Welcome to Litsy!

Queer in the Sunshine State is a collection of interviews from 27 queer / trans / nonbinary / genderqueer / gay / lesbian / bi / pan / ace individuals about their lives in Gainesville / Florida / the South / and beyond. This project is in response to the Florida Legislative Investigation Committee, or Johns Committee, which used the power of the state legislature to attack and intimidate Civil Rights Activists and "suspected" gay people at various Florida universities and institutions from 1956-1965. Those racist and homophobic ideologies did not end when the committee disbanded in 1965 and continue to this day in Florida, across the South, across America, and around the world. How can representations and narratives of Queer people challenge prejudice against this community? What does it mean to be Queer in the Sunshine State? Queer in the Sunshine State is a call to action. Keep going! Keep striving for a more just and equal future!!