable gift for understanding our future.

About Dr. Lydia Otero:

Dr. Lydia Otero is a historian, author, and activist whose work illuminates the intersections of Mexican American history, queer activism, and urban renewal in the Southwest. Their latest book is L.A. Interchanges: A Brown & Queer Archival Memoir, published in 2023. Lydia was president of Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos, and was one of the original and founding members of Lesbianas Unidas in 1983. They have a PhD in History from the University of Arizona. From 2003 to 2020 they were a professor in the Department of Mexican American Studies at the University of Arizona.

Questions? Email Jude Schoenfeld (jschoenfeld@oneinstitute.org), Director of Public Programs.