LOCATION
GLBT Historical Society Museum, 4127 18th St., San Francisco, CA 94114
ADMISSION
$10 admission; Free for members
In 1889, a 23 year old queer Italian wrote to French novelist Émile Zola about his desires, his loves and his hesitations on his gender identity. He bares his soul and hopes the novelist will create a character in his image. This beautifully written honest coming of age tale is a rare autobiographical text that uncovers how queer men cruised 130 years ago without apps, what they did once they “matched” and reveals that true love did exist at that time too.
Join us at the GLBT Historical Society Museum on Thursday, January 16, 2025 for an in-depth look at the life of this anonymous figure, the archival research behind the book, and a conversation between moderator Gerard Koskovich and researcher Michael Rosenfeld on the enduring impact of 19th century expressions of queer life and culture.
This event is co-sponsored by the Department of Modern Language & Literatures at San Francisco State University.
SPEAKERS
MODERATOR: Gerard Koskovich (he/him) is a public historian and rare book dealer who contributes frequently to popular and scholarly media. He customarily divides his time between San Francisco and Paris. A founding member of the GLBT Historical Society, he has been active in the movement to create LGBTQ archives and museums for four decades. Koskovich has presented and published widely in English and French, most recently with a focus on the history of queer history as a cultural practice in the United States and on LGBTQ place-based history, preservation and intangible cultural heritage. He has curated numerous exhibitions on LGBTQ history and culture. Koskovich received the 2020 Clio Award from the GLBT Historical Society for his contributions to advancing the understanding of LGBTQ history.
Michael Rosenfeld (he/him) is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Flanders Research Foundation in Belgium and works on collaborations between queer intellectuals in France, Belgium and the Netherlands between 1885 and 1910. The Italian Invert: A Gay Man’s Intimate Confessions to Émile Zola, published by Columbia University Press in 2022 is a translation from the French book (2017); it has also been translated into Spanish (2023). Michael Rosenfeld has published many articles in academic journals on Francophone literature and on queer history.
Location
GLBT Historical Society Museum, 4127 18th St., San Francisco, CA 94114
Admission
Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members. This event will likely sell out, so guests are encouraged to reserve their tickets early. Tickets are available here.
Join the GLBT Historical Society
Become a member of the GLBT Historical Society for free museum and program admission, discounts in the museum shop and other perks throughout the year.