Artist Statement

Hi, my name is Lauren Instenes and I am currently working on a Master’s in oral history at Columbia University. For me, studying oral history and curating this tour is part of a larger commitment to documenting stories of Midwest queer communities. Most popular accounts of LGBT+ history have been centered on communities from the east and west coasts because of the historic events for the promotion of LGBT+ rights that happened in these areas. We often forget that queer folks in the middle of our country have unique stories to tell. Though it was difficult for queer folks in more rural areas to connect with the movements on the coasts, they still found ways to connect with each other and nourish communities of their own. Why Not III is one of those communities.

Why Not III is a place where queer folks in Springfield, Ohio could gather and learn from each other. However, it was not the only space in which these interactions took place and it was much more accessible to certain people in the queer community than others. Since 1970 when the bar was opened, this space has been predominately frequented by white cis men. There were many exceptions to this rule, but in telling these stories it is important to remember the queer voices who are not being represented. Queer communities are complex and multifaceted, as are the places where they gather. Churches, softball fields, parks and house parties are just a few of the other space queer folks in the Midwest have used as gathering places. As this project progresses, I hope to show the complexity of queer spaces through documenting a diverse range of queer voices. The Why Not along with The Gaslight Inn (which later became Chances Bar) were the most public queer spaces in Springfield. I think it is important that we hear and learn about the unique challenges they faced as being openly queer spaces in a largely conservative area. These spaces and other more private ones, where vital to the survival of queer folks in Springfield and in documenting their stories we expand the narrative of LGBT+ struggle and persistence in America.