In 2022, Detroit Vesey’s, a queer restaurant and bicycle café, commissioned artist Nora Rachel to paint a 27-foot-long mural about queer and trans history, and also to paint a mural with queer symbols in the restaurant's bathrooms. The different elements in the main mural, titled "History is a Weapon (so light a match)," focused on the symbols and history of queer and trans communities in North America.
There was a focus on events that took place pre-Stonewall, to show the long history of resistance we stand on. Queer and trans people have always existed, and we have always found each other, through our intra-community codes and our acts of resistance. Our history is our weapon, and our foundation. We have resistance and joy and we have always been the ones who keep us safe. Please enjoy this walk through our histories, our queer codes, our struggles, and our joys.
There was a focus on events that took place pre-Stonewall, to show the long history of resistance we stand on. Queer and trans people have always existed, and we have always found each other, through our intra-community codes and our acts of resistance. Our history is our weapon, and our foundation. We have resistance and joy and we have always been the ones who keep us safe. Please enjoy this walk through our histories, our queer codes, our struggles, and our joys.
"History is a Weapon: A Queer & Trans History Zine" is a zine about the mural, which outlines all of the research and information on the symbols and historical events depicted in this mural. It contains documents, historical photos, and images of the mural with a guide to looking up each element.
Zine Available Here
Zine Available Here
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