A Delve into the ABQ Pride Archives - 50 Years of Queer Pride Part 2

Continuing our coverage of 50 Years of Pride in the Land of Enchantment, we join Dr. PJ Sedillo in his home for a tour of the Pride Archives, 280 panels of local queer history, before their display this weekend as part of Albuquerque Pridefest.

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Julian: I'm not sure if we should start conversation or just go look at the Pride archives.

JAlex: Let's do the tour then have a conversation.

Julian: Let's go look at the Pride archives.

Julian: "Tipper joins me in thanking you for your commitment to our nation and its fundamental values of inclusion, opportunity, and respect for every individual. The Vice President, Washington, DC."

Julian: Your friendly neighborhood non-binary reporter Julian here with an update on the 50th anniversary of Pride celebrations in New Mexico. Back on location with the fabulous Dr. PJ Sedillo as he gives us a tour of the Pride archives stored in his home before their final display this weekend.

PJ: You talked about Havens Levitt, doing WIMINFEST she was Right here ... right here, so she-

Julian: Oh, that's fantastic ...

PJ: she's one of our honored dignitaries.

PJ: This here is interesting. This is from the "Sandoval 64". the county clerk in New Mexico said, "We don't have a Defense of Marriage Act," so she made that announcement, and people raced there. And 64 actually were married.

Julian: For the 30th anniversary, there was a run of collector's cards featuring Pride facts distributed throughout the state. Events happened throughout the year, and there were movements to establish recognition for queer citizens

PJ: We had 30 Days of Pride, so you would go to different locations throughout the city, and also some places in Santa Fe, and you get one of these cards.

PJ: We have two trees that are dedicated in Morningside Park. there's only two other memorials that are for marches or parades. One in Stonewall, and the other one's in LA. And the third one is here in Albuquerque at Morningside Park.

PJ: You know, 2016, for our 40th anniversary, Tony, myself, and Pat Bailey, we were able to ride in a car as grand marshals, and the next day was when the Pulse massacre happened and Tony, myself, and Pat go back into sort of that mode of, "What do we need to do?"

PJ: By 3:00, we had secured the park. And then I talked to Paul Garson, who owns, Garson's Religious Store. I Said, " Paul, I need about 2,000 candles." he said, "I have them for you, PJ."

Julian: And we had a park to go to.

PJ: We had a park to go to.

PJ: Need some eye candy?

Julian: Absolutely need some eye candy. And- Look at this record.

PJ: Paul Lekakis, he sang the Boom Boom song.

(🎤Boom, boom, boom, let's go back to my room.🎶)

PJ: Yes, his record is there. Signed.

PJ: These are CDs that Jojo, he was a DJ at Mining Company... and other various places. He would make us pride songs.

Julian: Mixtapes and you could put them in and it's a party

PJ: Yeah

Julian: You could throw in one of Jojo's mixtapes if you were gonna have a pool party, if you were gonna have a tea dance, and know you were set up for success.

PJ: He sold all discs for, like, five bucks.

Julian: The archives don't just cover queer Albuquerque history.

PJ: Here's 2009, first Pride in Madrid. In Madrid.

Julian: Yes.

PJ: Here's the first annual Pride for Gallup.

PJ: The archives are gonna be at Civic Plaza. That's where the Pride Fest is this year, and it's gonna be inside the convention center. It should be opening up on Friday.

Julian: There's more than 50 panels.

PJ: No, I counted. There's 280 panels.

Julian: 280 panels!

Julian: Check out the Pride archives this weekend or find one of the dozens of other queer celebrations here in the Land of Enchantment this month. And find extended interviews from this series on our blog at 505OMATIC.COM.