Histories of Queer Harlem
Written by Hilla Kauppinen
With the 15th anniversary of Harlem Pride coming up, it is a great time to take a look at the colorful queer history of Harlem. Harlem Pride was started in 2010 by Lawrence Rodriguez and Carmen Neely and hosted 2500 participants in its inaugural celebration. The aim of the organization is to not only celebrate Harlem’s LGBT community but also its rich history and heritage.
The Harlem Renaissance, also known as the ‘New Negro Movement’, was a revival of African-American arts, scholarship, and politics in Harlem in the 1920s and 1920s. Although mostly known for being black, the movement was also undeniably queer. Many queer people of color, such as Gladys Bentley and A’Lelia Walker, were influential during the period. Queer people and nightlife were able to exist more freely because of the disinterest of the police in the behavior of black residents and neighborhoods in New York. Some legendary queer locations in Harlem were The Savoy Ballroom, the Apollo Theatre, and the Clam House – only one of which, the Apollo Theatre, remains today.
The Savoy Ballroom was a dance hall on Lenox Avenue between 140th and 141st. Although most known for being a hub of jazz music, the venue also hosted drag balls and even occasionally stayed open through the night to help protect visibly queer performers from being targeted at night. Today, a movement called Welcome to Savoy exists with the goal of re-opening the doors of Savoy.
Gladys Bentley was one of the influential female performers during the Renaissance period, known for playing with gender expression and cross-dressing. Most of her shows took place at Harry Hansberry’s Clam House located on 133rd Street. Labeled as socially defiant by the medical professionals of her time, she wore a signature suit and top hat and was often backed up by a group of drag queens.
A’Lelia Walker was the only daughter and heiress of the first American self-made female millionaire Madam Walker. One of the estates she inherited from her mother was a large townhouse in West Harlem that became a cultural and entertainment hub. Although Walker’s own sexuality has remained unclear, the house was reportedly a safe place for many queer folks and performers. The townhouse was eventually demolished in the 1940s. Today, the Countee Cullen Branch of the New York City Public Library stands in the place of the legendary estate and is named after another important figure in the Harlem Renaissance.
Kota Alliance is proud to be a part of Harlem Pride 2024. Find our stand at the main event on June 29th!
References:
Barrows, M. (2022, June 21). Explore the 'Disappearing Queer Spaces' of the Harlem Renaissance. Columbia Neighbors. Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://neighbors.columbia.edu/news/explore-disappearing-queer-spaces-harlem-renaissance
Lewis, S. W. (2022, May 28). The Harlem Renaissance in Black Queer History | National Museum of African American History and Culture. National Museum of African American History and Culture. Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/harlem-renaissance-black-queer-history
National Museum of African American History & Culture. (n.d.). Countee Cullen. National Museum of African American History and Culture. Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://nmaahc.si.edu/countee-cullen
Román, I. (2023, June 20). 6 Key Figures of the Harlem Renaissance's Queer Scene. Wikipedia. Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://www.history.com/news/harlem-renaissance-figures-gay-lesbian
TIME. (2022, February 9). The (Gay) Harlem Renaissance | The History You Didn't Learn. YouTube. Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71fKS2SF-0U
Walser, L. (2017, March 29). How A'Lelia Walker And The Dark Tower Shaped The Harlem Renaissance. National Trust for Historic Preservation. Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://savingplaces.org/stories/how-alelia-walker-and-the-dark-tower-shaped-the-harlem-renaissance