Queer celebratory spaces have existed in countless communities for thousands of years across hundreds of different cultures. In the 1970s, one of the most famous spaces was the Seahorse.
Seahorse Cabaret Third Anniversary
Located along Western Avenue, from the 1970s until the early 2000s, the Seahorse was the place. Owned by Gloria Frankel, she became a mother figure to many and fierce protector of South Bend’s queer community. Drag performers entertained and challenged rigid gender expression, and community members found each other and celebrated their identities.
Program, Seahorse II Third Anniversary; circa 1978
