Interview with Michael Aldridge, June 20, 2018

Partial Transcript: This is Adriana Sisko at the Nunn Center.

Segment Synopsis: Michael Aldridge is introduced. He gives a brief overview of his life before discussing his childhood in Louisville and Shelbyville, Kentucky. He talks about his experiences in middle school, including participating in an informal drama group, the social groups in a small rural town, and taking advanced classes. He talks about his experiences in high school, including his friendships, interest in art, and how his life was changed by participating in the Governor's Scholars program which exposed him to new people and ideas.

Keywords: ACLU of Kentucky; Acceptance; Advanced classes; Art; Art majors; Cliques; Clothes; Colleges; Community; Divorce; Drama; Encouragement; Executive directors; Family; Fashion; Freedom; Friendships; Governor's Scholars Program; High schools; Husbands; Kentucky ACLU; Liberal arts education; Middle schools; Mothers; Niche; Painting; Parents; Performance; Reactions; Rural; Sisters; Skits; Small towns; Social groups; Social life; Sons; Stage; Style; Theater; Training; Upbringing; Yearbook superlatives

Subjects: Childhood; Education; Families.; Louisville (Ky.); Shelby County (Ky.); Shelbyville (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Before this eye-opening experience, um, with Governor's Scholars, did you feel different from other people back home?

Segment Synopsis: Aldridge talks about whether he felt different from the other people in his town. He talks about his friendships and relationships in middle and high school.

Keywords: Churches; Dating; Different; Fitting in; Friendships; Gay; High schools; Intelligence; Relationships; Rural; Small towns; Smart

Subjects: Childhood; Education; Louisville (Ky.); Shelby County (Ky.); Shelbyville (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: I was a part--I guess a piece I'm leaving out is, um, I was pretty heavily involved in my church growing up.

Segment Synopsis: Aldridge talks about the role of religion in his life and how it has changed over time. He talks about attending a fairly progressive Southern Baptist church, and talks about why the church has become more conservative through the years. He talks about becoming interested in Judaism during college and how this led to his interest in social justice.

Keywords: Camps; Centre College; Churches; College majors; Colleges; Conservative; Kentucky Commission on Human Rights; Liberation theology; Mindsets; Poor; Poverty; Progressive; Seminary; Southern Baptist; Strict; Viewpoints

Subjects: Childhood; Education; Education, Higher; Judaism.; Louisville (Ky.); Religion; Shelby County (Ky.); Shelbyville (Ky.); Social justice.

Partial Transcript: When you were growing up, what was your awareness of the existence of LGBT people?

Segment Synopsis: Aldridge talks about his lack of awareness of LGBTQ people or terminology until later in his life. He tells a story about discovering the band Queen in college. He talks about when he became aware of his attraction to males.

Keywords: Attraction; Awareness; Boys; Centre College; Colleges; Music; Music videos; Pornographic magazines; Queen (Artist); Radio; Terminology

Subjects: Childhood; Closeted gays.; Education, Higher; Gay men--Identity.; Gay men.; Gays--Identity.; Homosexuality.; Louisville (Ky.); Sexual minorities--Identity.; Sexual orientation.; Shelby County (Ky.); Shelbyville (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: And then that pledge night--um, so something kind of dramatic that kind of happened at that moment.

Segment Synopsis: Aldridge talks about the importance of Greek life at Centre College and how devastating it felt to be blackballed from the Greek system due to suspicion of him being gay. He talks about someone else being kicked out of a fraternity after coming out, as well as a professor who outed herself in class. He talks about how attitudes at Centre began to change, but it was still dangerous to come out there at that time.

Keywords: Accusations; Being out; Beta Theta Pi; Bid night; Blackballed; Bonds; Changes; College life; Dangerous; Dating; Dean of students; Devastating; Embarrassing; Excluded; Exclusion; Fraternities; Greek life; Harassment; Hazing; Kicked out; LGBTQ presence; Open; Pledging; Presenting; Professors; Scandals; Scared; Sexuality; Support groups; Suspicion; Unsafe

Subjects: Centre College (Danville, Ky.); Closeted gays.; College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Social conditions; Coming out (Sexual orientation); Discrimination in higher education; Discrimination.; Education, Higher; Gay men--Identity.; Gay men--United States--Social conditions.; Gay men.; Gays--Identity.; Greek letter societies.; Homosexuality.; Sexual minorities--Identity.; Sexual orientation.

Partial Transcript: You mentioned that at Centre you weren't out, you weren't telling anybody, and you also said that you were still figuring it out.

Segment Synopsis: Aldridge talks more about how it was dangerous to come out while he was attending Centre, but says that studying abroad in London gave him the opportunity for more freedom to explore his sexuality.

Keywords: 'Figuring it out'; Abroad; Birthdays; Centre College (Danville, Ky.); Dangerous; Experiences; Exploration; Freedom; Louisville (Ky.); Safer; Safety

Subjects: Closeted gays.; Coming out (Sexual orientation); Gay men--Identity.; Gay men--United States--Social conditions.; Gay men.; Gays--Identity.; Homosexuality.; London (England); Sexual minorities--Identity.; Sexual orientation.

Partial Transcript: Uh, when did you first apply the word 'gay' to yourself, even if it was just in your own thoughts?

Segment Synopsis: Aldridge talks about first using the label bisexual, then later coming out as gay. He talks about an internship in Minneapolis which led him to begin going to gay clubs and begin dating men. He talks about his relationships at that time. He tells the story of how his friends found out that he was gay after catching him with a guy he was dating. He talks about his friends' reactions.

Keywords: "Stepping stone for acceptance"; Awareness; Being out; Bisexuality; Bloomingdales; Clubs; College friends; Dating; Freedom; Internships; Jobs; Kissing; Labels; Minneapolis (Minn.); Reactions; Relationships; Safer; Safety; Showers; Social networks; St. Paul (Minn.)

Subjects: Centre College (Danville, Ky.); Closeted gays.; Coming out (Sexual orientation); Gay men--Identity.; Gay men--United States--Social conditions.; Gay men.; Gays--Identity.; Homosexuality.; Louisville (Ky.); Sexual minorities--Identity.; Sexual orientation.

Partial Transcript: Did you ever end up coming out to your family eventually?

Segment Synopsis: Aldridge talks about coming out to his mother and how her reaction was shaped by her experience with a gay cousin who had died alone and homeless. He talks about how his father's religiosity has become more intense over time, and how those beliefs shaped his father's negative reaction to his coming out. He talks about his tenuous and sometimes traumatic relationship with his father, how it has waxed and waned over time, and their current relationship. He briefly talks about coming out to his sister.

Keywords: AIDS (Disease); Acceptance; Adoption; Alone; Attitudes; Authoritarian; Awareness; Banished; Baptist seminary; Catholic; Conservative; Contact; Cousins; Death; Differences; Driving; Family; Fathers; Foster children; Homeless; Husbands; Hypocrites; Hypocritical; Married; Meeting; Mothers; Openly gay; Parents; Reactions; Relationships; Sisters; Supportive; Surprised; Traumatic; Visits; Wedding; Wives

Subjects: Closeted gays.; Coming out (Sexual orientation); Discrimination.; Families.; Gay men--Family relationships--United States.; Gay men--Identity.; Gay men--United States--Social conditions.; Gay men.; Gays--Family relationships.; Gays--Identity.; Homosexuality.; Parents of gays.; Religion; Sexual minorities--Identity.; Sexual orientation.

Partial Transcript: How did you and Matt meet?

Segment Synopsis: Aldridge talks about meeting his husband through his work with the Kentucky ACLU and describes the development of their relationship.

Keywords: ACLU of Kentucky; Citizen diplomacy; Cocktail hour; Dating; Husbands; International relations; Kentucky ACLU; LGBT rights; LGBTQ rights; Meeting; Moving in; Relationships; State department; Work; World Affairs Council

Subjects: American Civil Liberties Union; Gay men--Identity.; Gay men--United States--Social conditions.; Gay men.; Gays--Identity.; Homosexuality.; Sexual minorities--Identity.; Sexual orientation.

Partial Transcript: How did it feel to get married legally?

Segment Synopsis: Aldridge talks about first getting legally married in Chicago before gay marriage was legal nation-wide. He talks about later having another ceremony in Louisville. He describes how their friends and the community came together to create a beautiful wedding.

Keywords: Chicago (Ill.); Community; Donations; Donors; Family; Kentucky; LGBT rights; LGBTQ rights; Lawsuits; Legal marriage; Legally married; Obergefell v. Hodges; Plaintiffs; Planning; Rulings; Same-sex marriages; Suits; Wedding dates; Weddings

Subjects: Families.; Gay men--Identity.; Gay men--Legal status, laws, etc.; Gay men--United States--Social conditions.; Gay men.; Gays--Identity.; Gays--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States.; Homosexuality--Law and legislation.; Homosexuality.; Marriage; Sexual minorities--Identity.; Sexual orientation.

Partial Transcript: It sounds like you had a lot of donors that you had worked with who contributed--

Segment Synopsis: Aldridge talks about his career with the ACLU of Kentucky, first as a volunteer and then as the Finance Director during the 'No On the Amendment' Campaign. He talks about their fundraising efforts and their impact in working against the proposed amendment to make gay marriage illegal. He discusses how LGBTQ groups from across the state worked together on this issue, which both created relationships and caused issues for the individual groups. He talks about their feeling of success despite the amendment passing.

Keywords: 'No On the Amendment' Campaign; ACLU of Kentucky; Careers; Donations; Donors; Finance directors; Fundraising; Gay marriage; House party system; Impact; Jobs; Kentucky ACLU; Marriage amendments; Reproductive rights; Same-sex marriages; Social justice work; State-wide; Success; Volunteers; Wedge issues; Working together

Subjects: American Civil Liberties Union; Civil rights--Law and legislation; Discrimination.; Families.; Gays--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States.; Homosexuality--Law and legislation.; Homosexuality.; Kentucky--Politics and government; Marriage; Sexual orientation.

Partial Transcript: And, um, so right after the campaign was over, um, this group called Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, which is a state-wide advocacy organization...

Segment Synopsis: Aldridge talks about how he came to work for Kentuckians for the Commonwealth after his work with the ACLU. He talks about his success fundraising for the organization and his love for Appalachia.

Keywords: Budgets; Coal mines; Development directors; Donations; Donors; Eastern Kentucky; Fundraising; Growth; House party system; Issues; Kentuckians for the Commonwealth (KFTC); Operations directors; Social justice work

Subjects: Appalachian Region--Social conditions; Berea (Ky.); Civil rights--Law and legislation; Coal mines and mining; London (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: And then this job--I--and then I wa--I joined the board of the ACLU.

Segment Synopsis: Aldridge talks about his return to the ACLU of Kentucky as Executive Director and their work on creating state-wide relationships.

Keywords: ACLU board; ACLU of Kentucky; Careers; Fundraising; Kentucky ACLU; Paths; State-wide relationships

Subjects: American Civil Liberties Union; Civil rights--Law and legislation; Discrimination.; Families.; Gays--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States.; Homosexuality--Law and legislation.; Homosexuality.; Kentucky--Politics and government; Marriage; Sexual orientation.

Partial Transcript: What changes have you seen in Kentucky over the course of all this work that you've done on LGBT rights?

Segment Synopsis: Aldridge talks more about how relationships between LGBTQ groups were strained after their work together against the anti-gay marriage amendment. He talks about how these relationships have been healing, and the creation of the Fairness Coalition. He talks about the campaign for fairness in Kentucky, including the organization's branding, goals, and the progress they have made. He speaks at length about the process of passing a non-discrimination ordinance, beginning with their first attempt in Richmond, then Berea, and finally their first success in Vicco, Kentucky. He talks about how this success led to the passing of other non-discrimination ordinances in Kentucky towns like Morehead, Frankfort, and others.

Keywords: ACLU of Kentucky; Baggage; Benchmarks; Berea (Ky.); Branding; Businesses; Campaigns; Centre College; Changes; Churches; College campuses; Danville (Ky.); Domestic partner benefits; Facilitators; Fairness Campaign; Fairness Coalition; Faith community support; Frankfort (Ky.); Funding; Healing; Kentucky ACLU; Kentucky Fairness Alliance; LGBT rights; LGBTQ rights; Landscape scans; Lexington Fairness; Mayors; Midway (Ky.); Ministers; Morehead (Ky.); Murray State University; Non-discrimination ordinances; Opposition; Organizations; Paducah (Ky.); Planning; Processing; Progress; Public support; Richmond (Ky.); Rural communities; State-wide civil rights act; State-wide fairness; State-wide summits; Strategy; Supporters; T-shirts; The South; Universities; University of Kentucky; University of Louisville; Vicco (Ky.)

Subjects: American Civil Liberties Union; Civil rights--Law and legislation; Discrimination.; Gays--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States.; Homosexuality--Law and legislation.; Homosexuality.; Kentucky--Politics and government; Sexual orientation.

Partial Transcript: And then the, the backlash is recent.

Segment Synopsis: Aldridge talks about the current political administration, including President Donald Trump and Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin and their influence on anti-LGBT legislation. He talks about the ACLU and other groups' work to stall such legislation.

Keywords: Anti-LGBT legislation; Anti-LGBTQ legislation; Backlash; Centre College; Conservatism; Current political administration; Department of Justice; Donald Trump; Economic agendas; Gender identity; Governors; Matt Bevin; Presidents; Progress; Protections; Religious exemptions; Republicans; Sex discrimination; Transgender people; Transgender rights

Subjects: American Civil Liberties Union; Civil rights--Law and legislation; Discrimination.; Gays--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States.; Homosexuality--Law and legislation.; Homosexuality.; Kentucky--Politics and government; Religion; Republican Party (Ky.); Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ); Sexual orientation.; Transgender people--Legal status, laws, etc.

Partial Transcript: Uh, this is actually going to be my last question.

Segment Synopsis: Aldridge talks about what gives him hope for the future, including people becoming more politically engaged and the younger generation becoming more fluid in regard to labels. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Fluidity; Future; Hopes; Labels; Politically engaged; Visibility; Voting; Vulnerability; Younger generations

Subjects: Civil rights--Law and legislation; Discrimination.; Gays--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States.; Homosexuality--Law and legislation.; Homosexuality.; Kentucky--Politics and government; Politics and government; Sexual orientation.