What does it mean when the memory of your existence has been documented solely through the eyes of others? When it comes to Féral Benga, the handsome performer did not write or record anything about himself, nor leave behind anything of his own that could help elucidate his true essence. Instead, there are images; photographs and paintings, sculptures and film clips, all created by artists inspired by his beauty, hoping to capture it in their uniquely creative styles. From these, as well as from textual anecdotes by those who knew him, we can begin to put together a more complex image of Benga, a dancer who navigated life fearlessly, living an openly gay life while still opting to play the part and jump through the hoops of others to pursue his own particular aspiration.
Making Queer History has a vague title because it has a rather vague purpose. We are not alone in our aim to tell the queer community’s history. What defines us is our focus not only on the past, but toward the future.