Originally founded in 1980, the Boston-based LGBTQ+ archive The History Project officially renamed itself Queer History Boston in 2025 to increase its visibility and 'come out' to the public. Through preserving local history dating back to the 1600s, the organization works to counter political efforts to erase queer experiences and prove the long-standing contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals. This preservation of local narratives is vital to fostering societal empathy and understanding, especially as they prepare to launch a podcast exploring 'queer revolutionaries' for the U.S. semiquincentennial.
**EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!**
### **BOSTON’S SECRET HISTORY EXPOSED!**
#### **Archival Sleuths Drop the Mask! “Queer History Boston” Spills the Beans on Centuries of Unconventional Lives!**
#### *From 1600s Dress-Up Deviances to the Famous “Boston Marriage,” Joan Ilacqua Declares: “We’ve Got the Goods!”*
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**BOSTON, June 25, 2026** — Hold onto your fedoras, folks, because we’ve got a scoop that’ll make your garter snap! For forty-five years, a band of plucky volunteers has been quietly hoarding the most sensational secrets in New England. Operating out of the shadows since 1980 under the high-hat moniker “The History Project,” this outfit was strictly an "if you know, you know" joint.
But no more! Head dame and Executive Director Joan Ilacqua has officially thrown off the cloak. Just last year, in the year of our Lord 2025, the organization "came out" of the archives and rechristened itself **Queer History Boston**. They are putting on the ritz and letting the whole world know they’re documenting the gay, lesbian, and non-conformist history of New England—and they aren’t whispering about it anymore!
This reporter sat down with Miss Ilacqua to get the inside track on this historical goldmine.
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### **THE REAL MCCOY: 250 BOXES OF SECRET LIVES!**
"We’ve been on the beat since 1980," Miss Ilacqua told this paper, her eyes flashing with the fire of a true crusader. "Our mission has never wavered: to document, preserve, and share this history so it’s safe from the reformers and the flatfoots."
And let me tell you, they know their onions! The joint boasts over 250 collections of diaries, organization records, and photographs. Whether you’re a high-brow Ph.D. swell, a college kid, or just a curious Joe looking for the lowdown, their doors are wide open—and it won't cost you a single plug nickel!
But just how far back does this trail go?
"Right back to the Puritans!" Ilacqua says.
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### **THE JAZZY PURITANS? CROSS-DRESSING IN THE 1600s!**
According to the archives, the Bay State has been home to folks who transgressed the rules since the days of the Mayflower.
"Before Stonewall in 1969, most of our folks couldn't write their own stories," Ilacqua explains. "You either had to be filthy rich—like the poets and artists of Boston—or you ended up in the hoosegow."
It turns out the straight-laced authorities of the 1690s passed a strict law banning cross-dressing. If a gent was caught in a skirt or a dame was found wearing trousers, they were hauled before the judge.
"We only know their names because they were put on trial," Ilacqua laments. "But those brave souls are just as much a part of our story as any modern figure."
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### **“WE’VE GOT THE RECEIPTS!”**
In these turbulent political times, some big-wigs in Washington and conservative circles are trying to put the kibosh on this kind of history. But Miss Ilacqua is ready for a scrap.
"They’re trying to minimize us, but we’ve got the receipts!" she declares, slapping the table. "We’ve got the proof we were here. We didn’t just miraculously appear in 1969 when the Stonewall riots broke out! We’re here, we’re still here, and we’re part of the American story. It’s not just our history—it’s everyone’s!"
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### **FROM THE "BOSTON MARRIAGE" TO THE MODERN FIGHT**
This isn't just a national movement; Boston has its own unique flavor of rebellion. Take the famous **"Boston Marriage"** of the late 1800s.
When women's colleges cropped up across New England, smart, wealthy dames suddenly realized they didn't need a husband to pay the bills. Instead, they paired off with each other as life partners. Famous writer Henry James even coined the term in his 1886 book *The Bostonians*, modeling the characters after his own sister and her lady friend!
"In Massachusetts, we legalized gay marriage first in 2004," Ilacqua smiles, "but more than a hundred years earlier, these gals were doing it their own way. It’s the bee’s knees!"
And the fight goes on! Boston is also home to the **Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition**, currently celebrating its silver jubilee—25 years of continuous advocacy, making it the oldest trans defense group in the entire nation.
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### **SENSATIONAL NEW BROADCAST TO MARK US 250th!**
With Uncle Sam’s 250th birthday on the horizon, Queer History Boston isn't just waving sparklers. They’re launching a spectacular new "podcast" audio-broadcast this June!
The show will chronicle the "Queer Revolutionaries"—from the Revolutionary War to the modern gay liberation era—asking the hard-boiled question: *Who actually got the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?*
Don't be a wet blanket! Get the full line on your wireless device this June. You can tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or visit their headquarters online at **queerhistoryboston.org**.
**Don't miss it, folks—it’s going to be a absolute sockdolager!**