Photograph of members of the Royal Court softball team at Busch Gardens. In this photo, a group of members are on a water rapids ride. The photo is taken from above the ride looking down on the team inside of a circular yellow raft as they float down the ride.

Photograph of members of the Royal Court softball team at Busch Gardens. In this photo, a group of members are on a water rapids ride. The photo is taken from above the ride looking down on the team inside of a circular yellow raft.

Photograph of Ronnie Nasuti (left) and friend (right) standing next to a decorated Christmas Tree. Ronnies has his arm around the shoulders of his friend and is holding a glass of wine. Above it, a wreath hangs on the wall.

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons, Ron Nasuti and Carol Hanlen. The two are embracing as they face the camera and smile. Ron is on the right side of the image and Carol is on the left side of the image. The two are wearing tuxedos. Behind them, there are blue and silver balloons and blue streamers hanging on the wall.

Photograph of Roger "Buster" Vanasse standing in a flower shop holding a large jack-o-lantern helium balloon. Vanasse is smiling and looking towards the camera. Roger was the first of the KQ family to be diagnosed with AIDS and passed in 1988. This photo is from a folder called "Some of our family who died of AIDS."

Photograph of Roger "Buster" Vanasse standing inside a doorway in a house. He is smiling and laughing and has one arm outstretched. This photo is from a folder called "Some of our family who died of AIDS." Vanasse passed away on 10/15/1988.

Interview with Rodney Davis by Caitlin Malimban. Davis is a Black, gay man, activist and past President of Rhode Island Pride. Topics in order of discussion include: growing up in Newport, R.I., being placed in foster care and domestic abuse; involvement in the Jehovahs Witnesses and challenges around being a secreted gay man while in the fellowship; moving to Providence and coming out; being disfellowshipped from the Jehovahs Witnesses; AIDS epidemic; Rhode Island PRIDE and organizing the first night Pride parade; impact of COVID-19. This interview was created as part of the Queering Oral History course - an oral history course at Brown University in Spring 2020 and taught by Dr. Virginia Thomas. Students were trained in oral history practices and interviewed members of the Rhode Island LGBTQIA community.

Photograph of a group of five women, Rochelle, Lisa, Tracie, Paula and Laura, seated inside the Kings & Queens during the 1996 New Years Eve Party. The group is posed for a photo and smiling at the camera.

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons: Rochelle Jacobs, Lisa Hevey, Paula, and Laura. The four women are lined up against a wood paneled wall, to the left of a dartboard. They are all turned slightly towards the right side of the image, facing the camera. There are string lights hanging from the top of the wall.

Interview with Robert Iovino by Joe Saperstein. Topics of discussion include Providence neighborhoods, Italian-American culture, having children, Christianity, Baptist worship, the Vietnam War, the NSA, coming out, divorce, dating sites, chatrooms, cancer, spiritualism, dating apps, addiction, and the United Methodist church.

Photograph of Rita Paux and a woman kissing inside the Kings & Queens. To the left of the kiss, another two women are present. The one directly to the left of Rita (center left) is looking at the camera) the leftmost women is making a face at the camera and holding up two peace signs. This photo was taken during the 1983 New Years Eve party. There are silver and red balloons and streamers decorating the ceiling and walls of the party.

Photograph of three women seated at a table together and smiling at the camera. The women from left to right are: Rita Paux, former owner of the Kings & Queens; Gigi; and Flo. Gigi has both her arms around Rita and Flo.

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons out on a picnic in the Lincoln Woods. This photo shows former Kings & Queens owner, Rita Paux, riding in a motorcycle sidecar at the picnic. There are two women on the motorcycle next to her. The woman riding on the back of the motorcycle is showing a peace sign to the camera.

Photograph of Kings & Queens patrons out on a picnic in the Lincoln Woods. This photo shows former Kings & Queens owner, Rita Paux, riding in a motorcycle sidecar at the picnic. There are two women on the motorcycle next to her.

Photograph of several bar patrons dancing inside the Kings & Queens. In the center of the image, former bar owner, Rita Paux, is seen smiling slightly bent over. This is a candid photo taken during the 1997 New Years Eve Party. The room is decorated with blue and silver balloons and streamers.

Polaroid photograph of former Kings & Queens owner, Rita Paux, seated at the bar next to a woman in a red jacket. Rita is seated on the right side of the image looking at the camera with her mouth open. On the left side of the image, the woman in the red coat smiles at the camera with her hands in her pockets.

Photograph of a long table at the Kings & Queens during the 15th year anniversary. The table is oriented with the short side towards the camera and patrons seated on either side. Rita Paux, former owner of the Kings & Queens, is seated on the left side of the image in the center of the table. The table is decorated with colorful floral decorations. Behind the table, Halloween decorations advertising the upcoming Halloween Party are present.

Photograph of former owner of the Kings & Queens, Rita Paux, seated at a table next to Gigi. This is a candid photo and both Rita and the woman are looking away from the camera. On the table, flower arrangements and a candle are present. Behind the women, blue star decorations hang on the wall.

Photograph of former Kings & Queens owner, Rita Paux, seated in conversation with a woman named Dotty inside of the Kings & Queens. Rita is seated on the left side of the image and is pointing off camera as she leans towards Dotty. Dotty is on the right side of the image, leaned towards Rita, and wearing a Happy New Year headband and blue plastic lei.

Interview with Richard Muto by Joe Saperstein. Topics of discussion include family history, immigration, autism, sexual assault, Providence neighborhoods, college, gay students coalition, the gay community, Newport, houselessness, hauntings, civil rights, gay community and lesbian community relationships, bookstores, mafia, piano, neurosurgery, Gamma Knife, traumatic brain injuries, genetic testing, and partnerships.

Interview with Rex Labeau by Eli Adams. Rex lives in Newport; Rhode Island and is an artist and activist. They work in public health and are an active Unitarian Universalist and member of the Channing Memorial Church. They identify as genderqueer; trans; nonbinary; asexual; white and neurodivergent / autistic. Topics in order of discussion include: dinosaurs and gender; coming to an understanding of gender and sexuality during childhood and young adulthood; comics; TGI Networks support group "Borderlands"; legally changing their name and pronouns; Rhode Island and the difference between the queer community in Newport and Providence; involvement in the Unitarian Universalist church; getting diagnosed with autism; job discrimination; a career change from oceanography to public health; artwork and creative process; being homeschooled; growing up with a parent in the Navy. This interview was created as part of the Queer Stories Project - an oral history project developed by Dr. Virginia Thomas to train LGBTQIA young adults to conduct oral history interviews with LGBTQIA adults in Rhode Island. Queer Stories Project was funded by Rhode Island Council for the Humanities.

Photograph of Kings & Queens patron, Renee (L), with her arm around an unidentified friend inside of the Kings & Queens. The two are seated at a table and smiling as they look towards the camera.

Photograph of Rebecca Parris (left) and Kim Deacon (right). The two have their arms around each others' backs as they pose and smile at the camera. Rebecca is holding a drink in her right hand. Rebecca was an American jazz singer and considered "Boston's First Lady of Jazz". The photo was taken after a jazz performance by Parris at the House of Chan.

Queer Oral Histories include recordings of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual people in Rhode Island, 2019-2020. The interviews document experiences related to identity including sexuality, gender identity and expression, race and ethnicity as well as art and creative expression, dating, marriage and families, activism, religious faith, social life and occupations. Materials from the Queer StoRIes Project (109-07-01) and Queering Oral History (109-07-02) collections are included.

Photograph of two people reenacting the shower scene from Hitchcock's "Psycho" inside the Kings & Queens. In the center of the image, a makeshift shower with a person inside is present. There is a second person with a big sword pretending to stab the person in the shower with it. Behind them, there is a decorative sign that says "motel" hanging on the wall.

Photograph of a person dressed in a priest Halloween costume seated at the bar inside the Kings & Queens. The person has their hands crossed while seated at the bar. In the background, a man lurks in the doorway. There are Halloween decorations on the walls of the bar.

Photograph of two people in Halloween costumes seated at the bar inside the Kings & Queens. This is a candid photograph. The person seated on the left side of the image is dressed as a priest. They are in profile as they face towards the right side of the image. The person on the right side of the image is dressed as Freddy Krueger. They are facing forward. Behind them, Halloween decorations decorate the bar.

Photograph of the Pride=Power themed float by the Kings & Queens for the Pride Parade. This photo shows the Kings & Queens float parked on the side of the street. The photograph shows the float from the passenger's side. The float is pulled by a red truck with a Kings & Queens playing cards logo. The float is a handmade lion coming out of a cage. The sign above the float reads "Pride=Power." On the left side of the image, a group is posed next to the float. Many of the people posed with the float are carrying pink triangles.

Photograph of the Pride=Power themed float by the Kings & Queens for the Pride Parade. This photo shows the Kings & Queens float parked on the side of the street. The photograph shows the float from the driver's side. The float is pulled by a red truck with a Kings & Queens playing cards logo. The float is a handmade lion coming out of a cage. Many of the people marching with the float are carrying pink triangles. The sign on the side of the float reads "Hear us Roar."

Photograph of the Pride=Power themed float by the Kings & Queens for the Pride Parade. This photo shows the Kings & Queens float marching down Francis Street in front of the State House. The float is pulled by a red truck with a Kings & Queens playing cards logo. The float is a handmade lion coming out of a cage. Many of the people marching with the float are carrying pink triangles.