The Yale Research Initiative on the History of Sexualities is dedicated to fostering research and theoretical reflection on the history of sexualities, especially as they intersect with other axes of social difference and inequality.  It promotes inquiry into lesbian, gay, and transgender history and the role of sexuality in the history of the self, culture, nation, and empire.  Based in the Department of History, the Initiative sponsors lectures, workshops, symposia, and collaborative research.

Affiliated faculty teach graduate and undergraduate courses on the history of sexuality, LGBT history, and gender history, and work closely with students writing dissertations in those and allied fields.  They also work with the Yale libraries to develop archival collections.