MISSION Our mission is promoting and encouraging the protection and preservation of materials that chronicle the culture and history of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community in Louisiana. PURPOSE Our main purpose is educating the community on the importance of archiving LGBT+ historical materials and making them available for future generations to access, research, and study. By developing financial resources to assist in the preservation and availability of certain LGBT+ collections, we hope to help promote the proper maintenance and preservation of historical LGBT+ materials and then index, publish, and maintain a current list of these materials and where they are located. HISTORY In 2012, Stewart Butler, Otis Fennell, and Mark Gonzales founded the Legacy Project with the goal of compiling oral histories. In June 2013, some of dedicated people began discussing the necessity of preserving all parts of our local LGBT history and how this endeavor might be undertaken. One of the first steps was to survey local libraries and collections to determine what LGBT-related holdings already existed. In October of that same year, the Society of American Archivists held their national conference in New Orleans and a few members of the group’s LGBT Roundtable met with members of the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana. From there the group set out to gather input from the community. In June 2014, the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana was officially recognized at a public meeting where bylaws were adopted and officers elected. Aiming to educate the public about the importance of historical preservation, the Archives Project also aims to share how individuals can safely entrust local archives with the care of the historical treasures they possess. It is important to note that our organization does not aim to set up an archive of its own, but rather to educate the public about resources and attributes of existing archives in Louisiana.