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Atif Toor Collection on SALGA-NYC

Call Number

MSS.492

Date

1991-2001, 2011, inclusive

Creator

Toor, Atif, 1971-

Extent

.50 linear feet in 1 manuscript box
4 dvd-r disks

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Abstract

SALGA-NYC is a not-for-profit, all-volunteer organization serving the South Asian LGBTQ community in New York. This collection consists of material accumulated by member and organizer Atif Toor, documenting the history and activities of SALGA-NYC including event announcements and fliers; clippings; photographs from various parades, dances, and retreats; SLAAP! (Sexually Liberated Arts Activist Asian People!) informational postcards and photographs; and DVDs used for dance party visual effects. This collection also contains a SALGA-NYC historical timeline, informational fliers, and a small amount of meeting and office files.

Historical Note

SALGA-NYC, formerly known as the South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association, is a not-for-profit, all-volunteer organization serving the South Asian LGBTQ community in the New York area. The organization was founded in 1991 for gay men to debate about co-gender and inclusion of other races in meetings. The organization eventually expanded its mission, promoting awareness, acceptance, empowerment, and safe inclusive spaces for people of all sexual and gender identities who trace their heritage to South Asia or who identify as South Asian. Groups march in Manhattan and Queens gay pride parades as well as the India Day and Pakistan Day parades, supporting SALGA-NYC's mission to enable community members to establish cultural visibility, and oppose oppression and all forms of discrimination. SALGA-NYC also provides multi-generational support, immigration advocacy, and assistance with mental and physical health issues through monthly support meetings and retreats, as well as sponsoring events such as the annual "Color Me Queer" dance party, film festivals, and workshops.

Arrangement

This collection has not been arranged by an archivist. A majority of the materials were arranged by item type when received from the donor.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of materials accumulated by member and organizer Atif Toor, documenting SALGA-NYC history and organizational activities, as well as the South Asian immigrant LGBTQ community in New York City more broadly. This collection also contains event announcements and fliers, including the annual "Color Me Queer" dance party and the PARDA: Unveiling South Asian Artistic Queer Expression event. Clippings cover SALGA-sponsored events, as well as national and international LGBTQ community issues impacting members. Photographs depict members participating in various pride and international parades, dances, and retreats. A SALGA-NYC historical timeline, general information fliers, meeting information and attendee lists, and event planning notes can be found in this collection. Informational postcards and original photographs for SLAAP! (Sexually Liberated Arts Activist Asian People!) are also included in this collection. These materials document the experiences of this small, international community of New Yorkers, from the early 1990s to the early 2000s with regards to the intersection of gender, sexuality, and diasporic backgrounds.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers. Appointments are necessary for the use of manuscript and archival collections. Audiovisual materials have not been preserved and may not be available to researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

NYU's Fales Library and Special Collections is not the copyright owner for this collection. Collection use is subject to all copyright laws. Researchers wishing to reproduce collection material should contact rights holders for permission.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date; Guide to the Atif Toor Collection on SALGA-NYC; MSS 492; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Atif Toor, September 2016. The accession number associated with this gift is 2017.047.

Custodial History

Material was accumulated and donated by long-time SALGA-NYC member and organizer Atif Toor.

Collection processed by

Stacey Flatt

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-20 17:03:35 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid written in English

Processing Information

Materials were placed in new acid-free folders and box.

Revisions to this Guide

June 2023: Updated by Anna Björnsson to reflect SALGA-NYC's name change

Repository

Fales Library and Special Collections
Fales Library and Special Collections
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10012