Interview with Sam Dorr, September 12, 2018

Partial Transcript: My name is Adriana Sisko and the date is September 12th, 2018.

Segment Synopsis: Sam Dorr introduces himself and elaborates on how he grew up in Louisville, dealing with his alcoholic father, and what it's like to grow up "different."

Keywords: Alcoholism; Banks; Coming out (Sexual orientation); Gay rights; Half siblings; Louisville (Ky.); Moving; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Alcoholism.; Culture.; Education; Families.; Gay youth; Lexington (Ky.).

Partial Transcript: Alright, and as we go through the interview, we'll go through each of those stages.

Segment Synopsis: Dorr discusses what it was like growing up in Louisville, the alcoholism he dealt with in his family, constantly moving, and the effects this had on his relationships.

Keywords: Alcoholism; Banks; Childhood; Half brothers; Louisville (Ky.); Moving

Subjects: Alcoholism.; Brothers; Gay youth; Kinship.; Rural families; Siblings

Partial Transcript: And how about school when you were a child?

Segment Synopsis: Dorr discusses his experience in grade school, his fears of homophobia, escaping a hectic home life, and his experiences with theater as a way of coping with what was going on in his life.

Keywords: Abuse; Acting; Alcoholism; Christianity; Elementary schools; Grade schools; High schools; Middle schools; Pornography; Religion; Theater

Subjects: Alcoholism; Closeted gays.; Coming out (Sexual orientation); Gay high school students; Gay men.; Homophobia.; Homosexuality--Religious aspects.

Partial Transcript: And so you graduate from high school. What happens next in your life?

Segment Synopsis: Dorr discusses his post-high school life, attending the University of Kentucky for a short time, and moving on to beginning his work in the banking system. He also discusses his heterosexual relationship and his relationship with his child.

Keywords: Alcoholism; Bank managers; Banks; Children; Compulsory heterosexuality; First National Bank; Homosexuality; Marriage; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Alcoholism.; Bank accounts; Closeted gays.; First National Bank of Louisville (Ky.); Gay parents.; Heterosexuality.; Marriage.

Partial Transcript: And when it came to your marriage, um, in the years that you all were together, were you having any thoughts regarding your sexual identity?

Segment Synopsis: Dorr discusses his crumbling marriage with his wife and his eventual coming out. He talks about his early experiences with gay culture, going to bathhouses, and the self-discovery of coming out.

Keywords: Adult bookstores; Bathhouses; Divorce; Gay culture; Gays; Marriage; Performative heterosexuality; Sex

Subjects: Closeted gays.; Coming out (Sexual orientation); Divorce.; Gay culture.; Gay men--Relations with heterosexual women; Gays--United States--Social conditions.; Sexual orientation.

Partial Transcript: And so slight backtracking like follow up questions on this.

Segment Synopsis: Dorr discusses gay culture in the 1960s, and experiencing gay bars in their prime. He talks about the police raids at gay bars at the time due to the illegality of homosexuality.

Keywords: Breakups; Civil rights; Drag queens; Drag shows; Ethel Waters; Gay bars; Police; Police raids; Religion; Religion and homosexuality; Spirituality

Subjects: Coming out (Sexual orientation); Drag shows; Gay bars; Gay culture.; Gay men--Sexual behavior.; Gays--Identity.; Gays--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States.; Homosexuality--Religious aspects.; Homosexuality--Social aspects.

Partial Transcript: And so at that point, what happens next in your life once you finally managed to extricate yourself from him, you get to keep the dog, what happens next in your life?

Segment Synopsis: Dorr discusses his breakup with his partner and moving on. He talks about his mental health after the breakup and moving onto new relationships.

Keywords: Alcoholism; Bathhouses; Depression; Gay culture; Gay marriage; Love; Marriage equality; Mental health; Psychiatry; Relationships

Subjects: Alcoholism.; Cruising (Sexual behavior); Gay couples--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States.; Gay couples.; Gay culture.; Gay men--Identity.; Gay men--Mental health.; Gay men.; Homosexuality.

Partial Transcript: So what year was it when your time at First National Bank ended?

Segment Synopsis: Dorr discusses coming out at his job, being fired, and the ensuing lawsuit.

Keywords: First National Bank; Gay rights; Homophobia; Lawsuits; Legal issues; Ministry; Promiscuity; Religious discrimination; Sexuality

Subjects: Closeted gays.; Coming out (Sexual orientation); First National Bank of Louisville (Ky.); Gays--Employment--Law and legislation; Gays--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States.; Homophobia.; Homosexuality in the workplace.; Homosexuality--Religious aspects.

Partial Transcript: Um, so you were out very publicly.

Segment Synopsis: Dorr discusses his relationship with his family after he came out to them. He speaks about their reactions insofar that they were accepting of him, but not his sexuality.

Keywords: Children; Children of gay parents; Families; Family; Gay parents; Support

Subjects: Coming out (Sexual orientation); Gay men--Family relationships--United States.; Gay men--Relations with heterosexuals; Gay parents.; Gays--Family relationships.; Homosexuality--Religious aspects.; Sexual minority parents.

Partial Transcript: And tell me more about Integrity, 'cause that's come up a few times.

Segment Synopsis: Dorr discusses his work with the religious-based institution Integrity and his relationship to God as a gay man.

Keywords: Christianity; Churches; Civil rights; Faith; Integrity; Marriage equality; Ministries; Ministry; Ministry work; Religion; Religions; Religious discrimination

Subjects: Christianity.; Gay men--Relations with heterosexuals; Gays--United States--Social conditions.; Homosexuality in the workplace.; Homosexuality--Religious aspects.; Homosexuality.

Partial Transcript: And you had other--a couple other career stops.

Segment Synopsis: Dorr discusses the odds jobs he's had over the years, his growing gay social circle, and his marriage.

Keywords: AIDS; Discrimination; Facebook; Gay couples; Gay marriage; HIV; Husbands; Marriage equality; Weddings

Subjects: AIDS (Disease); Facebook (Electronic resource); Gay couples--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States.; Gays--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States.; Homosexuality--Law and legislation--United States.; Sexual minority community.

Partial Transcript: And, um, over the years--I have some big picture sort of questions to ask you.

Segment Synopsis: Dorr discusses changes he has seen as an older gay man in the LGBTQ+ community and in the Louisville community.

Keywords: AIDS; Civil rights; Gay politicians; HIV; HIV/AIDS; Homophobia; Pride parades; Unsafe sex; Voting rights; Working class

Subjects: Coming out (Sexual orientation); Gay Pride Day; Gay pride parades; Gay rights movement; Gays--Identity.; HIV infections; HIV-positive gay men; Homophobia.; Homosexuality--Law and legislation.; Lesbian and gay experience; Louisville (Ky.); Masculinity

Partial Transcript: And so speaking of political climate, um--and I've asked all the interviewees this so far, um, how do you feel and what do you think existing under the current presidential administration?

Segment Synopsis: Dorr discusses existing under the Trump administration and looking forward to what the future holds for him.

Keywords: Civil rights; Confederate flags; Democrats; Donald Trump; Free love; Impeachment; Presidents; Republicans

Subjects: Civil rights.; Gay men--Legal status, laws, etc.