{"id":247095,"date":"2025-09-22T20:03:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T20:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/247095\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T20:03:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T20:03:13","slug":"happy-foundation-archives-presentation-to-offer-look-at-san-antonios-lgbtq-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/247095\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Happy Foundation Archives&#8217; presentation to offer look at San Antonio&#8217;s LGBTQ+ history"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-perfmatters-preload=\"\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" data-attachment-id=\"380127\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sacurrent.com\/arts\/things-to-do\/happy-foundation-archives-presentation-to-offer-look-at-san-antonios-lgbtq-history\/attachment\/happyfoundation\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sacurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/HappyFoundation.jpg?fit=1002%2C667&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1002,667\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"HappyFoundation\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;The late artist and activist Gene Elder oversaw the Happy Foundation\u2019s massive archive. &lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;The late artist and activist Gene Elder oversaw the Happy Foundation\u2019s massive archive. &lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sacurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/HappyFoundation.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sacurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/HappyFoundation.jpg?fit=780%2C519&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/HappyFoundation.jpg\" alt=\"The late artist and activist Gene Elder oversaw the Happy Foundation's massive archive.\" class=\"wp-image-380127\"  \/>The late artist and activist Gene Elder oversaw the Happy Foundation\u2019s massive archive.  Credit: Courtesy Photo \/ Happy Foundation<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s always plenty to learn about our city\u2019s past, including its unequivocally colorful leanings. <\/p>\n<p>Those with an interest in San Antonio history will have the chance to do just that with the Thousand Oaks Library\u2019s Tuesday, Sept. 23, presentation \u201cHappy Foundation Archives: Preserving San Antonio\u2019s LGBTQ Past.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Happy Foundation is named after Arthur P. \u201cHap\u201d Veltman, a local entrepreneur and developer who died of complications from AIDS in 1988. Veltman was key in the development of the River Walk, the Blue Star Arts Complex and the Bonham Exchange, along with other projects that ultimately shaped San Antonio as we know it. <\/p>\n<p>This is a massive opportunity for local historians \u2014 amateur or otherwise \u2014 to explore decades of LGBTQ+ archives closely guarded by Hap\u2019s partner: the weird and wonderful artist and activist Eugene \u201cGene\u201d Elder, who died in 2019. <\/p>\n<p>Free, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, Thousand Oaks Library, 4618 Thousand Oaks Drive, (210) 207-9190, mysapl.org.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacurrent.com\/sanantonio\/NewsletterSignup\/Page\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\"><strong>Follow us:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apple.news\/TiFMu3wPkRj6PC4xS5L36bg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWE5oWTNWeWNtVnVkQzVqYjIwb0FBUAE?hl=en-US&amp;gl=US&amp;ceid=US%3Aen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbreak.com\/@c\/1599768?s=01\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/SanAntonio_Current\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/sacurrent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sacurrent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook\u00a0<\/a>| <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SAcurrent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Twitter<\/a>\u00a0| Or sign up for our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacurrent.com\/feed\/?partner-feed=all\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RSS Feed<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Related Stories<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacurrent.com\/arts\/san-antonios-kimpton-santo-rivewalk-hotel-holding-pride-wrap-party-this-sunday-37850980\/\" rel=\"bookmark noopener\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/pridewrapparty.webp\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"San Antonio\u2019s Kimpton Santo Rivewalk hotel holding Pride Wrap Party this Sunday\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\"   data-attachment-id=\"25865\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sacurrent.com\/arts\/san-antonios-kimpton-santo-rivewalk-hotel-holding-pride-wrap-party-this-sunday-37850980\/attachment\/pridewrapparty\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sacurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/pridewrapparty.webp?fit=999%2C667&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"999,667\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"pridewrapparty\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Beloved drag performer Kristi Waters will perform at the Sunday event.&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sacurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/pridewrapparty.webp?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sacurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/pridewrapparty.webp?fit=780%2C521&amp;ssl=1\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\tThe gathering also will be one of the last chances to see drag icon Kristi Waters before she takes time off from performing to focus on her health.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacurrent.com\/arts\/san-antonios-esperanza-center-hopes-to-create-community-sanctuary-with-queer-voices-pachanga-37707803\/\" rel=\"bookmark noopener\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2024-06-01_queer_voices_pachanga_by_antonia_padilla_408.webp\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"San Antonio\u2019s Esperanza Center hopes to create \u2018sanctuary\u2019 of community with Queer Voices Pachanga\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\"   data-attachment-id=\"23468\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sacurrent.com\/arts\/san-antonios-esperanza-center-hopes-to-create-community-sanctuary-with-queer-voices-pachanga-37707803\/attachment\/2024-06-01_queer_voices_pachanga_by_antonia_padilla_408\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sacurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2024-06-01_queer_voices_pachanga_by_antonia_padilla_408.webp?fit=1000%2C667&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1000,667\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"2024-06-01_queer_voices_pachanga_by_antonia_padilla_408\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Esperanza Center is uplifting stories and performances from the LGBTQ community with its 8th annual Queer Voices Pachanga.&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sacurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2024-06-01_queer_voices_pachanga_by_antonia_padilla_408.webp?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sacurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2024-06-01_queer_voices_pachanga_by_antonia_padilla_408.webp?fit=780%2C520&amp;ssl=1\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\tThe free Sunday, June 22 event will include drag and burlesque performances, food, music, a vendor market and more.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacurrent.com\/arts\/san-antonios-intercontinental-hotel-hosting-posh-pride-pool-party-37702016\/\" rel=\"bookmark noopener\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rd_icsar_pool_4013_f8.webp\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"San Antonio\u2019s InterContinental Hotel hosting posh Pride Pool Party\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\"   data-attachment-id=\"23402\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sacurrent.com\/arts\/san-antonios-intercontinental-hotel-hosting-posh-pride-pool-party-37702016\/attachment\/rd_icsar_pool_4013_f8\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sacurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/rd_icsar_pool_4013_f8.webp?fit=1000%2C698&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1000,698\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"rd_icsar_pool_4013_f8\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;The pool party will offer specialty food and drinks as well as DJ sets and more.&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sacurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/rd_icsar_pool_4013_f8.webp?fit=300%2C209&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sacurrent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/rd_icsar_pool_4013_f8.webp?fit=780%2C544&amp;ssl=1\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\tTime to live out your White Lotus fantasy. But maybe not too literally, OK?\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p class=\"collection-link has-small-font-size\">This article appears in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacurrent.com\/?post_type=newspack_collection&amp;p=380131\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sep. 3-Oct. 1<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The late artist and activist Gene Elder oversaw the Happy Foundation\u2019s massive archive. Credit: Courtesy Photo \/ Happy&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":247096,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5133],"tags":[5229,131299,131300,131301,19272,21706,7202,57909,7203,358,131302,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-247095","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-antonio","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-arthur-p-hap-veltman","10":"tag-gene-elder","11":"tag-happy-foundation","12":"tag-lgbtq-history","13":"tag-lgbtq-issues","14":"tag-san-antonio","15":"tag-san-antonio-public-library","16":"tag-sanantonio","17":"tag-texas","18":"tag-thousand-oaks-library","19":"tag-tx","20":"tag-united-states","21":"tag-united-states-of-america","22":"tag-unitedstates","23":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","24":"tag-us","25":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115249742198343650","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=247095"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247095\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/247096"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=247095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=247095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=247095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}