The Declaration on LGBTQI+ and Sex-Affective and Gender Diversity (SAGD) Archives and Archivists, prepared by the Sex-Affective and Gender Diversity Archives and Archivists Working Group (ICA-SAGDAA-WG), outlines a set of principles and recommended actions designed to promote the recognition, preservation and dissemination of archives relating to Sex-Affective and Gender Diversity around the world.
Grounded in the values expressed in the Universal Declaration on Archives (UDA), this text affirms the importance of documenting and safeguarding the histories, experiences and contributions of LGBTQI+ individuals and communities. It also highlights the long-standing challenges and discrimination reflected in archival practices, and calls for more inclusive, ethical and participatory approaches to archival description, acquisition and access.
In addition to identifying key principles, the Declaration proposes concrete actions to support public institutions, community archives and archival professionals in advancing equity, visibility and representation in the archival record. It also recognizes the essential role of independent LGBTQI+ community archives in preserving histories that might otherwise remain undocumented.
An appendix to the Declaration includes a statement from the ICA President, dated 28 June 2024, reaffirming ICA’s commitment to diversity, inclusion and the protection of the rights and stories of LGBTQI+ communities.
This Declaration serves as a reference point for ICA members, archival institutions, community organizations, and all professionals committed to building a more inclusive and representative archival landscape. During the session “Archives, Guardians of Identities” at the ICA Barcelona Congress 2025 — led by Jordi Padilla-Delgado, co-chair of the ICA-SAGDAA-WG — speakers and attendees collectively endorsed the Declaration reaffirming their support for LGBTQI+ archival rights and visibility.
