People revving up their motorcycles while getting ready to start the gay pride parade in 1988. Photo credit: Saul Bromberger
By America Castillo FEBRUARY 23, 2016
Photographers Saul Bromberger and Sandy Hoover will participate in a panel discussion with the college’s Spectrum Club to discuss their photos, which capture the idea of self-love and pride in the gay community, in a reception on Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. in PS 202, open to the public.
Holden Streetly, 21-year-old communications major and ambassador of the Moorpark College Spectrum Club, hopes people begin to gain an understanding of LGBTQIA (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersexual and asexual) people not only as a movement, but as a culture.
“It’ll be such an educational experience to hear about what the movement was like before me from people who were actually there,” said Streetly.
Saul Bromberger and Sandra Hoover captured the idea of self-love and pride in the gay community in their series of photographs, “San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade: 1984-1990.”
These photos will be exhibited at the Moorpark College Art Gallery along with the series, “The Gay Prom: Portraits of LBGTQIA Teens in Our New World 2014-2015″ to show Moorpark College students how far the gay community has come.
The club hopes to cover topics ranging from queer activism as it stands today to what it was like to take these portraits at such an invigorating time in LGBTQIA history, according to Bromberger.
Back in 1984, Bromberger and Hoover shared a similar interest in photography and worked on their favorite project, the gay parade. It was then that they would ask themselves, “Why do these people even have to march? Why are they fighting and what are they fighting for?” said Bromberger.
When showcasing their photos to two high schools, Bromberger was shocked when he realized that they don’t teach this part of history to students. That’s what drove them to create these projects and teach it to others. He began to realize he was documenting this for history hoping that in later years, people would see the difference.
“It was a parade, but it wasn’t just any parade,” said Bromberger. “This one was special. It was a parade that gave strength to the community and gave voice to a community that wanted to be heard very loudly.”
“We’ve had the chance to see some of the photography beforehand and it’s some really interesting stuff when you look at it from a historical perspective,” said Streetly. “It’s my hope that this panel will help to generate discussion, and empathy amongst and for LGBTQIA individuals on campus.”
The Spectrum Club is also working with members of the Visual Arts Department to make this event a part of the Year of Wellness, according to Streetly. The panel will be open to the public and they hope to see members from the Moorpark community.
For more information, contact Katrina McElroy at kmcelroy@vcccd.edu
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