Queer History in Unprecedented Times
GLBT Historical Society Executive Director Roberto Ordeñana with San Francisco Mayor London Breed; photograph by Bradley Roberge.
Queer History in Unprecedented Times: Three Questions for Roberto Ordeñana
On October 19 at “Reunion,” our annual Gala, the GLBT Historical Society formally welcomed our new executive director, Roberto Ordeñana, who joins us after a year-long search. San Francisco Mayor London Breed, California State Senator Scott Wiener and District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman all attended the Gala, with Mayor Breed introducing Roberto to the assembled company.
In the past few weeks, Roberto has been spending time in the archives and museum and meeting with staff and board members. He sat down for an interview to share his thinking about LGBTQ history and the GLBT Historical Society’s future.
Let’s start with the basics: Why is it important to share and preserve LGBTQ history?
RO: We are experiencing a rise in global fascism and we are subjected to the spread of false narratives about our communities and our lives. Even as we document queer history at the GLBT Historical Society, we are living through a pivotal moment in history for LGBTQ people, women, immigrants and communities of color. Our hard-fought rights are under attack by political extremists who wish to force us back into the closet, lock us up in cages, or make us disappear altogether. In these unprecedented times, preserving and sharing our vibrant queer history has never been more important. And I think it starts with each one of us continuing to reflect upon and share our own stories with each other; all of us have a unique narrative.
You’ve spent over two decades working with LGBTQ cultural and social justice organizations in San Francisco. Tell us a little about your personal trajectory here.
RO: I had the incredible privilege and blessing to be born and raised in San Francisco. My parents immigrated from Nicaragua to San Francisco to build a better life for their families. Growing up here, you might think life for a budding gay cis Latinx boy would be easy—and granted other folks had it much worse—but even in our city, I experienced deep bullying for being “different” with educators and administrators ignoring what was happening in the halls of our schools. My caring family, supportive friends—and yes, the fabulous queer world of theater!—carried me through and helped me survive. These experiences are why I have long worked to build communities of care and justice so that others would not face isolation and despair bred by ignorance and hate.
In the late 1990s, while enrolled at SF State University’s Human Sexuality program, I had the honor of organizing with other young people to prevent the spread of HIV here in San Francisco. I’ve been a proud member of numerous boards and have served on the San Francisco Arts Commission for our amazing city. Most recently, I partnered with a community of support and dedicated leaders including its Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe, State Senator Scott Weiner and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman to allow the SF LGBT Center to achieve full sustainability.
As you step into the executive director role, what’s your vision for the society’s future?
RO: For nearly 40 years the society has proudly shone a light on our history and culture. I’m honored to join an organization with the commitment to lift up the histories of trans people, nonbinary people, women and communities of color. I am so excited to join the team of dedicated volunteers, hardworking staff, board members and supporters to continue this important work.
And yes: together we will establish a permanent home for our internationally recognized archives, exhibitions and public programs. A vibrant space will allow our entire community and allies to continue to learn from our past, in order to build the future we and the next generations deserve and desire. Our home will be a space where we will continue to dream of possibilities and work towards our continued shared liberation.
Over many decades, our LGBTQ community has faced incredible challenges and met them with great courage. We’ve built communities of support and institutions vital to our well-being and so right here we have the opportunity to continue the good work building upon almost 40 years of history to forge fabulous lives and worlds, informed by history and oriented to a more just future. I’m so excited for the journey we’re going to take and the history we’ll make together!