2022-10-18 Bryan Knedler Papers on Gay Rights Advocacy, 1979-2012 SPEC.RARE.0315 Finding aid prepared by Lindsay Resnick Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2022 September This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2022-10-18T13:42-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Bryan Knedler Papers on Gay Rights Advocacy SPEC.RARE.0315 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 0.425 Cubic feet 1979-2012 Bryan Keith Knedler is, as of 2021, an American attorney, politician, and LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning) rights activist. The Bryan Knedler Papers on Gay Rights Advocacy, dated 1979-2012, contains correspondence, informational pamphlets, newsletters, and other material related to gay rights and HIV/AIDS activism in the United States. (2) oversize folders; (1) 2.5" letter document box; (1) legal file folder English Knedler, Bryan Arrangement of Materials

The materials in this collection are arranged in chronological order.

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. RARE.2022.0057: Bryan Knedler, 2021 November

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Bryan Knedler Papers on Gay Rights Advocacy, SPEC.RARE.0315, Rare Books & Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

Processed by: Lindsay Resnick, 2022 September; Finding aid written by: Lindsay Resnick, 2022 September

 Biographical Note

Bryan Keith Knedler is, as of 2021, an American attorney, politician, and LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning) rights activist. He was born in 1958 in Marysville, Ohio. He attended Marysville High School and graduated from Ohio State University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and 1986 with a Master of Arts in Art Education. While a student at Ohio State, he became involved with the university's Gay Activist Alliance. After graduation, Knedler moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where he studied law at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. In 2002, Knedler was elected Mayor of Mount Rainier, Maryland, becoming the first openly gay mayor in the state. After his service as mayor, Knedler served on Mount Rainier's city council. In 2021, the City of Mount Rainier named its City Council Chambers in his honor.

 Scope and Contents

The Bryan Knedler Papers on Gay Rights Advocacy, dated 1979-2012, contains correspondence, informational pamphlets, newsletters, and other material related to gay rights and HIV/AIDS activism in the United States. Many of the materials originate from gay rights and LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning) rights groups such as the National Gay Rights Advocates and the Human Rights Campaign. Also included in this collection are a survey form from Virginia Commonwealth University regarding social attitudes towards AIDS, a copy of a proclamation signed by President Barack Obama recognizing June 2012 as LGBT Pride Month in the United States, and a letter to Bryan Knedler from Jay Williams, Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Obama Administation, that was sent along with the proclamation.

 Related Materials Bryan Knedler Collection of Gay Ephemera Bryan K. Knedler Papers Knedler, Bryan AIDS activists--United States--20th century AIDS activists--United States--21st century Correspondence Gay activists--United States--20th century Gay activists--United States--21st century Gay men--United States--20th century Gay men--United States--21st century Lawyers--United States--20th century Lawyers--United States--21st century Newsletters Pamphlets Politicians--United States--21st century "Dead Harvey Milk..." poster 1 1979 Gay Alliance: "News of the Columbus Gay and Lesbian Community" 1 1 1979 November Movement for a New Society: "Off Their Backs... and on Our Own Two Feet" 1 2 circa 1980 National Council of Teachers of English: "Implementing Courses in Lesbian/Gay Literature" 1 3 1980 November 22 "The World's Toughest Rodeo" advertisement RARE Shared 3 1983 Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Inc.: "Read This Before Coming Out to Your Parents" 1 4 1984 University of California, Berkeley Multicultural Lesbian and Gay Studies: "Out in Academia" newsletter 1 5 1985 December Jerry Falwell fundraising appeal 1 6 1986 United States Olympic Committee protest materials 1 7 1987 National Gay Rights Advocates correspondence 1 8 1987, 1988 NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt photographs 1 9 1987, 1989 Workers World Party: "Lesbian and Gay Rights Now!" 1 10 1988 Centers for Disease Control: "Understanding AIDS" pamphlet 1 11 1988 Virginia Commonwealth University: "Personal and Social Reactions to AIDS" survey form 1 12 1988 February 8 Men's Health correspondence 1 13 1988 June 15 Human Rights Campaign materials 1 14 1988, circa 2005 Network of Gay & Lesbian Alumni/ae Associations: "Condoms: Sources of Consumer Information on Condoms and Where to Order Condoms" 1 15 after 1989 Design Industries Foundation for AIDS: "a hundred LEGENDS" postcard 1 16 1990 May Servicemembers Legal Defense Network reception invitation 1 17 1998 International Network of Lesbian and Gay Officials materials 1 18 2001 White House proclamation declaring Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Month 2 1 19 2012 June