Local Advisor
Jim Van Buskirk

© Jim van Buskirk, photo: Kent Taylor My interest in queer history began when I realized that much of the stories of our lives had -- throughout history -- been destroyed, mistranslated, or otherwise obfuscated. My goal has been to ensure that documentation of queer lives is available to those who are interested in learning about it. Having curated exhibitions for the GLBT History Museum as well as many at the Hormel Center, I am excited to be able to participate in this important project under the auspices of the Goethe-Institut. I hope it is appreciated by audiences who might not be aware of the San Francisco Bay Area's robust queer role in the century leading up to the Stonewall Rebellion.

Biography

Jim Van Buskirk was the founding program manager of the James C. Hormel LGBGTQIA Center at the San Francisco Public Library from 1992-2007, and currently works as a book group facilitator, writer, editor, public speaker, exhibit curator, and collections manager. His writing has appeared in various books, newspapers, magazines, websites, and broadcasts and he presents programs on film, queer history, and other topics. He co-authored Gay by the Bay: A History of Queer Culture in the San Francisco Bay Area with Susan Stryker, and co-edited with Katherine V. Forrest Love, Castro Street: Reflections of San Francisco.