Rebels, Criminals, Pioneers: Masc Heroes of the
QPA Queer Photo Archive (1906-1976)
QPA Queer Photo Archive (1906-1976)
Like a moodboard of masc ancestors, Rebels, Criminals, Pioneers: Masc Heroes of the QPA Queer Photo Archive (1906-1976) offers up dozens of images across various categories. From the “passing” men of a century ago, to the brave butches across the decades, to two amazing trans man heroes of the 1950s and 1970s — this stunning collection of nearly fifty large-format vintage news photos provides visceral confirmation of that classic queer saying: We have always been here.
Most significantly, the exhibit spotlights a gallery of folks who were arrested for living as men (Jack Starr, Joe Foley, Charles Williams, James Phipps, and others). The show explores various masc examples from theater and film, and the mainstream’s perennial fascination of women dressing up in “men’s” clothing. Plus, an eclectic variety of irresistibly handsome gender variant AFAB folks from across the 20th century. It also celebrates a pair of true pioneers: Sir Ewan Forbes, the Scottish baron who braved public visibility as a trans man in the early 1950s, and the late Steve Dain, the courageous Bay Area high school teacher who fought for trans rights 50 years ago in Emeryville.
About the Curators:
Leo Vargha (he/him) is a trans student filmmaker and archivist at Warren Wilson College. You can find some of his darkroom recipes published in the upcoming edition of The Analog Cookbook. Jenni Olson (she/her/TBD) is a queer film historian, archivist, writer, and filmmaker. She is the proud proprietor of Butch.org — where you can find links to watch her films and learn more about her work as a longtime champion of LGBTQ cinema.
With thanks to: Gerald Herman, Ellis Martin, Sylvie Roy Olson-Dorf, Loren Burr, Candela Fine Art Printing, and American Frame for their generous assistance in making this exhibit possible, as well as to Devlin Shand, Rosie Mazza, and everyone at Queer Arts Featured.
August 7 – September 27, 2026 at Queer Arts Featured (575 Castro Street, San Francisco).
Most significantly, the exhibit spotlights a gallery of folks who were arrested for living as men (Jack Starr, Joe Foley, Charles Williams, James Phipps, and others). The show explores various masc examples from theater and film, and the mainstream’s perennial fascination of women dressing up in “men’s” clothing. Plus, an eclectic variety of irresistibly handsome gender variant AFAB folks from across the 20th century. It also celebrates a pair of true pioneers: Sir Ewan Forbes, the Scottish baron who braved public visibility as a trans man in the early 1950s, and the late Steve Dain, the courageous Bay Area high school teacher who fought for trans rights 50 years ago in Emeryville.
About the Curators:
Leo Vargha (he/him) is a trans student filmmaker and archivist at Warren Wilson College. You can find some of his darkroom recipes published in the upcoming edition of The Analog Cookbook. Jenni Olson (she/her/TBD) is a queer film historian, archivist, writer, and filmmaker. She is the proud proprietor of Butch.org — where you can find links to watch her films and learn more about her work as a longtime champion of LGBTQ cinema.
With thanks to: Gerald Herman, Ellis Martin, Sylvie Roy Olson-Dorf, Loren Burr, Candela Fine Art Printing, and American Frame for their generous assistance in making this exhibit possible, as well as to Devlin Shand, Rosie Mazza, and everyone at Queer Arts Featured.
August 7 – September 27, 2026 at Queer Arts Featured (575 Castro Street, San Francisco).
A Note from Jenni Olson About the QPA — Queer Photo Archive
In 2017, with the purchase of the above black-and-white 5x8 newswire photo of Jack Starr, I began my journey into creating my small but very cool QPA — Queer Photo Archive. During the fall of 2020 as guest curator for Karen Tongson’s awesome Butch Hair Quarantine Instagram account I had the opportunity to share some of my photos and research, and to reflect a bit about my great affection for these heroic criminals. One of the most interesting aspects in the contemporaneous newspaper coverage is the overall tone of fascination. Much of the coverage conveys a warmth and friendliness towards these subjects — all arrested for the crime of passing as men. We don’t know that Jack or any of these folks would have identified as trans in our contemporary understanding of that identity. Since Jack (in particular) actually lived as a man for a considerable period of time, obviously we need to recognize and honor that. The passing sojourns of some of these other folks seem to have been briefer; in my research I have not been able to track their stories beyond the newspaper coverage to know what happened to them in the end.
I strongly identify with gender pioneering heroes like Jack, imagining that if I had lived in those very rigidly gendered times, this likely would have been the best option available to me. In my own she/her/TBD gender journey I continue to ponder the mystery of being different.
Gender non-conforming, butch, trans, AFAB, masculine of center. Words may fail me. But these pictures, are worth a thousand words.
See more highlights from the QPA — Queer Photo Archive on Jenni's Instagram page.
