The first and only Queer Histories Festival in the U.S.
Celebrating seven decades of service to the LGBTQ+ community, One Institute presents Circa, the first and only LGBTQ+ histories festival in the United States.
Kicking off LGBTQ+ History Month, October 2023, the month-long, LA County-wide programming series showcases the trailblazing histories and vibrant cultural contributions of LGBTQ+ communities through the lens of present-day challenges and triumphs. Through exhibitions, performance, readings, screenings, lectures, dialogues, and parties, Circa features queer and trans artists, activists, and educators leading the movement for LGBTQ+ liberation.
Circa: Queer Histories Festival is presented by One Institute. Circa is made possible with support from our sponsors the City of West Hollywood, Los Angeles County Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture, California Arts Council, and California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org.
The Los Angeles LGBT Center is a Co-Presenter of all Circa programs taking place at The Village of Ed Gould Plaza including the Advocate and Gochis Galleries, the Renberg Theatre, and the Davidson/Valentini Theatre.
Special thanks to the Circa Steering Committee Members: Erik Adamian, Board Chair, GALAS LGBTQ+ Armenian Society; Jerri Allyn, activist artist; Lynn Harris Ballen, activist, writer, and radio producer; Andy Campbell, critic, educator, and art historian; Holly M. Crawford, artist, Director of Adult Public Programs, LACMA; Samantha Eisenberg, queer activist; Rubén Esparza, multidisciplinary artist and curator; Tracy Fenix, curator and cultural producer; Chanelle Gallant, writer and feminist rights activist; Eric Kugler, writer and comedian; Ray Lopez-Chang, education equity organizer; Hugh McHarg, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives, USC Libraries; Amitis Motevalli, Artist/Director of William Grant Still Arts Center; Rasheed Newson, author, executive producer, and showrunner; Marval A Rex, transmasculine actor, curator, and cultural producer; C. Jerome Woods, poet, curator, and collector.
About One Institute
Founded in 1952, One Institute is the oldest active LGBTQ+ organization in the country, dedicated to telling LGBTQ+ history and stories through education, arts, and social justice programs. Our one-of-a-kind exhibitions and public programs connect LGBTQ+ history and contemporary culture to effect social change. Through unique K-12 teacher trainings, lesson plans, and youth mentorship programs, we empower the next generation of teachers and students to bring queer history into classrooms and communities. As the independent community partner of ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, we promote the largest collection of LGBTQ+ materials in the world.
The curatorial and educational choices made by One Institute are guided by our commitment to social equity and justice. We engage with the complexity of LGBTQ+ history and representation through highlighting the intersectional narratives of Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), women, gender- nonconforming and transgender people, people of various abilities, youth, and elders across all socio-economic classes.
Learn more at oneinstitute.org, and connect with One on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @oneinstitutela.