Proud Little State

ComicsLGBTQ+Partnerships & Community Projects

Apr 17

The Center for Research on Vermont, Vermont Folklife, the Vermont Queer Archives and UVM faculty have partnered to create Proud Little State, a new series of short comics on LGBTQ+ topics in Vermont’s past and present—started with the goal of sharing joy, pride, and homegrown histories of the queer community with Vermonters across the state. The Proud Little State editorial team includes Center for Research on Vermont Director Holly Painter, director of UVM Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, Mary Burke, Vermont Queer Archives curator Meg Tamulonis and Vermont Folklife Associate Director and Archivist Andy Kolovos.

Proud Little State published its first issue, Burlington Pride 1983, in April 2026. Drawn by Burlington cartoonist Teppi Zuppo, Burlington Pride 1983 is adapted from interviews with queer elders recorded by Vermont Folklife and Tamulonis for the Pride 1983 exhibit project, and presents a comics account of Vermont’s first Pride parade. Future issues will explore LGBTQ+ gathering places, civil unions and marriage equity and much more.