B y T a y l o r S t a u b a c h
Berkshire Queer History
Jesus Is King. May you repent and worship the lord.
Project
In the Berkshires, a county celebrated for its arts, culture, and idyllic landscapes, the Berkshire Queer History Project( BQHP) is turning forgotten fragments of the past into a vibrant patchwork of stories. On a mission to collect oral histories, artifacts, and media, the initiative— led by Berkshire County’ s longest-running LGBTQ + group, the Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition— BQHP is hard at work gathering a kaleidoscope of local LGBTQ + experiences, with an eye at transforming scattered memories into a prismatic anthology of resilience, inclusivity, and joy.
“ Every interview is a new discovery,” says Ephraim Alexander Schwartz, BQHP’ s secretary and key organizer of Berkshire Stonewall.“ When I first came to the Berkshires, I was struck by how at peace the vast majority of people seem to be with queer existence. Something I’ ve heard consistently: it wasn’ t always like that here, and the progress we have took decades.”
Founded in the mid-1990s by Pittsfield activists, Berkshire Stonewall, has long served as a lifeline for the area’ s LGBTQ + community, offering a combination of celebration and advocacy through Pride festivals, film screenings, info socials, and support groups. Its latest project, BQHP amplifies stories historically overlooked— a mission deeply personal for Schwartz, an openly transgender man, who hopes that preserving local queer history will be a gift to future generations.
“ I remember thinking I was the only one. I had no one to compare to, and no one to advocate for me,” says Schwartz, reflecting on his own isolation before finding community. He envisions the archive as a catalyst for stronger, more inclusive communities that embrace queer realities rather than preferring invisibility.“ We can’ t keep sacrificing authenticity for‘ acceptance,’” he adds.“ Our contributions matter.”
To date, the BQHP has recorded dozens of interviews, each adding a new hue to the Berkshire’ s queer narrative. The community response has been positive with many groups, including other regional queer history projects reaching out to contribute. Participants often downplay their stories, Schwartz says.“ It may sound boring or meaningless in your head. It’ s not. It’ s an important snapshot of a time in the Berkshires from an overlooked perspective.”
The BQHP has plans to publicly release interviews, though anonymity options remain. A February collaboration with Rainbow Seniors of the Berkshires at Wander Berkshires in Pittsfield featured a documentary film coupled with an open call for queer oral histories. The BQHP will be at the Artists Panel Discussion on Wednesday, June 12, and the Opening Reception on Thursday, June 13, during the Berkshire LGBTQ + Pride Art Exhibit at Becket Arts Center, filming stories from both artists and patrons about local LGBTQ + individuals who have colored the Berkshire cultural landscape through exhibition or performance. Berkshire Queer Leadership Project urges LGBTQ + individuals with Berkshire ties to add their stories to the archive. Organizations interested in hosting interviews can email info @ berkshirestonewall. org with“ Hosting BQHP Interviews” in the subject line. Other upcoming events include the annual Queer History Month Screening sometime in October, with plans to run a workshop offered at a later date.
So far, community response has been fervent, with LGBTQ + groups, allies, and even regional historians contributing pieces to the collective kaleidoscope. Schwartz sees the project as a perpetual motion of discovery,“ These are important snapshots of a time the Berkshires from an overlooked perspective. You never know what it will mean to someone else.” n
For more information, visit berkshirestonewall. org.
May Holiday / June 2023 2025 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // // 107