“Our America: Pride in History 5” celebrates the amazing contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. This year we look at a historian, a church leader, a safe space, a business leader, a drag king, and a groundbreaking radio broadcast. Across the country, LGBTQ+ plus people have made strides to advance the fight for equality.

That includes people like “El Daña,” the nation’s oldest drag king. A Mexican-American male impersonator from Fresno, California, Elsie Saldaña has been performing as “El Daña” for decades. Being a drag king in a rural part of California presents challenges, but “El Daña” has persevered and celebrated lesbian drag.

“Let me say, when I’m on stage, I forget about everything else,” Saldaña said. “I focus on my performance, and I feel like a star. Being the oldest drag king in the world, still performing. You know, I can’t believe that I’m the only one, you know, 80 years old.”

When you think of LGBTQ+ history, in New York you likely think of the Stonewall Riots. But the city’s history of advancing civil rights is deep and rich. At The New York Historical, famed Village Voice photographer Fred W. McDarrah’s work is celebrated in an exhibit that depicts moments in the history of LGBTQ+ civil rights in the latter half of the 20th century.

“He really documented what was happening in New York City and specifically in the village,” said Marilyn Kushner, the exhibit’s curator. “There was a lot of activity, a lot of creative activity going on. And in Greenwich Village, a lot of queer people at the time living there because they feel safe there.”

In downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, a landmark in the LGBTQ+ community has been a mainstay for almost 40 years.

“LGBTQ+ history is American history,” said Trevor Keller, manager and booking director at the Legends Nightclub. “This is the first place you can grab a drink, come in, relax on our couches and just kind of see what the vibe is of the night.

But this nightclub is more than just the heart of the community, it also is the soul, serving as the home of St. John’s Metropolitan Community Church, an LGBTQ+ affirming ministry.

In Houston, Texas, a radio broadcast called “Queer Voices” has been informing the LGBTQ+ community for decades. The KPFT radio station was controversial and was even bombed once by members of the Klu Klux Klan over its broadcasts.

“I don’t know how word got around that there was this new innovative radio station that was for the community,” said host Deborah Bell. “I was listening when it was bombed off the air by the Klan. I really want to, for the next generation, teach them how to hone their narrative. What that means is who you think you are, and then the stories we tell to protect the people around us.”

Protecting those around them is part of the mission of Rikki’s, a women’s sports bar in San Francisco that opened after years of decline in spaces for lesbians. The bar is named for Rikki Stryker, a pioneering figure in San Francisco LGBTQ+ history, opening her first of two queer bars in 1966 and championing women’s sports.

“She was a huge sports advocate, and that helped put together the Federation of Gay games and the Gay games,” said Sara Yergovich, co-founder of Rikki’s. “We don’t define ourselves as being a lesbian bar, but we’re lesbian owned and named after a historic lesbian in the Castro.”

Finding your place as a LGBTQ+ person can be challenging if you are Catholic. But now, after years of exclusion by the church, the community is being met with acceptance. Hundreds of LGBTQ+ people helped usher in a new era of acceptance and inclusivity, with a Holy Year pilgrimage in September celebrating the queer community. Father James Martin has been preaching openness and acceptance from his church in Philadelphia.

“It was pretty amazing and very emotional and really electric to be there,” said Father Martin, who was invited to the Vatican for an audience with Pope Leo XIV. “The message I got from him was that his approach to LGBTQ Catholics was going to continue the legacy of Pope Francis, which is basically openness and welcome.”

Being open and welcoming is what LGBTQ+ historians say is allowing them to tell the communities stories. Many lost to time because of stigma and shame.

In Chicago, LGBTQ+ historian John D’Emilio has been writing and researching about this community for five decades.

“I wanted to understand U.S. history and how we got to this place,” he said. “And at the same time, I was living in New York and got involved in the gay liberation movement. And decided, ‘Oh, I’m going to do what we now call LGBTQ history.'”

From bar raids to AIDS protests, D’Emilio says It’s important to maintain that voice, to fight for equality, and combat some nationwide efforts to erase LBGTQ+ history.

“Keep making the effort to make this history available, even as some doors are being closed right now,” said D’Emilio.

Watch “Our America: Pride in History V” in the video player above, and watch all the previous episodes below.