Mapping Queer Oakland

To celebrate the people, places, and movements that have shaped LGBTQ+ life in Oakland, Mapping Queer Oakland embeds memories within a digital map. These memories, shared by LGBTQ+ elders, connect individual experiences to a broader geography of queer history in the East Bay.

Thanks to support from the City of Oakland, this project highlights the stories of 10 fabulous individuals. 

  • Recorded and produced by Elena from GEMS Oral Histories

  • Illustrations by RamiKDart

  • Compositions by Chanelle Ignant

  • Editing support from Emiliano Villa

  • Thanks to consultations from Joe Hawkins at the Oakland LGBTQ and Kin Folkz at Oakland Healing Arts

  • Virtually recorded oral histories on the TheirStory platform (thanks Zack!)

Mapping Queer Oakland

Click the pin points on the map to view each story

Queer Oakland map

Meet the Storytellers