Interview with Morgan W. Fry, September 18, 2018

Partial Transcript: My name is Adriana Sisko and the date is September 18th.

Segment Synopsis: Morgan Fry remembers what it was like growing up on a farm in Kansas. It was a ghost town, population 65, one post office and not much socialization with kids his age. In elementary and middle school, reading helped Fry understand himself and the world.

Keywords: Farms; Kansas; Midwest; Oklahoma

Subjects: Childhood; Kansas; Oklahoma; Reading

Partial Transcript: And so how were things once you get to high school?

Segment Synopsis: At this point, school was a stop on the way to the farm. Morgan Fry's mother had begun her first relationship with a woman, and later the family moved to Los Angeles, California where he experienced a physical assault for his attire.

Keywords: California; Culture shock; Farms; Gay; Kansas; Lesbians; Queer

Subjects: California; Kansas

Partial Transcript: Um, so first, um, how old were you when you moved to L.A.?

Segment Synopsis: Fry talks about moving to California, the culture shock, and the difficult relationship with his mother. The first year in Los Angeles, he isolated himself and adjusted to being in a big city. At age 16, he decided to move out alone to Sacramento where he found himself homeless for 3 weeks at a county fair.

Keywords: California; Carnivals; Homelessness; Los Angeles (Calif.); Orange County (Calif.); Sacramento (Calif.)

Subjects: Carnival

Partial Transcript: Alright, so first relationship. Tell me about that.

Segment Synopsis: Fry's first relationship was born from the vulnerability of wanting a home. Fry developed a German accent and revealed little of himself, resulting in distrust and leading to the end of the relationship.

Keywords: Carnivals; County fairs; Gay; Homelessness; Relationships

Subjects: Couples.; Dating (Social customs); Interpersonal relations

Partial Transcript: So what happens once you graduate high school?

Segment Synopsis: After graduating high school, Fry entered college and moved in with his high school friends in an apartment. He went to college because of his family's expectations, however he learned more out in the world than at college.

Keywords: Apartments; California; Colleges; Graduation; High schools; Living alone

Subjects: Universities and colleges.

Partial Transcript: Uh, I joined the military to get college money.

Segment Synopsis: Fry decided to join the military in order to earn college money. He committed for two years, and remained for three in the reserves. He always had a girlfriend for social and career protection. While stationed in Louisville, he earned enough money to live off base but later a horse fell on him, causing him to never finish college.

Keywords: Colleges; Girlfriends; Horses; Louisville (Ky.); Military; Money

Subjects: Closeted gays.; Couples.; Dating (Social customs); Gay men--Identity.; Gay men--Relations with heterosexual women; Gay men--Relations with heterosexuals; Homosexuality in the workplace.; Homosexuality.; Interpersonal relations; Military service, Voluntary--United States.; Sexual minorities.

Partial Transcript: And, uh, I moved to California, um, 'cause I had seen the wealth out there.

Segment Synopsis: Fry talks about what it was like to move back to California after the army and college. Moving from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and finally to Sacramento in order to help his sister with her kids. Fry came out and finally felt safe after joining the Gay Men's Chorus.

Keywords: California; Coming out; Finance; Los Angeles (Calif.); Sacramento (Calif.); San Francisco (Calif.)

Subjects: Closeted gays.; Coming out (Sexual orientation); Gay men--Identity.; Gay men--Relations with heterosexuals; Homosexuality.; Sexual minorities.

Partial Transcript: I had the ability to move to Atlanta, through a promotion, and I took it.

Segment Synopsis: Fry moved from Sacramento to Atlanta through a promotion, where he felt free enough to have fun. He worked in real estate, and while the nightlife in Atlanta was fun, the housing market crashed.

Keywords: Atlanta (Ga.); Georgia; Market crashes; Real estate; Sacramento (Calif.); Sexual exploration

Subjects: Gay community; Gay couples.; Gay men--Identity.; Homosexuality.; Housing; Sexual minorities.

Partial Transcript: And by the way, um, by then Bryan had moved to Lexington.

Segment Synopsis: Fry talks about the decision to move to Lexington to be closer to his partner Bryan, and soon after they got married.

Keywords: Horses; Kentucky

Subjects: Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Um, Bryan and I--Bryan had brought, uh, with him from California, he brought David with him.

Segment Synopsis: Fry talks about taking care of Bryan's former partner David during his final days of suffering from HIV and brain cancer. He talks about contracting HIV himself due to an accident with one of David's injections. After being tested and confirming he was HIV positive, Fry began to look outside of himself; he wanted to leave an impact on the world.

Keywords: Hospice; Human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV); Needles; Veteran's Administration

Subjects: Cancer; Diagnosis; HIV infections; HIV-positive gay men

Partial Transcript: And I just thought to myself, "There's got to be a stronger connection to the world than, than this."

Segment Synopsis: Fry began to be more involved with the community. He started a church, then became a trustee at Bluegrass United Church of Christ, volunteering, and working at 3-4 non-profit organizations. He talks about Lexington being a safe community for members of the LGBTQ community in comparison to Atlanta and other cities.

Keywords: Bluegrass; Bowling; Community; Involvement; Kentucky; Kickball; Non-profit organizations; Rainbow; Volunteering

Subjects: Churches; Gay community; Gay men--United States--Social conditions.; Gays--United States--Social conditions.; Homosexuality--Social aspects.; Lexington (Ky.); Religion; Sexual minorities.; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: And so, um, I've some like more for like the final couple questions more like big picture kind of questions.

Segment Synopsis: Over the last few years, Fry has been focusing on building his career as a financial advisor, volunteering, and his relationship. He met Josh and Scott at a private event, which led to a triad relationship.

Keywords: Careers; Finances; Financial advisors; Relationships

Subjects: Dating (Social customs); Finance; Interpersonal relations

Partial Transcript: So you've been in Lexington since 2008.

Segment Synopsis: Fry agrees that Lexington is a safe place for LGBTQ+ community members, and although there are still changes to be made, the city is making progress. Love gives him hope for the future.

Keywords: Future; Grindr (Dating application); Kentucky; Love

Subjects: Gay community; Gay men--United States--Social conditions.; Gays--United States--Social conditions.; Homosexuality--Social aspects.; Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Love; Sexual minorities.