Queer Newark

Home
United States
Newark, NJ
Queer Newark

The city of Newark, New Jersey has a fascinating and well-documented history. For more information, please email q***[email protected]

A community-based and community-directed initiative supported by Rutgers University-Newark, the Q***r Newark Oral History Project is dedicated to preserving the history of LGBTQ people and communities in Newark, New Jersey. There are studies of its rich cultural, musical, and literary legacy, its educational system, political life, religious life, immigrant roots, and history of racial conflict. Yet there is one group whose undeniable contribution to the city’s life has rarely been the subject of historical or academic study -- Newark’s LGBT community.

10/17/2026

Our Q***r Newark have been asking the Rutgers Newark Community where they find community. Listen to Damien's response and let us know where you find community in Newark!
***rhistory ***r

10/16/2026

Flashback Friday‼️🏳️‍🌈

Today, Q***r Newark is shouting out some interviews that turned 10 this year!
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷🩵🖤🤎
Ten years ago, Bob Cartwright sat down with us to discuss his community organizing in Newark. A student in the '60s, Bob became involved in the Newark LGBTQ community through his advocacy and action. Listen to Bob's interview: https://q***r.newark.rutgers.edu/interviews/bob-cartwright

Angela Raine is a Newark native who has made a name for herself in LGBTQ publishing through owning one of the first transgender magazines in the US. Her two interviews review Newark's club scenes, establishing support groups for the transgender community, and being resilient when faced with discrimination. Listen to Angela's interview: https://q***r.newark.rutgers.edu/interviews/angela-raine

Saundra Toby-Heath is a Newark native who is incredibly connected in the community. An artist and entrepreneur, she seeks to spread joy, and her art, across the city. Listen to Saundra's interview: https://q***r.newark.rutgers.edu/interviews/saundra-toby-heath

***r ***rNewark 🌈

10/14/2026

NEW INTERVIEW ALERT‼️🏳️‍🌈

Today we are spotlighting an interview by Marina Carreira, who recently sat down for a second interview with us! Marina is an artist, writer, and poet who lives and works in Northern Jersey for most of her life. This second interview recounts life after Covid, the resilience of the immigrant community, and the experiences of an artist.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷🩵🤎🖤
🎧Listen to Marina's interview: https://q***r.newark.rutgers.edu/interviews/marina-carreira

Quote Text: ""Is the work q***r?" Yes, the work is q***r 'cause it's my work, but the q***rness will stand for itself. It's not always going-it's not always going to be a q***r poem, but it will always be a poem written by a q***r person."

***r ***an ***rNewark

10/12/2026

Today we are spotlighting Renata Hill! 🏳️‍🌈

Renata Hill has been resilient in the face of adversity all her life. Growing up in unstable circumstances, before experiencing a hate crime leading to her criminalization, Renata is now working to empower people through social organizing.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷🩵🤎🖤
🎧Listen to Renata's interview: https://q***r.newark.rutgers.edu/interviews/renata-hill

Graphic text: "At first I thought it was just a phase...but then I was like once I got with my first girlfriend I was so comfortable. I was like wow this is what I’ve missed all my life. My heart was just like feeling different.
I think what’s missing in Newark as far as the LGBT community is support. We need more support, when hate crimes happen it needs to be acknowledged and there need
to be harder consequences for those that are committing these hate crimes against LGBT community."

***rhistory ***ans 🏳️‍🌈

10/09/2026

Today we are celebrating the 8 year anniversary of Dr. Kareem Willis' interview! 🏳️‍🌈

Kareem has been involved in Newark's LGBTQ community since they moved to the area. A q***r immigrant of color, they are committed to working with the community through their company, Radically Uncommon Consulting, and their work at Yendor Productions. Kareem continues to work with the community through their fundraising work with Brick City Drag, and education work with Rutgers-Newark.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷🩵🤎🖤
Listen to Kareem's interview: https://q***r.newark.rutgers.edu/interviews/kareem-willis

Graphic Text: "But, I think just that full circle moment [listening to Kevin Taylor preach pro-gay sermons at Liberation in Truth], that was instrumental in my journey as an LGBTQ individual. That not being able to shake my spirituality, not being able to shake the influence church has had on my life, and my faith has had on my life, has led me to come back, and I feel like somewhere in there is like a testament that I share with other people."

***r ***rNewark ***r

10/07/2026

Q***r Newark is celebrating International Le***an Day‼️
🏳️‍🌈
Today (and October 8), we are uplifting le***an voices from our interviews. Everyone has had a different journey in understanding and embodying their identity, and our interviews reflect these experiences.
🧡💛🤍🩷💜
Visit our website (https://q***r.newark.rutgers.edu) and listen to these amazing women's interviews!

***an ***anhistory ***rNewark

10/05/2026

Today, we are spotlighting Kiyan Williams! 🏳️‍🌈

Kiyan is a multidisciplinary artist who works across the US to create sculptures, performance, and video. They sat down with Q***r Newark 7 years ago to discuss their experiences growing up in Newark, the politics disadvantaging Newarkers, and their hope for the future.

Listen to Kiyan's interview: https://q***r.newark.rutgers.edu/interviews/kiyan-williams

***rhistory

10/02/2026

⚡FLASHBACK FRIDAY ⚡

Today we are highlighting three interviews from 2016, celebrating their ten-year anniversaries! Each of our interviewees are very involved in the local LGBT community, through their work with the center, and through the NewArk Unity Fellowship Church.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷🩵🤎🖤
The top left photo is of Reverend Jerri Mitchell-Lee! Jerri has a passion for serving the community, acting as a health educator, mental health counselor, and workshop trainer. She also serves the community through her work at Unity Fellowship Church. Listen to Jerri's interview: https://q***r.newark.rutgers.edu/interviews/jerri-mitchell-lee

On the top right, we have Aaron Frazier! Aaron has FOUR interviews with us, where he talks about everything from ballroom culture, living with HIV, activism, and the Newark LGBTQ Community Center. Listen to Aaron's interview: https://q***r.newark.rutgers.edu/interviews/aaron-frazier

Our bottom photo is of Janyce Jackson Jones! Janyce was a founding member of the Liberation in Truth Church in Newark in 1995. She has worked in social justice and community organizing for decades, fighting for marriage equality and increasing mental health services for Newarkers. Listen to Janyce's interview: https://q***r.newark.rutgers.edu/interviews/janyce-jackson-jones

10/01/2026

Today, we are highlighting Poets!

October 1st is National Poetry Day, and Q***r Newark is celebrating by highlighting our poet interviewees!
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷🩵🤎🖤
The top left photo represents paulA neves, the author of "PASSAIC: Poems," and other writings. Her writing relates to being a q***r child of immigrant parents and the experience navigating being Portuguese American. Listen to their interview: https://q***r.newark.rutgers.edu/interviews/paula-neves

Below paulA is Marina Carreira! Another Portuguese American born of immigrant parents, Marina's writing explores navigating relationships, and what it looks like to be q***r in the conservative and oppressive political climate of today. Listen to Marina's interview: https://q***r.newark.rutgers.edu/interviews/marina-carreira

On the right, we have Yvonne Hernandez! Yvonne has written and performed plays and poetry across Newark and New York City, exploring the experiences of coming out in a time where being q***r was not celebrated. Listen to Yvonne's interview: https://q***r.newark.rutgers.edu/interviews/yvonne-hernandez

***r

09/28/2026

Today, we are spotlighting Douglas Says!🏳️‍🌈

Douglas has been involved in the q***r community most of his life, working with noble LGBT and straight entertainers across Newark and NYC. Working as a designer, he has worked with big names in fashion and entertainment across the world, and is author to two books.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤🤍🤎
🎧Listen to Douglas' interview: https://q***r.newark.rutgers.edu/interviews/douglas-says

Graphic Text: "I don’t think I ever really came out officially, I just lived. It’s like the weather changes and whether it’s hot or cold, you either put on more or you take off more. It just was like that. The weather changed, I took clothes off or put clothes on. I continued to evolve as an artist, as a designer, as a model, and all of that was a part—it was accepted as a part of everything. When we were coming up, it was a lo-o-o-o-o-otta gay. There was so many people. There was a group of us, and we all hung out at the same bars, the same fashion shows, the same—we all ran into each other."

***rhistory **s

Address

350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Newark, NJ
07102

Website

http://queer.newark.rutgers.edu/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Queer Newark posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The University

Send a message to Queer Newark:

Want your university to be the top-listed university in Newark?