Bil Browning and Jerame Davis Papers: 1980-2014.
This collection is arranged into six series.
The Bil Browning and Jerame Davis Papers consist of approximately 3.15 cubic feet documenting their activism on behalf of LGBT rights in Indiana, and includes correspondence, photographs, school papers, a scrapbook from Browning's youth, posters, petitions, handouts, bumper stickers, periodicals, conference and event programs, ID cards, VHS recordings, and printed materials. There are extensive notes from an oral history interview with Browning and Davis conducted by Archives Center intern, Sara Dorfman, in Series 1.
Bil Browning and Jerame Davis Papers, 1972-2015, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
The papers were donated by Bil Browning and Jerame Davis, in 2015.
Bil Browning (William Dale Browning) was born in Zanesville, Ohio in 1972. Jerame Davis (Jerame Joe Davis) was born in Columbus, Indiana in 1975. After coming out as gay in high school, Browning joined the Clinton presidential election campaign and the organization ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) in 1992. Davis worked for multiple LGBT organizations, including Indiana Equality, Indiana Fairness Network, Columbus Gay/Straight Alliance, Indiana Stonewall Democrats, and Pride at Work.
In the late 1990s, Browning and Davis were involved in an employment discrimination case against Fast Max Sunoco in Indiana. This case served as a catalyst for them to continue championing LGBT rights. The same case resulted in their organizing the internet's first gay rights grassroots online action against the local company that had fired them. Since then, Browning has won multiple awards for his work as an activist. He is also a board member of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, and an advisory board member of the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance. Davis has served as the executive director of the National Stonewall Democrats.
Together, Browning and Davis were the co-owners of the Bilerico Project, a group blog that chronicled Indiana politics and LGBT issues for nearly 11 years. On June 30th, 2015, Browning made his last post on the blog, saying that he was taking time off to work on his book. Browning and Davis separated in 2023.
Collection is open for research.
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Processed by Sara N. Dorfman, intern, 2015; supervised by Franklin A. Robinson, Jr., archives specialist.
National Equality March (Washington, D.C.)
[Group at National Equality March, Washington, D.C., Oct. 11, 2009. Color photoprint.]
AC1334-0000002.tif (AC Scan)
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Use cotton gloves for handling, unless print is protected by a plastic enclosure.
Pictured left to right are: Phil Reese, Anthony Niedwiecki, Wayman Hudson, Bil Browning, and Jerame Davis, National Equality March, 2009
Support stickers
Includes recording of a rally staged by the Indiana Action Network, an unrelated news segment followed by coverage of the protest (including Eric Miller of Advance America arguing against gay marriage), and another news segment about the rally including the protesting outside of the statehouse and Bil Browning being interviewed on the 5:00 pm RTV 6 news segment.
Contains 5 different segments of Jerame Davis speaking in front of various classes, with the dates unknown. Part 1 has Davis talking about himself. Part 2 has Davis speaking about the personal history and influence of Steve Jobs. Part 3 has Davis speaking about MP3 audio files. Part 4 has Davis making a persuasive argument for gay/lesbian legal relationships (including marriages and civil unions). Part 5 has Davis arguing for legal status of same-sex couples.
Includes various clips of a tree removal service, followed by a news segment mentioning Cummins offering domestic partner benefits to unmarried couples. It also contains a counter protest/open forum led by Jerame Davis that was the result of a protest directed towards Cummins implementing domestic partner benefits, and then a news clip about both of those protests. As a result of the counter protest led by Davis, the Columbus Gay/Straight Alliance (now the Pride Alliance of Columbus) was formed.
Also in attendance at the counter protest was Rhea Murray, who started the first PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) chapter in Indiana.
Contains a news segment called "AIDS in the 90s" featuring Bil Browning being interviewed, as well as an episode of the talk show
Includes footage of Bil Browning (as the media spokesperson for ACT-UP – Evansville) and Jason Westmoreland of ACT-UP – Houston, a news segment featuring the statement of ACT-UP's goal to end the AIDS epidemic, a protest led by PiSD (People With Immune System Disorders), a segment featuring ACT-UP – Evansville and K-Mart not selling Magic Johnson's book on AIDS, more small news segments, another interview with Browning wherein he notes how ACT-UP – Evansville plans to target "small town America" for its ignorance, and a recording of the 1991 Special Olympics.