2 10 32 https://nunncenter.net/outsouth/files/original/23e4927a9891b2c29bf2a9f1f0863d6e.PNG b5eea500fbb913cd2b42bab570704d7a Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Adriana Sisko Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Rory Barron OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2018oh375_lgbtq025_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Trans masculine Transmasculine The Queer Project LGBTQ students Politics and government Activism Activists Feminism Friendship. Interpersonal relations Student protesters OHMS Object Text 5.2 2018oh375_lgbtq025 Interview with Rory Barron, July 17, 2018 2018oh375_lgbtq025 lgbtq Outsouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Education Childhood Sexual minorities' families. Families. Woodford County (Ky.) Gender expression. Gender identity. Gender. Sexual minorities--Identity. Sexual minority students. Sexual minority youth Transgender children. Transgender youth. Coming out (Sexual orientation) Religion Transgender identity Transgender people. Transgender people--Identity. Gender issues Coming out (Gender identity) University of Kentucky Education, Higher College environment College students--Social conditions Universities and colleges. Trans masculine Transmasculine The Queer Project LGBTQ students Politics and government Activism Activists Feminism Friendship. Interpersonal relations Student protesters Rory Barron Adriana Sisko 0 Vimeo video &lt ; iframe src=&quot ; https://player.vimeo.com/video/281498863&quot ; width=&quot ; 640&quot ; height=&quot ; 360&quot ; frameborder=&quot ; 0&quot ; allowfullscreen&gt ; &lt ; /iframe&gt ; 1 Childhood My name is Adriana Sisko and the date is July 17th, 2018. Rory Barron is introduced. He discusses his family and childhood, moving around Kentucky before settling in Woodford County. He talks about his elementary school experiences, his participation in Girl Scouts, and the class distinctions he noticed in Woodford County. He talks about how his twin sister's experiences differed from his own. 'Weird' ; Brandenburg (Ky.) ; Brothers ; Bullying ; Class distinctions ; Communication ; Daydreaming ; Divorce ; Easygoing ; Elementary schools ; Family ; Friends ; Girl Scouts ; Growing up ; Lexington (Ky.) ; Middle class ; Mothers ; Moving ; Neighborhoods ; Parents ; Playful ; Popularity ; Recess ; Schools ; Sisters ; Social ; Troop leaders ; Twins ; Undergraduate ; University of Kentucky ; Upbringing Childhood ; Education ; Families. ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Woodford County (Ky.) 17 327 Masculine qualities and behaviors in childhood When you were in elementary school or younger, um, did you engage in any behaviors that other people around you considered to be masculine? Barron talks about the masculine behaviors and qualities he displayed as a young child. He talks about his parents' and other adults' reactions to his masculine tendencies. Adults ; Assumptions ; Class distinctions ; Clothes ; Clothing ; Expectations ; Extended family ; Femininity ; Hyper feminine ; Masculine ; Masculinity ; Parents ; Poor ; Practical ; Reactions ; Sisters ; Sports ; Supportive ; Tomboys ; Twins Childhood ; Education ; Families. ; Gender expression. ; Gender identity. ; Gender. ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority students. ; Sexual minority youth ; Transgender children. ; Transgender youth. ; Woodford County (Ky.) 17 502 Discovering his sexual orientation and coming out in middle school Did you continue with Girl Scouts moving into middle school? Barron talks about discovering his attraction to girls in middle school. He talks about the angst that these feelings caused. He talks about coming out to two friends in his freshman year of high school and how those friendships ended. He talks about how his mother became aware of his sexual orientation. He talks about his struggles with his sexuality and discusses reaching out to a religious organization for help. &quot ; Normal&quot ; ; Alone ; Angst ; Attraction ; Awareness ; Awkward ; Basketball teams ; Conversations ; Crushes ; Emails ; Freshman year ; Friends ; Girl Scouts ; Girls ; High schools ; Joking ; Mental health issues ; Middle schools ; Mothers ; Problems ; Relief ; Revelation ; Secrets ; Sexuality ; Sisters ; Social life ; Teammates ; Texting Childhood ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Education ; Families. ; Homosexuality--Religious aspects. ; Religion ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority students. ; Sexual minority youth ; Sexual orientation--Religious aspects. ; Woodford County (Ky.) 17 942 Role of religion in his early life So this, um--these religious people or this religious group that you emailed, how did you find them? Barron talks more about reaching out to a religious organization for help with his sexual orientation. He talks about the role of religion in his early life, including his parents' beliefs and feelings about churches and his own attendance (or non-attendance) of church. Baptists ; Bible ; Bible study ; Catholics ; Churches ; Class distinctions ; Community dinners ; Conversion ; Fathers ; Hypocritical ; Important ; Internet ; Interracial marriage ; Interracial relationships ; Mothers ; Online ; Parents ; Religious community ; Religious groups ; Religious organizations ; Skipping church ; Spiritual Childhood ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Families. ; Homosexuality--Religious aspects. ; Religion ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority students. ; Sexual minority youth ; Sexual orientation--Religious aspects. ; Woodford County (Ky.) 17 1254 Struggles with his sexuality in high school So moving into high school. Barron talks more about coming out to two friends in his freshman year of high school and the aftermath of those friendships ending. He talks about his internal struggles, as well as his negative experiences with coming out to friends, teammates, and crushes. He talks about a former teacher who he now recognizes as a lesbian and her struggles with parents' reactions. Angst ; Awareness ; Awkward ; Basketball teams ; Camping trips ; Classes ; Coaches ; Crushes ; Feelings ; Freshman year ; Friendships ; Future ; Girl Scouts ; Guidance counselors ; High schools ; Hurt ; Issues ; Letters ; Parents ; Reactions ; Rejection ; Relief ; Religion ; Religious affiliation ; Seating assignments ; Sexuality ; Social workers ; Struggles ; Suicide ; Supportive ; Teachers ; Teammates ; Uncomfortable ; Wrong Childhood ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Education ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority students. ; Sexual minority youth ; Woodford County (Ky.) 17 1840 Lack of plans for the future after high school When you graduated from high school, how did you feel when you finally graduated? Barron talks about his relief as well as fear upon graduation from high school. He talks about how having no representation or personal role models led to his feeling that he had no future possibilities. He talks about his unsatisfying experience attending community college and how he did not see a future until he began attending Gender &amp ; Women's Studies classes at UK. Academic probation ; Alternatives ; Bluegrass Community &amp ; Technical College (BCTC) ; Classes ; College majors ; Community colleges ; Courses ; Decisions ; Eastern Kentucky University ; Expectations ; Financial aid ; Future ; Gay people ; Gender &amp ; Women's Studies (GWS) ; Graduation ; Jobs ; Relief ; Role models ; Scared ; Small town mentality ; Stagnant ; University of Kentucky ; Working Education ; Gender identity. ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority students. ; Sexual minority youth ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. ; Woodford County (Ky.) 17 2192 Coming to terms with his gender identity and coming out as transmasculine So, you mentioned that somewhere around this point in time you're thinking about gender identity. Barron talks about beginning to come to terms with his thoughts about his gender identity. He talks about how he was affected by the film &quot ; Boys Don't Cry,&quot ; as well as by Chelsea Manning's coming out. He talks about the lack of non-stereotypical transgender representation which delayed his realization about his gender identity. He talks about his thoughts on various terms and labels for gender and sexual orientation. He talks about how his mother became aware of his gender identity and describes his coming out process. He talks about his feelings regarding various aspects of transitioning, including dysphoria and surgery. Angst ; Awareness ; Best friends ; Black queer experience ; Boys Don't Cry (Motion picture) ; Brokeback Mountain (Motion picture) ; Chelsea Manning ; Classmates ; Closeted ; Clothes ; Clothing ; Connected ; Daunting ; Denial ; Disclosure ; Double life ; Dysphoria ; Excuses ; Expression ; Fathers ; Feedback ; Feelings ; Films ; Google ; Haircuts ; Hairstyles ; High schools ; Identifying ; In the closet ; Inner turmoil ; Lesbians ; Marriage equality ; Masculine ; Masculinity ; Media ; Meg Coppala ; Mothers ; Movies ; Names ; Nuances ; Openness ; Peers ; Portrayals ; Process ; Public ; Reactions ; Relief ; Representation ; Searching ; Stereotypes (Social psychology) ; Surgery ; Terminology ; Texting ; Thoughts ; Toll ; Trans man ; Trans masculine ; Transgender man ; Transitioning ; Transman ; Transmasculine ; Uncomfortable ; University of Kentucky ; Whistleblowers Coming out (Gender identity) ; Education ; Gender identity. ; Gender issues ; Gender. ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority students. ; Sexual minority youth ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 3135 Experience being out as a transmasculine person at the University of Kentucky And once you transferred to UK--you made some comment about UK being a Barron talks about his experiences at UK as a transmasculine person in regard to professors and classmates using his correct name and pronouns. Awareness ; Classmates ; Emails ; Experimental ground ; Gender &amp ; Women's Studies (GWS) ; Introductions ; Misgendered ; Name changes ; Names ; Peers ; Professors ; Pronouns ; Reputations ; Self-explanatory ; Trans masculine ; Transmasculine Coming out (Gender identity) ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Gender identity. ; Gender issues ; Gender. ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority students. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. ; University of Kentucky 17 3378 More on his gender identity and feelings about the word &quot ; man&quot ; And so earlier you mentioned that while you never at all identified with 'female' or 'woman' or 'lesbian' or anything that was female-gendered... Barron talks more about his gender identity and his reasons for preferring the labels 'transguy' or 'transmasculine' over 'man' or 'transman'. He talks about the role of religion in his current life. &quot ; Man&quot ; ; Comfortable ; Connections ; Connotations ; Earthly matters ; Female ; Non-binary (gender identity) ; Non-binary people ; Nonbinary ; Religious beliefs ; Role of religion ; Spiritual practice ; Toxic masculinity ; Trans guy ; Trans masculine ; Transmasculine ; Women Coming out (Gender identity) ; Gender identity. ; Gender issues ; Gender. ; Religion ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 3616 Welcoming and unwelcoming spaces at the University of Kentucky And so, moving back to UK. Barron talks more about his experiences at UK, especially his feelings about the Gender &amp ; Women's Studies Department. He talks about safe spaces on campus, as well as places where he feels alienated or unsafe. Activism ; Alienating ; Assault ; Athletics culture ; Belonging ; College departments ; Comfortable ; Community ; Eerie ; Friends ; Fulfillment ; Gatton College of Business and Economics ; Gender &amp ; Women's Studies (GWS) ; Harassment ; Home ; Information ; John Schnatter &quot ; Papa John&quot ; ; Mentors ; Office of LGBTQ* Resources ; Protests ; Representation ; Restless ; Safe spaces ; Stadiums ; Unsafe ; Unwelcoming ; Welcoming College campuses. ; College environment ; College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Conduct of life. ; College students--Social conditions ; Coming out (Gender identity) ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Gender identity. ; Gender issues ; Gender. ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority students. ; Student protesters ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. ; Universities and colleges. ; University of Kentucky 17 4052 The Queer Project You mentioned that you started a student group? Barron talks about the student group he and his friends created, called The Queer Project. He talks about the group's mission, as well as his views on what constitutes activism. Activism ; All-encompassing ; Best friends ; Binary ; Clothing drives ; Clothing swaps ; Creative outlets ; Dr. Chamara Jewel Kwakye ; Expression ; Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) ; Genders &amp ; Sexualities Alliance (GSA) ; Goals ; LGBTQ students ; Long-term ; Meetings ; Meg Coppala ; Mentors ; Missions ; Protests ; Representation ; Student groups ; Student organizations ; The Girl Project ; Trans people ; Women's March College campuses. ; College environment ; College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Conduct of life. ; College students--Social conditions ; Coming out (Gender identity) ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Gender identity. ; Gender issues ; Gender. ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority students. ; Student protesters ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. ; Universities and colleges. ; University of Kentucky 17 4368 Relationship with the LGBTQ community / Social circles How would you characterize your relationship with, um, the LGBTQ community? Barron discusses his relationship with the wider LGBTQ community and talks about his current social circles and friends. Cisgender ; Complicated ; Disconnected ; Family ; Friends ; Gay men ; LGBTQ community ; Perspectives ; Queer ; Social circles ; Social life ; Straight ; Trans men ; Transgender men College students--Social conditions ; Coming out (Gender identity) ; Families. ; Friendship. ; Gender identity. ; Gender issues ; Gender. ; Interpersonal relations ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority students. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 4506 Feelings on the current political administration And so hopping topics a bit, moving more big picture. Barron discusses his views on the current political administration under Donald Trump. He talks about beginning to feel burnt out due to the constant need for activism. Activism ; Burnt out ; Donald Trump ; Friends ; Future ; Healing ; Losses ; Organizing ; Personal ; Political administrations ; Process ; Protests ; Tired ; Urgent College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Conduct of life. ; College students--Social conditions ; Politicians ; Politics and government ; Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) ; Sexual minority students. ; Student protesters ; Transgender people. 17 4681 Activism So it seems like activism is very important to you... Barron talks about his passion for activism since childhood and some of the influences on his interest in activism. He talks about the first protest he attended. Activism ; Activists ; Anticlimactic ; Dissatisfied ; Dr. Chamara Jewel Kwakye ; Influences ; Inspiring ; Justice ; Marches ; Masculinity ; Monsanto ; Organizing ; Passionate ; Role models ; Suffragettes Childhood ; College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Conduct of life. ; College students--Social conditions ; Gender identity. ; Gender issues ; Gender. ; Politics and government ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority students. ; Student protesters ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 4903 Feminist ideology And when was your first encounter with the idea of feminism? Barron talks about when he became aware of the concept of feminism and why it took so long for him to self-identify as a feminist. Attitudes ; Chores ; Conflicts ; Criticisms ; Domestic work ; Fathers ; Feminists ; Gender division of labor ; Gender division of labor in the family ; Homemakers ; Jobs ; Labor disparity ; Mothers ; Parents ; Stereotypes (Social psychology) Childhood ; Feminism ; Gender issues ; Gender. ; Sex role 17 5048 Hope for the future And, this is gonna be my last question. Barron talks about what gives him hope for the future. The interview is concluded. Family ; Friends ; Future ; Hopes ; Mentors ; Plans Families. ; Friendship. ; Interpersonal relations 17 interview Rory Barron, a University of Kentucky undergraduate student, shares his life as a transmasculine person. Barron discusses his passion for activism, the importance of the University of Kentucky Gender and Women's Studies Department, and the future. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. video Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2018oh375_lgbtq025_barron_ohm.xml 2018oh375_lgbtq025_barron_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt70gb1xgm7q Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rory Barron Description An account of the resource Rory Barron, a University of Kentucky undergraduate student, shares his life as a transmasculine person. Barron discusses his passion for activism, the importance of the University of Kentucky Gender and Women's Studies Department, and the future. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2018oh375_lgbtq025 Subject The topic of the resource Education Childhood Sexual minorities' families. Families. Woodford County (Ky.) Gender expression. Gender identity. Gender. Sexual minorities--Identity. Sexual minority students. Sexual minority youth Transgender children. Transgender youth. Coming out (Sexual orientation) Religion Transgender identity Transgender people. Transgender people--Identity. Gender issues Coming out (Gender identity) University of Kentucky Education, Higher College environment College students--Social conditions Universities and colleges. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video https://nunncenter.net/outsouth/files/original/28c3acdd83795d29a5d68ef4f2af0dc3.PNG 46a0e87aec2d6ada8c7f632fb76692f7 Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Adriana Sisko Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed J. P. Davis OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2018oh355_lgbtq024_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Politics and government Politicians Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) Education OHMS Object Text 5.2 2018oh355_lgbtq024 Interview with J.P. Davis, July 13, 2018 2018oh355_lgbtq024 lgbtq Outsouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Ashland (Ky.) Childhood Families. Closeted gays. Gay men--Family relationships--United States. Gays--Family relationships. Homosexuality. Sexual minorities' families. Sexual minorities. Sexual orientation. Religion Churches Homosexuality--Religious aspects. Gay men--Identity. Coming out (Sexual orientation) Politics and government Politicians Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) Education J. P. Davis Adriana Sisko 0 Vimeo video &lt ; iframe src=&quot ; https://player.vimeo.com/video/280365826&quot ; width=&quot ; 640&quot ; height=&quot ; 360&quot ; frameborder=&quot ; 0&quot ; allowfullscreen&gt ; &lt ; /iframe&gt ; 0 Childhood in Ashland, Kentucky This is Adriana Sisko and we are in the Nunn Center. J. P. Davis is introduced. He talks about growing up in Ashland, Kentucky. He talks about his relationship with his parents and his two brothers. He talks about his parents' careers, attitudes, and social standing in the community. He briefly mentions the conflict between himself and his parents regarding his sexual orientation. Ashland Oil ; Beauty pageants ; Brothers ; Closeted ; Conflicts ; Effects ; Elementary schools ; Fast food ; Fathers ; Fighting ; Grandparents ; Growing up ; Impact ; Jobs ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Mothers ; Parents ; Reasons ; Sports ; Upbringing Ashland (Ky.) ; Childhood ; Closeted gays. ; Education ; Employment--Kentucky ; Families. ; Gay men--Family relationships--United States. ; Gays--Family relationships. ; Homosexuality. ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 358 Hiding his sexual orientation in middle school and high school But, um, but, yeah, Ashland was great. Davis talks about his brother's interest in sports in school and talks about how his own interests and personality differed. He talks about being aware of being gay very early in life and talks about others' perceptions of his sexuality. He talks about his personal feelings regarding his sexual orientation and why he kept it hidden for so long. He talks about the attitudes of his parents, classmates, and community regarding sexuality, race, and gender. Apologies ; Awareness ; Brothers ; Bullied ; Bullying ; Classmates ; Colleges ; Crushes ; Dating ; Different ; Fairview High School ; Hiding ; High schools ; Homophobia ; Homophobic ; Middle schools ; Name changes ; Parents ; Peers ; Perceptions ; Popularity ; Racism ; Racist ; School principals ; Sexism ; Sexist ; Social life ; Sports ; Student body presidents Ashland (Ky.) ; Childhood ; Churches ; Closeted gays. ; Education ; Families. ; Gay men--Family relationships--United States. ; Gay men--Identity. ; Gays--Family relationships. ; Homosexuality--Religious aspects. ; Homosexuality. ; Religion ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 744 Decision to come out So, um, it wasn't until I finished undergrad and went to England and worked in Parliament... Davis talks about studying abroad in England after college and the experience that led him to decide to come out. Avoidance ; Avoiding ; Colleges ; Dating ; England ; Hiding ; Ignoring ; London (England) ; London School of Economics ; Parliament ; Relationships Closeted gays. ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Dates (Social engagements) ; Dating (Social customs) ; Gay men--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 898 His brother being outed Um, I--to this day, um--I can tell you--I want to back up before I tell you how I came out... Davis talks about an incident before he left for college in which someone told him his brother was gay and then he outed his brother to his parents. He talks about how these events changed his family. He talks about his relationship with his brother currently. Brothers ; China ; Christian schools ; Colleges ; Critical ; Fathers ; Friends ; LGBTQ youth ; Mothers ; Outing ; Parents ; Reactions ; Regrets ; Resentment ; Therapy ; university of Louisville Ashland (Ky.) ; Childhood ; Churches ; Closeted gays. ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Education ; Families. ; Gay men--Family relationships--United States. ; Gay men--Identity. ; Gays--Family relationships. ; Homosexuality--Religious aspects. ; Homosexuality. ; Religion ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 1226 Coming out experience But, um, you know, my mom and dad, you know, they're something else. Davis talks about coming out to his parents via a letter. He talks about their negative reactions and how they led to his desire to be an advocate for LGBTQ youth. He talks about how coming out to his boss was very stressful, but says that his boss' positive reaction gave him a lot of confidence and security. He talks about his difficulty fitting in to the LGBTQ social scene. Advice ; Advocates ; Awareness ; Brothers ; Bush Administration ; Conservative ; Expectations ; Fathers ; Fears ; Fitting in ; Gay bars ; Hurt ; Jobs ; Judgment ; Letters ; LGBTQ youth ; Life choices ; Mothers ; Owsley Brown Frazier ; Parents ; Personal assistants ; Prodigy ; Questions ; Reactions ; Regrets ; Republicans ; Responsibility ; Scared ; Security ; Social scenes ; Suicide ; Understanding ; Young people Ashland (Ky.) ; Childhood ; Closeted gays. ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Families. ; Gay men--Family relationships--United States. ; Gay men--Identity. ; Gays--Family relationships. ; Homosexuality. ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 1818 Role of religion in his life Um, I want to hear more about the church you attended growing up. Davis describes the church he and his family attended during his childhood. He talks about being very involved in the church, and also talks about the negative messages preached at the church. He talks about how his family's relationship with the church changed after his brother was outed as gay. He discusses his current feelings about church and religion. Beliefs ; Brothers ; Christian schools ; Church camps ; Conflicts ; Conservative ; Divisiveness ; Fathers ; Following ; Friends ; Influence ; Kicked out ; Leadership ; Mission trips ; Mothers ; Negative ; Parents ; Preachers ; Religious ; Rose Hill Christian Church ; Sermons ; Social groups ; Spiritual ; Summer camps ; Yelling ; Youth groups Ashland (Ky.) ; Childhood ; Churches ; Closeted gays. ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Education ; Families. ; Gay men--Family relationships--United States. ; Gay men--Identity. ; Gays--Family relationships. ; Homosexuality--Religious aspects. ; Homosexuality. ; Religion ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 2216 Awareness of LGBTQ people during his early life And growing up, what was your awareness of words like 'gay' or 'homosexuality,' um, or even gay people in general? Davis talks about his awareness of LGBTQ people during his childhood. He talks about why people may have assumed he way gay during his youth. Actors ; Assumptions ; Avoidance ; Avoiding ; Awareness ; Dating ; Denial ; Derogatory ; Different ; Family ; Flamboyant ; Girls ; Hiding ; LGBTQ people ; Movies ; Perceptions ; Personality ; Schools ; Slurs ; Social circles ; Social life ; Terminology Ashland (Ky.) ; Childhood ; Closeted gays. ; Families. ; Gay men--Family relationships--United States. ; Gay men--Identity. ; Gays--Family relationships. ; Homosexuality. ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 2473 First experiences dating after coming out And so was it at 23 that you came out? Davis talks more about studying abroad in England after college and his experience dating for the first time. He talks about how LGBTQ people are treated in various places around the world and how he is relatively lucky to live in the United States. Discrimination ; Emotions ; Fears ; Grateful ; Homelessness ; Homophobia ; Illegal ; LGBTQ youth ; London (England) ; Murder ; Sexual experiences ; Treatment ; Vocal Closeted gays. ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Couples. ; Dates (Social engagements) ; Dating (Social customs) ; Gay men--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 2827 More on his coming out experience Um, if you're ready I have another follow up question. Davis talks about coming out to his friends. He talks more about how coming out to his boss was very stressful, but says that his boss' positive reaction gave him a lot of confidence and security. He talks more in depth about his mother and father's reactions, including his mother trying to set him up with women or 'save' him religiously. He talks about his relationship with his grandmother, her religious and social beliefs, and her acceptance of him. He talks about his negative experience at his grandmother's funeral. He talks about coming out as a perpetual process. &quot ; Saved&quot ; ; Acceptance ; Attitudes ; Barack Obama ; Beliefs ; Bible ; Bosses ; Closeness ; Conservative ; Constant ; Death ; Difficult ; Eastern Kentucky ; Education ; Elections ; Employment ; Empowerment ; Fathers ; Fears ; Fired ; Friends ; Funeral services ; Girls ; Grandfathers ; Grandmothers ; Home ; Jobs ; Lifestyles ; Losses ; Mothers ; Negative ; Offensive ; Peers ; Perspectives ; Preachers ; Reactions ; Relationships ; Ridicule ; Suicide ; Visits ; Voting ; Widows ; Women Ashland (Ky.) ; Childhood ; Churches ; Closeted gays. ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Families. ; Gay men--Family relationships--United States. ; Gay men--Identity. ; Gays--Family relationships. ; Homosexuality--Religious aspects. ; Homosexuality. ; Politics and government ; Religion ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 3715 Current relationship with the LGBTQ community Um, so you mentioned that, you kno--as a result of having this sort of like, kind of like delayed adolescence, delayed sexual awakening... Davis talks about his current relationship with the LGBTQ community, which he says is mostly through his fundraising and policy change efforts. He talks about cliques and segregation within the LGBTQ community. Assumptions ; Bar scene ; Civics ; Cliques ; Delayed ; Educate ; Education ; Fitting in ; Fundraising ; Infiltrate ; Infiltration ; Labels ; Left out ; LGBTQ community ; Perceptions ; Policies ; Policy changes ; Positions ; Power ; Pride festivals ; Scholarships ; Segregated ; Segregation ; Social scenes Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Gay men--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 4054 Career And I'm probably--I'm going to ask you a question that might necessitate another long answer. Davis talks about his career path and his current work as the Executive Vice President for the Fund for the Arts. He talks about some of the challenges he has faced. Activism ; Careers ; Challenges ; Changes ; Fund for the Arts ; Fundraisers ; Jobs ; Owsley Brown Frazier ; Reactions ; Resources ; University of Louisville ; Women ; Youngest Employment--Kentucky ; Gay men--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Politics and government ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 4314 Changes in Kentucky So it seems like with all of your fundraising and sort of activism work that you probably have... Davis discusses how Kentucky has changed, both positively and negatively. He talks about how politics and religion have influenced one another. He talks about the negative impact of ultra-conservatives' control of the state. Better ; Changes ; Control ; Culture ; Discrimination ; Economics ; Hateful ; Hurting ; Influence ; Kentucky ; Leadership ; Policies ; Policy ; Political climate ; Progress ; Protection ; Republicans ; Rights ; Small communities ; Small towns ; Society ; Treatment Churches ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Gay men--Identity. ; Homosexuality--Law and legislation. ; Homosexuality--Religious aspects. ; Homosexuality--Social aspects. ; Homosexuality. ; Politics and government ; Religion ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 4671 Current political administration So continuing heading in this direction, um, how do you feel politically and personally regarding the current presidential administration? Davis discusses his views on the current political administration under Donald Trump. He talks about how divisiveness is hurting the country and his worries in regard to the president. Authority ; Careless ; Divided ; Divisiveness ; Donald Trump ; Followers ; Hurt ; Ideology ; Integrity ; Leadership ; Minorities ; Party politics ; Policies ; Policy ; Political administrations ; Presidency ; Public leaders ; Public servants ; Representative ; Track record ; Women ; Worry Politicians ; Politics and government ; Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) 17 4934 Hope for the future And heading in a different direction now that we've looked into the darkness. Davis says that the next generation gives him hope for the future. He talks about how their lack of divisiveness will improve things, but says that they lack knowledge of civics and how to talk to those who disagree with them. He talks about citizens becoming involved in politics. The interview is concluded. Challenges ; Changes ; Civics ; Disagreements ; Divisiveness ; Elections ; Empowerment ; Establishment ; Fundraising ; Future ; Hopes ; Leadership ; Next generation ; Social issues ; Sports figures ; Teaching ; Women Gay teenagers. ; Gay youth ; Politicians ; Politics and government ; Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) ; Sexual minority youth 17 interview J.P. Davis describes his upbringing in Ashland, Kentucky and coming out as a gay man to his church-going family. Davis also shares his passion for fundraising work and talks about his current career as executive vice president for Louisville's Fund For The Arts. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. video Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2018oh355_lgbtq024_davis_ohm.xml 2018oh355_lgbtq024_davis_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt70gb1xgm7q Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource J.P. Davis Description An account of the resource J.P. Davis describes his upbringing in Ashland, Kentucky and coming out as a gay man to his church-going family. Davis also shares his passion for fundraising work and talks about his current career as executive vice president for Louisville's Fund For The Arts. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2018oh355_lgbtq024 Subject The topic of the resource Ashland (Ky.) Childhood Families. Closeted gays. Gay men--Family relationships--United States. Gays--Family relationships. Homosexuality. Sexual minorities' families. Sexual minorities. Sexual orientation. Religion Churches Homosexuality--Religious aspects. Gay men--Identity. Coming out (Sexual orientation) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video https://nunncenter.net/outsouth/files/original/e4fae6af4b49e310923732bdaca2ea82.PNG cd4282f2dcda54174ebc039e4a3df696 Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Adriana Sisko Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Mel Lesch OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2018oh337_lgbtq023_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Religion Homosexuality--Religious aspects. University of Maryland, College Park College Park (Md.) Kentucky--Social conditions Down syndrome Queerness Transgender people. OHMS Object Text 5.2 2018oh337_lgbtq023 Interview with Mel Lesch, July 6, 2018 2018oh337_lgbtq023 lgbtq Outsouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Families. Childhood Education Dates (Social engagements) Dating (Social customs) Friendship. Sexual orientation. Lesbians Homosexuality. Sexual minorities. Sexual minority community. University of Kentucky Sexual minority college students Education, Higher Coming out (Sexual orientation) Lexington (Ky.). Gender expression. Gender identity. Gender issues Gender. Religion Homosexuality--Religious aspects. University of Maryland, College Park College Park (Md.) Kentucky--Social conditions Down syndrome Queerness Transgender people. Mel Lesch Adriana Sisko 0 Vimeo video &lt ; iframe src=&quot ; https://player.vimeo.com/video/279562621&quot ; width=&quot ; 640&quot ; height=&quot ; 360&quot ; frameborder=&quot ; 0&quot ; allowfullscreen&gt ; &lt ; /iframe&gt ; 0 Childhood, family, and education This is Adriana Sisko here in the Nunn Center. Mel Lesch is introduced. She talks about why her family moved around the country often during her childhood. She talks about her parents, and her older brother who had Down syndrome and a heart condition. She talks about her early interests, including reading a creative writing, and talks about how she attended an arts school for creative writing. She talks about why she believes she was a high achiever and a people pleaser as a child. Art schools ; Blood transfusions ; Books ; Bored ; Brothers ; Consistency ; Creative writing ; Dating ; Down syndrome ; Dualistic ; Elementary schools ; Experiences ; Family ; Fantasy ; Fathers ; Friends ; Grades ; Heart conditions ; Helping out ; Hepatitis C ; High achieving ; Institutionalized ; Jobs ; Michigan ; Mothers ; Moving ; Needs ; People-pleasers ; Reading ; School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA) ; School for the Creative and Performing Arts at Bluegrass (SCAPA) ; Siblings ; Speaking ; Surgery ; Teachers ; University of Kentucky Childhood ; Education ; Families. ; Lexington (Ky.). 17 569 Social life in middle and high school So moving forward a couple years once you get more into your teenage years, so late middle school, early high school... Lesch continues describing her attitude as a child and young adult. She talks about feeling different in school, her dating life, and her friends. 'Golden child' ; Art schools ; Avoidance ; Avoiding ; Boys ; Dating ; Different ; Friends ; High schools ; Lafayette High School ; Middle schools ; Popularity ; School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA) ; School for the Creative and Performing Arts at Bluegrass (SCAPA) ; Social life ; Swim teams ; Teenagers Childhood ; Couples. ; Dates (Social engagements) ; Dating (Social customs) ; Education ; Friendship. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs 17 822 Early awareness of LGBTQ people And so during this time period, um, when you're on swim team, you know, doing these SCAPA classes, doing all these things-- Lesch talks about whether she was aware of the existence of LGBTQ people during her childhood and young adulthood. She talks about her tendency to avoid anything to do with sexuality. Avoidance ; Avoiding ; Awareness ; Boys ; Computers ; Connections ; Friends ; High schools ; Internet ; LGBTQ community ; Mothers ; Peers ; Pornography ; Sexual experiences ; Sexual feelings ; Sexuality ; Teenagers ; Teens ; Television Childhood ; Couples. ; Dates (Social engagements) ; Dating (Social customs) ; Education ; Friendship. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lesbians ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual minority community. ; Sexual orientation. 17 1079 Discovering herself and her sexuality in college So you graduate high school. Lesch talks about her feelings when entering college, both in general and in regard to her sexuality. She talks about studying abroad in France and why it was a life-changing experience for her. She talks more about her relationships with her friends. She discusses incidents of homophobia and rape. She talks about her coming out experience. 2003 ; Anger ; Angry ; Anti-American sentiment ; Awkward ; Boyd Hall ; Colleges ; Emotional relationships ; Exploration ; Exploring ; Eye-opening experiences ; Family ; Feelings ; First kisses ; France ; Freshman year ; Friends ; Graduation ; Heartbreaking ; Homophobia ; Jobs ; Leaving ; Life-changing experiences ; Masturbation ; Men ; Mia's ; Middle schools ; Rape ; Relationships ; Ross Ewing ; September 11, 2001 ; Sexual assault ; Sexuality ; Shock ; Sophomore year ; Straight ; Study abroad ; Travel Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Couples. ; Dates (Social engagements) ; Dating (Social customs) ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Families. ; Friendship. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lesbians ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual minority college students ; Sexual orientation. ; University of Kentucky 17 1830 Role of religion in her early life I just realized something else I wanted to ask earlier that it slipped my mind. Lesch discusses her relationship with religion during her childhood and young adulthood. She talks about being raised Methodist by her mother, becoming very interested in religion for a time, and then drifting away from religion. She talks about clashing with religion on various beliefs. She talks about her current religious beliefs. Agnostic ; Attendance ; Baptist Student Union (BSU) ; Beliefs ; Bible ; Bible study ; Brothers ; Catholic ; Church services ; Churches ; Confirmed ; Context ; Down syndrome ; Fathers ; German Pentecostal ; Grandparents ; Hell ; Jewish ; Letters ; Methodist ; Ministers ; Mothers ; People ; Preaching ; Religious spaces ; Resident advisor (RA) ; Scary ; Students ; Undergraduate education ; Unitarian ; Upbringing Childhood ; Families. ; Homosexuality--Religious aspects. ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Religion 17 2150 Reactions to her coming out So you said--mentioned that after coming out, church service there was this, um, you know, trepidation-- Lesch talks about her coming out experiences, both positive and negative. She talks about her parents' reactions and briefly attending family counseling. She talks about her experiences with being out in public. Acceptance ; Aftermath ; Break ups ; Breaking up ; Brothers ; Camp counselors ; Community ; Down syndrome ; Family ; Family counseling ; Fathers ; Freshman year ; Friends ; Impact ; Kissing ; Lavender (organization) ; Mia's ; Misinformation ; Mothers ; Openness ; Parents ; Perspectives ; Public ; Reactions ; Religious ; Sin ; Slurs ; Strangers ; Trepidation ; Unlearning Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Couples. ; Dates (Social engagements) ; Dating (Social customs) ; Families. ; Friendship. ; Homosexuality--Religious aspects. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lesbians ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Religion ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual minority college students ; Sexual orientation. ; University of Kentucky 17 2713 Interest in working with students And so during undergrad, what was it you majored in? Lesch talks about her majors during her undergraduate education, her work on campus in Residence Life, and going to University of Maryland, College Park for a masters in Student Affairs. She talks about why she became interested in working with students. &quot ; Queenland&quot ; ; Assistant hall directors ; College majors ; Disabilities ; Disability ; Graduate assistant (GA) ; Graduation ; Helping ; Homophobic slurs ; Insults ; Interests ; Keeneland Hall ; LGBTQ community ; Mentors ; Mothers ; Outness ; Racial slurs ; Residence halls ; Residence Life ; Resident advisor (RA) ; Scared ; Siblings ; Undergraduate education College environment ; College Park (Md.) ; College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Employment ; Families. ; Homosexuality. ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual minority community. ; Sexual orientation. ; Universities and colleges--Employees ; University of Maryland, College Park 17 3023 Struggles during her transition to Maryland Tell me more about the Maryland era. Lesch talks about moving to Maryland for graduate school and the differences between Kentucky and Maryland. She talks about the end of a relationship just before leaving for Maryland, going into debt for college, her brother's health issues, and other struggles she faced during her time in Maryland. She talks about her decision to return to Kentucky. Break ups ; Breaking up ; Brothers ; Crying ; Debt ; Depression ; Differences ; Girlfriends ; Hepatitis C ; Internships ; Kentucky ; Leaving ; Marriage ; Medication ; Moving ; Psychiatrists ; Relationships ; Struggles ; Student affairs ; Tears ; Therapists ; Therapy ; University of Kentucky College environment ; College Park (Md.) ; College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Social conditions ; Couples. ; Dates (Social engagements) ; Dating (Social customs) ; Education ; Employment ; Families. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lesbians ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual minority college students ; Sexual minority community. ; Sexual orientation. ; Universities and colleges--Employees ; University of Maryland, College Park 17 3398 Lesbian community in Maryland And I remember too in Maryland trying to find, like, a lesbian crew. Lesch tells a story about how her interaction with one lesbian in Maryland led to her being ostracized by most of the lesbian community there. She talks about dating a transgender man and how she has experienced no space 'in between' the lesbian community and the straight community for people who identify as queer, bisexual, pansexual, etc. 'In between' ; Anti-Kentucky ; Bachelorette parties ; Bars ; Boundaries ; Clubs ; Crews ; Depression ; Ex-communicated ; Ex-communication ; Fitting in ; Flirting ; LGBTQ community ; Marriage ; Married ; Masculinity ; Negotiation ; Ostricization ; Polyamorous ; Retreats ; Strip clubs ; Talking ; Trans men ; Transgender men ; Washington, D.C. College Park (Md.) ; Couples. ; Dates (Social engagements) ; Dating (Social customs) ; Gender expression. ; Gender identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lesbians ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual minority college students ; Sexual minority community. ; Sexual orientation. ; Washington (D.C.) 17 3918 Career path after returning to Lexington So when you come back to Lexington, things are slightly different because you've been away for a bit... Lesch talks about the various jobs she worked after returning to Lexington. She talks about taking time off from involvement in queer activism. She talks about beginning to work at the University of Kentucky, earning her masters degree, and teaching high school English for several years. She talks about returning to work for UK. 'In between' ; Academic coordinators ; Disabilities ; Disability ; Educational Policy and Evaluation ; Friends ; Hall directors ; High schools ; Jobs ; Literature ; Masters degrees ; Masters thesis ; Parks and Recreation ; Queer activism ; Residence Life ; Starbucks ; Teaching ; Trans students ; Transgender students College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Employment ; Homosexuality. ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual minority college students ; Sexual minority community. ; Sexual orientation. ; Transgender people. ; Transgender youth. ; Universities and colleges--Employees 17 4340 Others' reactions to her being in a 'straight-seeming' relationship And how and when did you meet your current partner? Lesch talks about her relationship with her current partner, who identifies as a straight, cisgender man. She tells the story of how they met and how many years later they began dating. She talks about people's perceptions of their relationship as a straight couple, her feelings about their assumptions, and how she continues to identify with the queer community. She talks about gender as a spectrum and her own gender identity. She talks more about how she has experienced no space 'in between' the lesbian/gay community and the straight community for people who identify as queer, bisexual, pansexual, etc. 'In between' ; Anti-bisexual ; Assumptions ; Attitudes ; Attraction ; Awkward ; Bands ; Cello ; Changes ; Children ; Confusion ; Definitions ; Erasure ; Exes ; Fathers ; Feelings ; Friends ; Fringes ; Gender fluidity ; Gender spectrum ; Haircuts ; Hairstyles ; Labels ; Lavender (organization) ; LGBTQ community ; Marriage ; Misconceptions ; Mothers ; Older generations ; Parents ; Partners ; Perceptions ; Pride Festival ; Queer ; Queerness ; Reactions ; Relationships ; Shocked ; Shows ; Spooky Qs (Band) ; Straight ; Straight-appearing ; Straight-seeming ; Surprise ; Terminology Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Couples. ; Dates (Social engagements) ; Dating (Social customs) ; Families. ; Friendship. ; Gender expression. ; Gender identity. ; Gender issues ; Gender. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lesbians ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 5554 Changes in the LGBTQ community Um, moving a little more big picture now. Lesch discusses whether the Lexington LGBTQ community has changed over time. Anti-capitalist ; Awareness ; Changes ; Friends ; Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) ; LGBTQ community ; Mainstream ; Pose (Television show) ; Queer community ; Racism ; The Bar ; The Queer Project Gender expression. ; Gender identity. ; Gender issues ; Gender. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. ; Transgender people. ; University of Kentucky 17 5736 Relationship with Kentucky So I've been thinking about your tattoo. Lesch talks about how her feelings about Kentucky have changed over the years. She talks about misconceptions about Kentucky. She talks about ways in which Kentucky still needs to make progress, especially in regard to race. 'Black hole' ; Anti-Kentucky ; Changes ; Connections ; Conservative ; Expectations ; Family ; Hatred ; High schools ; Homelessness ; Hopes ; Intersectionality ; Kentucky ; Latino population ; Leaving ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Maryland ; Misconceptions ; Moving ; People of color ; Perceptions ; Pride Festival ; Stereotypes ; White supremacy Childhood ; Families. ; Kentucky--Social conditions ; Lexington (Ky.). 17 6009 Current political administration / Hope for the future Speaking of--I almost hesitated to say his name on camera. Lesch talks about her feelings on the current political administration and her fears for the future. She talks about what gives her hope for the future, including progress for transgender people of color and her work with students. She talks about her mother's influence on her interest in activism. The interview is concluded. Activism ; Activists ; Advocacy ; Birth control ; Bringing Up Down Syndrome (BUDS) ; Brothers ; Conservative ; Donald Trump ; Down syndrome ; Existence ; Future ; Hopes ; Immigrants ; Influences ; Marriage equality ; Military ; Mothers ; Political administrations ; Presidents ; Progress ; Social conditions ; Students ; Supreme Court Justices ; Systematically disenfranchised ; Trans people of color ; Transgender people of color ; Young people Families. ; Gender expression. ; Gender identity. ; Gender issues ; Gender. ; Homosexuality. ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Politics and government ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. ; Social policy. ; Social problems. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 interview Mel Lesch shares her life journey from moving state to state and eventually settling in Lexington, Kentucky. Lesch discusses her life as queer person, her passion for activism, and her passion for working with students. Lesch talks about gender identity, Down Syndrome, and the sexual identities she has identified with. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. video Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2018oh337_lgbtq023_lesch_ohm.xml 2018oh337_lgbtq023_lesch_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt70gb1xgm7q Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mel Lesch Description An account of the resource Mel Lesch shares her life journey from moving state to state and eventually settling in Lexington, Kentucky. Lesch discusses her life as queer person, her passion for activism, and her passion for working with students. Lesch talks about gender identity, Down Syndrome, and the sexual identities she has identified with. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2018oh337_lgbtq023 Subject The topic of the resource Families. Childhood Education Dates (Social engagements) Dating (Social customs) Friendship. Sexual orientation. Lesbians Homosexuality. Sexual minorities. Sexual minority community. University of Kentucky Sexual minority college students Education, Higher Coming out (Sexual orientation) Lexington (Ky.). Gender expression. Gender identity. Gender issues Gender. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video https://nunncenter.net/outsouth/files/original/3d1d2c594f51e635397997eb92dd7b4b.PNG 160fcc105de3a70f892bba518a8be8a5 Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Adriana Sisko Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Charlie Yi Zhang OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2018oh336_lgbtq022_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Masculinity. South Dakota Dating (Social customs) Manners and customs Lifestyles. Friendship. Closeted gays. Discrimination. Race discrimination. Race relations Racism OHMS Object Text 5.2 2018oh336_lgbtq022 Interview with Charlie Yi Zhang, July 3, 2018 2018oh336_lgbtq022 lgbtq Outsouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Childhood Education Families. China. China--Cultural policy. China--Foreign relations. China--History. China--Politics and government. China--Social conditions. China--Social life and customs. China--Social policy. Stereotypes (Social psychology) Sexual orientation. Sexual minorities. Sexual minorities--Identity. Homosexuality. Coming out (Sexual orientation) Gay men--Identity. Gays--Identity. Education, Higher College students--Social conditions Gender studies Universities and colleges. Teachers Teaching Masculinity. South Dakota Dating (Social customs) Manners and customs Lifestyles. Friendship. Closeted gays. Discrimination. Race discrimination. Race relations Racism Charlie Yi Zhang Adriana Sisko 0 Vimeo video &lt ; iframe src=&quot ; https://player.vimeo.com/video/280361458&quot ; width=&quot ; 640&quot ; height=&quot ; 360&quot ; frameborder=&quot ; 0&quot ; allowfullscreen&gt ; &lt ; /iframe&gt ; 0 Childhood and awareness of gender roles and sexuality in China My name is Adriana Sisko and the date is July third. Charlie Zhang is introduced. He discusses his upbringing in a 'small town' in China as the only child of working class parents. He talks about his friendships with girls and his interest in stereotypically &quot ; girly&quot ; activities. He talks about his awareness of the concept of homosexuality and his experience of hearing a homophobic slur in a movie. He talks about his popularity and academic performance in school. &quot ; girly&quot ; ; &quot ; Normal&quot ; ; &quot ; Sissy&quot ; ; 1970s ; Academic performance ; Adults ; Androgyny ; Arts and crafts ; Aunts ; Authority ; Awareness ; Children ; China ; Chinese Peking Opera ; Cultural norms ; Different ; Discipline ; Discourse ; Extracurricular activities ; Extroverted ; Fathers ; Female roles ; Feminization ; Feminized ; Freedom ; Gender roles ; Gender studies ; Girls ; Hong Kong (China) ; Marketization ; Mothers ; Movies ; Name-calling ; One Child Policy ; Performance ; PhD ; Popularity ; Public schools ; Punishment ; Reactions ; Schools ; Siblings ; Slurs ; Small towns ; Social life ; Socializing ; Teachers ; Teaching ; Terminology ; Terms ; United States ; Upbringing ; Welcoming ; Western culture ; Working class Childhood ; China--Cultural policy. ; China--Foreign relations--1976- ; China--Foreign relations. ; China--History. ; China--Politics and government--1976-2002. ; China--Politics and government. ; China--Social conditions--1976-2000. ; China--Social conditions. ; China--Social life and customs--1976-2002. ; China--Social life and customs. ; China--Social policy. ; China. ; Education ; Families. ; Friendship. ; Homophobia. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. ; Stereotypes (Social psychology) 17 741 Awareness of his own sexuality and meeting other LGBTQ people And you mentioned earlier that at some point you realized you were different from other people or other children. Zhang talks more about his experience of hearing a homophobic slur in a movie and somehow knowing that it applied to himself. He talks about his confusion and questioning when he began having romantic feelings toward other males, and his relief when he discovered through the Internet that he was not the only one. He talks about whether he felt pressured to be in heterosexual relationships and discusses his family's awareness of LGBTQ people. Awareness ; Categories ; Colleges ; Confusion ; Crushes ; Different ; Discouraged ; Email ; Family ; Feelings ; Friends ; Gay community ; Gender performance ; Hiding ; High schools ; Internet ; Internet cafes ; Internet posts ; Invisible boundaries ; Junior high schools ; Labels ; LGBTQ community ; Middle schools ; Movies ; Peers ; Pressures ; Questioning ; Relief ; Romantic obsessions ; Secrets ; Slurs ; Support ; Universities Childhood ; China--Social conditions. ; China--Social life and customs. ; China. ; Closeted gays. ; College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Social conditions ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Couples. ; Dates (Social engagements) ; Dating (Social customs) ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Families. ; Friendship. ; Gay men--Identity. ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual minority college students ; Sexual orientation. ; Stereotypes (Social psychology) 17 1224 Undergraduate experience and relationships And undergrad, aside from meeting these other people like you, how would you summarize your undergraduate experience? Zhang talks about his experience in college in China as an undergraduate majoring in English. He talks about his relationships with friends and roommates, as well as his dating life at the time. Academics ; Angry ; Attitudes ; Awareness ; Boyfriends ; College majors ; Colleges ; Contact ; Demanding ; Discouraged ; Dormitories ; English ; Family ; Financially rewarding ; Friends ; Nostalgic ; Parents ; Reactions ; Relationships ; Roommates ; Sports teams ; Support ; Team captains ; Undergraduate education ; Universities ; Volleyball ; Well-paid jobs China--Social conditions. ; China--Social life and customs. ; China. ; Closeted gays. ; College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Social conditions ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Couples. ; Dates (Social engagements) ; Dating (Social customs) ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Families. ; Friendship. ; Gay men--Identity. ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual minority college students ; Sexual orientation. ; Stereotypes (Social psychology) ; Universities and colleges. 17 1584 Experience teaching at the university level in China So you finish undergrad. Zhang talks about being offered a job teaching at the same university from which he graduated. He talks about his attempts to apply to graduate school. He talks about his experience teaching English at the college level, as well as teaching and tutoring for a for-profit company at the same time. He briefly talks about attending graduate school and obtaining his masters degree. Academic settings ; Academics ; Airlines ; Communication studies ; Corporations ; Courses ; Department chairs ; English ; Evaluations ; Failure ; Graduate schools ; Instructors ; Internships ; Intimidated ; Job offers ; Jobs ; Masters degrees ; Peking University ; PhD ; Side jobs ; Students ; Tutoring ; Undergraduate education ; Young China--Social conditions. ; China. ; College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Employment ; Families. ; Teachers ; Teaching ; Universities and colleges. 17 2107 Performing heterosexuality And before you move here-- Zhang says he never specifically performed heterosexuality, but would sometimes hide his sexuality. He provides examples, discussing how he would avoid late night talks with his roommates regarding dating. Attitudes ; Avoidance ; Avoiding ; Blending in ; Conversations ; Economic status ; Finances ; Heteronormative ; Hiding ; Late night talks ; Marketization ; Participation ; Performing heterosexuality ; Privilege ; Roommates ; Sex ; Sexuality China--Social conditions. ; China--Social life and customs. ; China. ; Closeted gays. ; College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Social conditions ; Couples. ; Dates (Social engagements) ; Dating (Social customs) ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Families. ; Friendship. ; Gay men--Identity. ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual minority college students ; Sexual orientation. ; Universities and colleges. 17 2371 Parents' feelings about his teaching job And you mentioned a couple times that, um, you come from a working class background. Zhang talks about how his mother was proud of his teaching job at the university. Bragging ; Faculty ; Family ; Fathers ; Feelings ; Financial support ; Income ; Independent ; Money ; Mothers ; Parents ; Proud ; Reactions ; Salary ; University-level ; Well-paid ; Working class China--Social conditions. ; China. ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Employment ; Families. ; Teachers ; Teaching ; Universities and colleges. 17 2508 Decision to pursue a PhD in Gender Studies So at some point you decide to pursue a PhD? Zhang discusses how he decided to pursue a PhD in gender studies. He says a professor exploited some of her students to translate a book on the topics of masculinity studies and gender theory. Through his work translating the book, Zhang became interested in the topic. He wrote his masters thesis on the topic of gender and later realized that he could study gender for his PhD. Admissions ; Applications ; Arizona State University ; Boyfriends ; Communications studies ; Costs ; Cultural norms ; Examinations ; Exams ; Exploitation ; Failure ; Fees ; Finances ; Gender and women's studies (GWS) ; Gender theory ; GRE testing ; Instructors ; Judith Butler ; Life-changing moments ; Marginalized ; Masculinity studies ; Masters thesis ; Men's Lifestyle Magazines and the Construction of Male Identity ; Michel Foucault ; Motivations ; Peers ; PhD ; Political Economy of Communication ; Poor ; Poverty ; Professors ; Topics ; Translations ; United States China--Social conditions. ; China--Social life and customs. ; China. ; College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Families. ; Gender studies ; Interpersonal relations ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Masculinity. ; Sexual orientation. ; Stereotypes (Social psychology) ; Universities and colleges. 17 3033 Reasons for staying in the U.S. and the current sociopolitical situation in China So your plan initially when you, you come to, um--it was Arizona, right? Zhang talks about his reasons for leaving China and his decision to stay in the U.S. He talks about the fantasy he believed regarding the freedom and democracy in the U.S. and how that differed from the reality once he arrived. He talks about the current sociopolitical situation in China in regard to the Communist Party and freedom, gender, and sexuality. Anti-revolutionary ; Awareness ; Backgrounds ; Better ; Businesses ; Capitalism ; Communist Party ; Condemned ; Cultural revolution ; Degrees ; Democratic ; Economic polarization ; Education ; Employment ; Family ; Fantasy ; Fathers ; Feminist activists ; Finances ; Gender norms ; Grandfathers ; Influences ; Knowledge ; Marketization ; Mass media ; Non-marital relationships ; Oppressive ; Parents ; Positive images ; Pressure ; Public ; Reasoning ; Sexuality ; State-owned ; Staying ; Strict ; Stringent ; Topics ; United States ; Women ; Worse Childhood ; China--Commerce. ; China--Cultural policy. ; China--Economic conditions. ; China--Emigration and immigration. ; China--Foreign relations--1976- ; China--Foreign relations. ; China--History--Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976. ; China--History. ; China--Politics and government--1976-2002. ; China--Politics and government. ; China--Social conditions--1976-2000. ; China--Social conditions. ; China--Social life and customs--1976-2002. ; China--Social life and customs. ; China--Social policy. ; China. ; Education, Higher ; Families. ; Gender studies ; Interpersonal relations ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Sexual orientation. 17 3593 Reactions to his masters thesis and views on gender studies in China Um, when you were--this is somewhat connected but jumping topics a bit. Zhang talks about his defense committee's reaction to his masters thesis on masculinity. He talks about how gender and sexuality are becoming more popular topics in China, but many people are still not aware. 'Leftover women' ; 'Manly quality' ; Advisors ; Awareness ; Cultural representation ; Culture ; Defense committees ; Developed ; Interests ; Labels ; LGBTQ community ; Marginalized ; Masters programs ; Masters thesis ; Media ; Misunderstandings ; Popular culture ; Popularity ; Quantitative statistics ; Reactions ; Single women ; Subcultures ; Topics ; Universities China--Cultural policy. ; China--Foreign relations. ; China--History. ; China--Politics and government. ; China--Social conditions. ; China--Social life and customs--1976-2002. ; China--Social life and customs. ; China--Social policy. ; China. ; Education, Higher ; Gender studies ; Interpersonal relations ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Masculinity. ; Sexual orientation. ; Universities and colleges. 17 4044 Experience of coming to the U.S. Um, alright, moving forward a bit. Zhang talks about how he felt when he first arrived in the U.S., specifically in Arizona. He talks about how some of his initial impressions were positive, but he discovered later that there was negativity under the surface. For instance, he was told he was allowed to wear anything he wanted, including the color pink, but he later discovered that this was because Asian men are already seen as &quot ; feminized.&quot ; Alone ; Arizona ; Arizona State University ; Clothes ; Clothing ; Cohorts ; Competition ; Cultural climate ; Demanding ; Education systems ; Emancipating ; Emancipation ; Equality ; Faculty ; Fathers ; Feminization ; Feminized ; Freedom ; Friendships ; Gender norms ; Graduate students ; Liberated ; Reading ; Transitions ; United States China--Emigration and immigration. ; China--Social conditions. ; China--Social life and customs. ; China. ; College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Social conditions ; Discrimination. ; Education, Higher ; Gender studies ; Interpersonal relations ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Race discrimination. ; Race relations ; Racism 17 4315 Complications of dating in the U.S. Were you able to meet any, um, LGBT-identified people? Zhang discusses some of the discoveries he made about dating in the U.S., including racism among the LGBTQ community. Asian ; Asian identity ; Boyfriends ; Chinese ; Cohorts ; Democratic ; Departments ; Disclosure ; Faculty ; Fantasy ; Internet ; LGBTQ community ; Relationships ; Roles China--Emigration and immigration. ; College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Social conditions ; Couples. ; Dates (Social engagements) ; Dating (Social customs) ; Discrimination. ; Friendship. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Race discrimination. ; Race relations ; Racism ; Stereotypes (Social psychology) 17 4509 Dissertation topic / Cultural barriers experienced in the U.S. What did you end up doing for your dissertation? Zhang describes the topic of his dissertation. He talks about some of the cultural barriers he experienced in the U.S., including more examples of racism and racial stereotypes that he had never experienced before. Abilities ; Asian ; Assumptions ; Checkboxes ; Classes ; Communication ; Contributions ; Cultural barriers ; Differences ; Discussions ; Dissertations ; Expression ; Gender norms ; Global economy ; Intimidated ; Jobs ; Language skills ; Marketization ; Mathematics ; Racial differences ; Reading materials ; Shifting ; Social regulations ; Social structures ; Students ; Topics China--Commerce. ; China--Cultural policy. ; China--Economic conditions. ; China--Politics and government. ; China--Social conditions. ; China--Social policy. ; College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Social conditions ; Discrimination. ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Gender studies ; Interpersonal relations ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Masculinity. ; Race discrimination. ; Race relations ; Racism ; Stereotypes (Social psychology) ; Teachers ; Teaching ; Universities and colleges. 17 5114 Experiencing censorship and discrimination in South Dakota So after you finished the dissertation, where's the next place that you went? Zhang talks about being offered a job at a university in South Dakota. He says he was told he was hired specifically because he is Asian. He talks about teaching classes on global studies and being told by the head of the department that he was not allowed to mention topics including race, gender, and sexuality. He talks about examples of tokenism at the university, as well as examples of harassment he experienced due to his sexuality. African Americans ; Allowed ; Arizona ; Asian ; Awareness ; Censorship ; Chinese ; Content ; Courses ; Department heads ; Departments ; Enrollment ; Evaluations ; First ; Friends ; Global studies ; Harassment ; Heterosexual partners ; Hired ; Job offers ; Jobs ; Offensive ; Openness ; Outness ; Pressure ; Reported ; Scared ; Sexuality ; South Dakota ; Subjects ; Tokenism ; Topics College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Social conditions ; Discrimination. ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Gender studies ; Homophobia. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Race discrimination. ; Race relations ; Racism ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. ; Teachers ; Teaching ; Universities and colleges. 17 5659 Differences between Kentucky and South Dakota And so, uh, South Dakota, how long were you teaching there? Zhang discusses the differences between South Dakota and Kentucky in regard to how the topics of race and sexuality are treated. He talks about how race is an emotionally charged topic in Kentucky and gives an example of how he carefully introduces it to his students. 'Underdeveloped species' ; Acceptance ; African Americans ; Classes ; Conversations ; Differences ; Emotionally charged ; Gender and women's studies (GWS) ; Human diversity ; Intersectionality ; Jobs ; Kentucky ; Latino ; LGBTQ community ; Liberal ; Participation ; Personal life ; Popular culture ; Progressive ; Representation ; Sexuality ; South Dakota ; Subjects ; Talking ; Textbooks ; Title IX ; Topics College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Social conditions ; Discrimination. ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Gender studies ; Homophobia. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Race discrimination. ; Race relations ; Racism ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. ; Teachers ; Teaching ; Universities and colleges. ; University of Kentucky 17 6051 His father's reaction to his marriage Um, actually, speaking of him, I wanted to ask how you all met. Zhang talks about meeting and marrying his husband. He talks about why they did not have a wedding ceremony. He talks about when he told his father about his husband, his father's initial reaction, and the current relationship between his father and his husband, as well as the relationship between his father and himself. Angry ; Attitudes ; Awareness ; Baggage ; Bonding ; Communication ; County clerks ; Dating apps ; Disclosure ; Distance ; Fathers ; Health issues ; Husbands ; Married ; Mothers ; Parties ; Personalities ; Reactions ; Relationships ; Shocked ; Talking ; Visits ; Wedding ceremonies ; Weddings Childhood ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Couples. ; Dates (Social engagements) ; Dating (Social customs) ; Families. ; Friendship. ; Gay men--Identity. ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Marriage ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. 17 6461 Lexington community And, um, moving topics a bit to focus more on Lexington and your life in, in Lexington. Zhang talks about his social circles in Lexington and his interactions with the LGBTQ community. He talks about hearing that rural areas are not welcoming to non-white or LGBTQ people, but says he did not really experience that when visiting Morehead. Classes ; Entomology ; Faculty advisors ; Graduate students ; Husbands ; Kim Davis ; LGBTQ community ; Morehead State University ; Professional relationships ; Relationships ; Rural areas ; Rural communities ; Safe spaces ; Social circles ; The Queer Project ; Welcome ; Welcoming College students--Attitudes. ; College students--Social conditions ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Homophobia. ; Homosexuality. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Race relations ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual orientation. ; Teachers ; Teaching ; Universities and colleges. ; University of Kentucky 17 6727 Current political administration in the U.S. And I've, um--this has come to be a question that's come up, um--or a topic, I should say... Zhang discusses his views on the Trump administration and the current political climate in the U.S. He talks about the Trump administration's international policies, as well as domestic policies. Authoritarian ; Barack Obama ; Changes ; Chinese government ; Democracy ; Donald Trump ; Geopolitics ; International diplomacy ; International policies ; International relations ; Judges ; Justice Anthony Kennedy ; Naive ; North Korea ; Peace ; Political administration ; Precedents ; Presidents ; Progress ; Reproductive rights ; Stances ; Supreme Court Justices ; Taiwan ; Threats ; Trade wars China--Commerce. ; China--Economic conditions. ; China--Foreign relations--1976- ; China--Foreign relations. ; China--History. ; China--Politics and government. ; China--Social conditions. ; China--Social policy. ; China. ; United States--Politics and government 17 6980 Visits to China and more on the current sociopolitical situation in China Speaking of China, um, do you ever find yourself missing any aspects of China? Zhang talks about his feelings when visiting China now. He talks more about why he would not move back to China, saying that it is dangerous to discuss and teach topics on gender and sexuality. He talks about his uncle's reaction to hearing about his husband. Acceptance ; Angry ; Arrested ; Control ; Critical condition ; Criticism ; Dangerous ; Emotionally taxing ; Fathers ; Food ; Gender ; Health issues ; Home ; Hong Kong (China) ; Husbands ; Ideology ; Jail ; Marriage ; Married ; Missing ; Mothers ; Nightlife ; Pressure ; Purpose ; Reactions ; Same sex marriage ; Sexuality ; Shocked ; Uncles ; United States ; Visiting ; Visits ; Western culture China--Cultural policy. ; China--Emigration and immigration. ; China--Foreign relations. ; China--History. ; China--Politics and government. ; China--Social conditions. ; China--Social life and customs. ; China--Social policy. ; China. ; Families. ; Interpersonal relations ; Lifestyles. ; Manners and customs ; Sexual orientation. 17 7269 Hope for the future Um, alright, so I have one more question that will finish us off. Zhang talks about his hopes for the future, both for his own career as well as politically in the U.S. and China. The interview is concluded. Academics ; Books ; Changes ; Chinese ; Communist Party ; Conservative ; Democratic Party ; Distractions ; Donald Trump ; Elections ; Future ; Hopes ; International relations ; Investigation ; Journals ; North Korea ; Personal life ; Politically ; Presidents ; Published ; Publishing ; Resistance ; Robert Mueller ; Tenure ; Vladimir Putin ; Writing China--Commerce. ; China--Economic conditions. ; China--Foreign relations--1976- ; China--Foreign relations. ; China--History. ; China--Politics and government. ; China--Social conditions. ; China--Social policy. ; China. ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Teachers ; Teaching ; United States--Politics and government ; Universities and colleges. 17 interview Charlie Yi Zhang shares his childhood and education in China, and his journey to eventually moving to the United States for his PhD. Zhang discusses gender, sexual and racial norms in China and compares them to the United States. Zhang also discusses his experience of those norms as a gay Chinese man. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. video Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2018oh336_lgbtq022_zhang_ohm.xml 2018oh336_lgbtq022_zhang_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt70gb1xgm7q Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Charlie Yi Zhang Description An account of the resource Charlie Yi Zhang shares his childhood and education in China, and his journey to eventually moving to the United States for his PhD. Zhang discusses gender, sexual and racial norms in China and compares them to the United States. Zhang also discusses his experience of those norms as a gay Chinese man. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2018oh336_lgbtq022 Subject The topic of the resource Childhood Education Families. China. China--Cultural policy. China--Foreign relations. China--History. China--Politics and government. China--Social conditions. China--Social life and customs. China--Social policy. Stereotypes (Social psychology) Sexual orientation. Sexual minorities. Sexual minorities--Identity. Homosexuality. Coming out (Sexual orientation) Gay men--Identity. Gays--Identity. Education, Higher College students--Social conditions Gender studies Universities and colleges. Teachers Teaching Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video https://nunncenter.net/outsouth/files/original/288bd7e27acfbc0f1593abf4a062b7e1.PNG 121266624ad4a32201bcbb2dc5658115 Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Adriana Sisko Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Michael Aldridge OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2018oh324_lgbtq020_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Greek life Blackballed ACLU of Kentucky Kentucky ACLU Same-sex marriages Kentuckians for the Commonwealth (KFTC) Greek letter societies. Closeted gays. College students--Social conditions College environment College students--Attitudes. OHMS Object Text 5.2 2018oh324_lgbtq020 Interview with Michael Aldridge, June 20, 2018 2018oh324_lgbtq020 lgbtq Outsouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Childhood Shelby County (Ky.) Shelbyville (Ky.) Louisville (Ky.) Families. Education Religion Education, Higher Social justice. Gay men. Gay men--Identity. Gays--Identity. Homosexuality. Sexual minorities--Identity. Sexual orientation. Gay men--United States--Social conditions. Discrimination. Coming out (Sexual orientation) Centre College (Danville, Ky.) Gay men--Family relationships--United States. Gays--Family relationships. Parents of gays. American Civil Liberties Union Kentucky--Politics and government Homosexuality--Law and legislation. Gays--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States. Marriage Civil rights--Law and legislation Greek life Blackballed ACLU of Kentucky Kentucky ACLU Same-sex marriages Kentuckians for the Commonwealth (KFTC) Greek letter societies. Closeted gays. College students--Social conditions College environment College students--Attitudes. Michael Aldridge Adriana Sisko 0 Vimeo video &lt ; iframe src=&quot ; https://player.vimeo.com/video/278049563&quot ; width=&quot ; 640&quot ; height=&quot ; 360&quot ; frameborder=&quot ; 0&quot ; allowfullscreen&gt ; &lt ; /iframe&gt ; 0 Childhood and school experiences This is Adriana Sisko at the Nunn Center. 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. Acceptance ; ACLU of Kentucky ; 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 Childhood ; Education ; Families. ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Shelby County (Ky.) ; Shelbyville (Ky.) 17 841 Early friendships and relationships Before this eye-opening experience, um, with Governor's Scholars, did you feel different from other people back home? 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. Churches ; Dating ; Different ; Fitting in ; Friendships ; Gay ; High schools ; Intelligence ; Relationships ; Rural ; Small towns ; Smart Childhood ; Education ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Shelby County (Ky.) ; Shelbyville (Ky.) 17 1085 Role of religion in his life I was a part--I guess a piece I'm leaving out is, um, I was pretty heavily involved in my church growing up. 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. Camps ; Centre College ; Churches ; College majors ; Colleges ; Conservative ; Kentucky Commission on Human Rights ; Liberation theology ; Mindsets ; Poor ; Poverty ; Progressive ; Seminary ; Southern Baptist ; Strict ; Viewpoints Childhood ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Judaism. ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Religion ; Shelby County (Ky.) ; Shelbyville (Ky.) ; Social justice. 17 1473 Awareness of LGBTQ people and his own orientation in his early life When you were growing up, what was your awareness of the existence of LGBT people? 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. Attraction ; Awareness ; Boys ; Centre College ; Colleges ; Music ; Music videos ; Pornographic magazines ; Queen (Artist) ; Radio ; Terminology 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.) 17 1725 Being blackballed from Greek life and other experiences with harassment at Centre College And then that pledge night--um, so something kind of dramatic that kind of happened at that moment. 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. 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 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. 17 2384 Exploring his sexuality in London, England 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. 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. 'Figuring it out' ; Abroad ; Birthdays ; Centre College (Danville, Ky.) ; Dangerous ; Experiences ; Exploration ; Freedom ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Safer ; Safety 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. 17 2602 Coming out to his friends Uh, when did you first apply the word 'gay' to yourself, even if it was just in your own thoughts? 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. &quot ; Stepping stone for acceptance&quot ; ; 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.) 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. 17 3532 Coming out to his family Did you ever end up coming out to your family eventually? 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. Acceptance ; Adoption ; AIDS (Disease) ; 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 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. 17 5005 Meeting his husband How did you and Matt meet? Aldridge talks about meeting his husband through his work with the Kentucky ACLU and describes the development of their relationship. 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 American Civil Liberties Union ; Gay men--Identity. ; Gay men--United States--Social conditions. ; Gay men. ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual orientation. 17 5267 Wedding How did it feel to get married legally? 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. Chicago (Ill.) ; Community ; Donations ; Donors ; Family ; Kentucky ; Lawsuits ; Legal marriage ; Legally married ; LGBT rights ; LGBTQ rights ; Obergefell v. Hodges ; Plaintiffs ; Planning ; Rulings ; Same-sex marriages ; Suits ; Wedding dates ; Weddings 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. 17 5822 Beginning of his career with the Kentucky ACLU It sounds like you had a lot of donors that you had worked with who contributed-- 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. '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 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. 17 6437 Career with Kentuckians for the Commonwealth And, um, so right after the campaign was over, um, this group called Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, which is a state-wide advocacy organization... 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. 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 Appalachian Region--Social conditions ; Berea (Ky.) ; Civil rights--Law and legislation ; Coal mines and mining ; London (Ky.) 17 6761 Returning to work for the Kentucky ACLU And then this job--I--and then I wa--I joined the board of the ACLU. Aldridge talks about his return to the ACLU of Kentucky as Executive Director and their work on creating state-wide relationships. ACLU board ; ACLU of Kentucky ; Careers ; Fundraising ; Kentucky ACLU ; Paths ; State-wide relationships 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. 17 7032 Progress in Kentucky on LGBTQ rights What changes have you seen in Kentucky over the course of all this work that you've done on LGBT rights? 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. 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 ; Landscape scans ; Lexington Fairness ; LGBT rights ; LGBTQ rights ; 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.) 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. 17 8257 Backlash against progress for LGBTQ rights And then the, the backlash is recent. 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. 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 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. 17 8674 Hope for the future Uh, this is actually going to be my last question. 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. Fluidity ; Future ; Hopes ; Labels ; Politically engaged ; Visibility ; Voting ; Vulnerability ; Younger generations 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. 17 interview Michael Aldridge shares his extensive experience in working with LGBTQ rights as the Director of the Kentucky ACLU. Aldridge also shares his life journey as a gay man, from realizing his attraction, to coming out, to eventually marrying his husband. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. video Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2018oh324_lgbtq020_aldridge_ohm.xml 2018oh324_lgbtq020_aldridge_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt70gb1xgm7q Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Michael Aldridge Description An account of the resource Michael Aldridge shares his extensive experience in working with LGBTQ rights as the Director of the Kentucky ACLU. Aldridge also shares his life journey as a gay man, from realizing his attraction, to coming out, to eventually marrying his husband. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2018oh324_lgbtq020 Subject The topic of the resource Childhood Shelby County (Ky.) Shelbyville (Ky.) Louisville (Ky.) Families. Education Religion Education, Higher Social justice. Gay men. Gay men--Identity. Gays--Identity. Homosexuality. Sexual minorities--Identity. Sexual orientation. Gay men--United States--Social conditions. Discrimination. Coming out (Sexual orientation) Centre College (Danville, Ky.) Gay men--Family relationships--United States. Gays--Family relationships. Parents of gays. American Civil Liberties Union Kentucky--Politics and government Homosexuality--Law and legislation. Gays--Legal status, laws, etc.--United States. Marriage Civil rights--Law and legislation Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video https://nunncenter.net/outsouth/files/original/aa4af3d1d11a5a1d36911efefe0c94fd.PNG 173e76fc71d0fd01da1af1d14b450258 Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Adriana Sisko Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Dawn Josephine Wilson OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2018oh322_lgbtq019_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Discrimination in employment Employment--Kentucky Anime Chicago (Ill.) Gender identity in sports. Discrimination in sports Transgender people--Violence against OHMS Object Text 5.2 2018oh322_lgbtq019 Interview with Dawn Josephine Wilson, June 19, 2018 2018oh322_lgbtq019 lgbtq Outsouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Childhood Families. Hobbies. Religion Coming out (Gender identity) Gender expression. Transgender identity Transgender people. Transgender people--Identity. Politics and government African Americans--Social conditions Politicians Legislation Transgender people--Legal status, laws, etc. Gender identity. Fencing. Fencing coaches Fencing--Training. Sports. Discrimination. Discrimination in employment Employment--Kentucky Anime Chicago (Ill.) Gender identity in sports. Discrimination in sports Transgender people--Violence against Dawn Josephine Wilson Adriana Sisko 0 Vimeo video &lt ; iframe src=&quot ; https://player.vimeo.com/video/278050545&quot ; width=&quot ; 640&quot ; height=&quot ; 360&quot ; frameborder=&quot ; 0&quot ; allowfullscreen&gt ; &lt ; /iframe&gt ; 0 Introduction This is Adriana Sisko at the Nunn Center. Dawn Josephine Wilson is introduced. She gives a brief overview of her career and hobbies. Careers ; Championships ; Commissioners ; Fencing ; Human Relations Commission ; Information technology (IT) 17 66 Childhood Uh, before we get to all of that, because I, I definitely want to know more about all those things, especially the fencing. Wilson talks about her birth in Chicago, Illinois, the death of her parents when she was young, and being adopted by her aunt and uncle. She talks about the way her aunt and uncle raised her and how they influenced her interests. She talks about the friends and family members she played with as a child. Atari ; Athletics ; Aunts ; Baseball ; Boys ; Child rearing ; Child-rearing ; Cousins ; Deaths ; Discrimination ; Fathers ; Friends ; Games ; Gender ; Girls ; Interests ; Kentucky ; Mothers ; Newspapers ; Parents ; Reading ; Sports ; Uncles ; Video games Chicago (Ill.) ; Childhood ; Families. ; Hobbies. 17 444 Middle school and high school Tell me about, um, middle school. Wilson talks about her experiences in middle and high school, including her friends, clubs, and activities. Choirs ; Competition ; Cousins ; Expectations ; Friends ; High schools ; Middle schools ; Speech and debate Childhood ; Education ; Families. 17 656 Religion You mentioned you grew up Pentecostal. Wilson talks about being raised Pentecostal by her parents before their deaths, and then attending a Missionary Baptist church with her aunt and uncle. She talks about the differences between the churches and why she preferred the Pentecostal church. She talks about her experience with the church after coming out as a woman. She talks about preaching a sermon herself and describes the message of the sermon. Adulthood ; ARC principal ; Aunts ; Churches ; Current political administration ; Current political environment ; Divisions ; Ethics ; Fathers ; FDR ; Fear ; Franklin Delano Roosevelt ; Friends ; Messages ; Ministers ; Missionary Baptist churches ; Mothers ; Pentecostal churches ; Preachers ; Reactions ; Sermons ; Uncles ; Values Childhood ; Coming out (Gender identity) ; Gender expression. ; Politics and government ; Religion ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 1312 Awareness of LGBT people in her early life Growing up, um, what was your awareness of the existence of LGBT people? Wilson discusses her awareness of LGBT people, specifically through Jet magazine. She talks about her own research on transgender people and her learning process prior to coming out. Awareness ; Black community ; Black culture ; Clothes ; Clothing ; Discrimination ; Family ; Gay ; Graduate schools ; High schools ; Internet ; Jet (magazine) ; Joan Roberts ; LGBTQ ; Louisville Gender Society ; Process ; Research ; Resources ; Terms ; Uncles ; World War II African Americans--Social conditions ; Childhood ; Coming out (Gender identity) ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 1813 Exclusion of gender identity in ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) How frequently, um, were trans people or the topic of trans things or just gender things mentioned in Jet? Wilson talks more about her awareness of transgender people. She talks about her own involvement in the attempt to pass a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act which included gender identity. She talks about how that version of ENDA was changed by the Human Rights Campaign Fund and gender identity was excluded. She talks about her work with politicians to attempt to pass ENDA. Ultimately, ENDA did not pass. Back lobbying ; Barney Frank ; Bills ; Bisexuality ; Christine Jorgensen ; Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) ; Exclusion ; Human Rights Campaign (HRC) ; Human Rights Campaign Fund ; Lorrainne Baskerville ; Lorrainne Sade Baskerville ; Marsha P. Johnson ; Matachine ; Mitch McConnell ; Problematic ; Roberta Angela Dee ; Roberta Brown ; Southern Comfort Transgender Conference ; Strategy ; Sweet Evening Breeze (James Herndon) ; White gay men Gender identity. ; Homosexuality in the workplace. ; Homosexuality--Law and legislation. ; Legislation ; Politicians ; Politics and government ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people--Legal status, laws, etc. ; Transgender people. 17 2601 Southern Comfort Transgender Conference You mentioned Southern Comfort a couple times. Wilson talks about the purpose of the Southern Comfort Transgender Conference and how the organization has changed over time. African Americans ; Black Trans Advocacy Coalition ; Monica Helms ; Robert Eads ; Southern Comfort Transgender Conference ; Transgender community ; Washington, D.C. Gender identity. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. ; Washington (D.C.) 17 2861 Louisville Gender Society and BGB Uh, you mentioned a few times the Louisville Gender Society. Wilson talks about the activities of the Louisville Gender Society and the BGB. She talks about violence against transgender people of color. BGB (formerly Bluegrass Belles) ; Going out ; Isolated ; Louisville Gender Society ; Minorities ; Murder ; Public ; Restaurants ; Transgender people of color ; Visibility ; Younger generations African Americans--Social conditions ; Gender identity. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people--Violence against ; Transgender people. ; Violence 17 3189 Sweet Evening Breeze (&quot ; Sweets&quot ; ) / Personal support system Uh, this is backtracking slightly. Wilson talks about meeting Sweets (Sweet Evening Breeze), a gender non-conforming person who, through the Depression, World War II, and desegregation, cut a path as an openly gay man, drag queen, or possibly a transgender woman. She talks about Sweets' legacy, including a homeless shelter for LGBTQ youth currently being developed. She talks about why Sweets' life was an open secret in the Lexington community. She talks about her own support group when coming out, and some of her family's reactions. Backlash ; Black community ; Black culture ; Churches ; Family ; Gender non-conforming individuals ; Gender non-conforming people ; Homeless shelters ; Legacies ; LGBTQ youth ; Minorities ; Open secrets ; People of color ; Positive attitudes ; Support groups ; Support systems ; Survival ; Sweet Evening Breeze (James Herndon) ; Transition African Americans--Social conditions ; Coming out (Gender identity) ; Families. ; Gender identity. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 3717 Coming out This is backtracking a bit but related to the things you're talking about, obviously. Wilson talks about applying the label 'girl' to herself from around the age of five. She talks about sneaking to wear women's clothes around the house when no one was home, and her aunt's reaction when she found out. She talks about her uncle's reaction to her coming out. Aunts ; Clothes ; Clothing ; Discrimination ; Family ; Fashion ; Gender ; Girls ; Labels ; Reactions ; Transition ; Uncles ; Women Childhood ; Coming out (Gender identity) ; Families. ; Gender identity. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 4024 Transition What was your emotional experience in transitioning? Wilson describes her emotions upon transitioning. She talks about her strategy for maintaining a career while transitioning. She talks about instances of discrimination she faced. Anger ; Careers ; Emotions ; Internships ; Jobs ; Open ; Reactions ; Relief ; Self-assured ; Teaching ; Transition Childhood ; Coming out (Gender identity) ; Discrimination in employment ; Employment--Kentucky ; Families. ; Gender identity. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 4384 Interest in anime You've mentioned a couple times your interest in anime. Wilson talks about her interest in anime, how she became interested through her uncle, and some of her favorite shows and films. She talks about the gender aspects of anime that she connects to. Anime ; Bonding ; Comic books ; Conventions ; Cosplay ; Costumes ; Exploration ; Family ; Saturday morning cartoons ; Transition ; Uncles Childhood ; Coming out (Gender identity) ; Families. ; Gender identity. ; Hobbies. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 4898 Fencing Um, I wanted to ask about another one of your interests. Wilson talks about how she became involved in fencing after an injury while playing softball. She talks about when she felt a sense of belonging in the fencing group. She describes in detail her struggles as a transgender woman in fencing tournaments and some of the negative reactions she has received. She talks about her experience on the U.S. National Team and her continued experiences with discrimination. She talks about coaching fencing. Belonging ; Cheating ; Children ; Churches ; Coaching ; Complaints ; Hitting ; Injuries ; Interests ; Kids ; Louisville Fairness Ordinance ; Louisville Fencing School ; Paperwork ; Reactions ; Softball ; Teaching ; Tournaments ; Transition ; U.S. National Fencing Team ; U.S. National Team ; USA Fencing ; Wheelchair fencing Coming out (Gender identity) ; Discrimination in sports ; Fencing coaches ; Fencing--Training. ; Fencing. ; Gender identity in sports. ; Hobbies. ; Sports. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 6080 Current political climate You mentioned a couple times now the current administration. Wilson discusses her feelings on the current political administration, their agenda, and the negative impact they are having on various aspects of the world. Agendas ; Anti-gay ; Canada ; China ; Donald Trump ; Hatred ; Jeff Sessions ; Kellyanne Conway ; Mike Pence ; Mike Pompeo ; Military ; Minorities ; People of color ; Religion ; Stephen Miller ; Steve Bannon ; Tariffs ; Troops Discrimination. ; Politicians ; Politics and government ; Transgender people--Legal status, laws, etc. ; Transgender people. 17 6539 Hope for the future So we've looked at, um-- Wilson talks about the things that give her hope for the future, including increased visibility of transgender people in media and educational materials. She talks about the increase in transgender people in elected positions, politics, and other influential professions. The interview is concluded. Ball culture ; Black community ; Black culture ; Changes ; Doctors ; Educational materials ; Elected ; Films ; Future ; Generations ; Hopes ; Human Relations Commission ; Information ; Jazz Jennings ; Media ; Pose (Television show) ; Representation ; Saturday Church (Motion picture) ; Visibility Coming out (Gender identity) ; Gender identity. ; Politicians ; Politics and government ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 interview Dawn Wilson shares about her life from her illustrious history of political activism, to her passion for fencing, and her experiences as a trans woman of color throughout. Dawn also talks about personally knowing or having met several important transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, including Monica Helms, Marsha P. Johnson, and Sweet Evening Breeze. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. video Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2018oh322_lgbtq019_wilson_ohm.xml 2018oh322_lgbtq019_wilson_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt70gb1xgm7q Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Dawn Josephine Wilson Description An account of the resource Dawn Wilson shares about her life from her illustrious history of political activism, to her passion for fencing, and her experiences as a trans woman of color throughout. Dawn also talks about personally knowing or having met several important transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, including Monica Helms, Marsha P. Johnson, and Sweet Evening Breeze. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2018oh322_lgbtq019 Subject The topic of the resource Childhood Families. Hobbies. Religion Coming out (Gender identity) Gender expression. Transgender identity Transgender people. Transgender people--Identity. Politics and government African Americans--Social conditions Politicians Legislation Transgender people--Legal status, laws, etc. Gender identity. Fencing. Fencing coaches Fencing--Training. Sports. Discrimination. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video https://nunncenter.net/outsouth/files/original/ae68df121484092c5f4a9062d8ae4b38.PNG cfe24a0e5b8adeab68ce4d6370ab1579 Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Adriana Sisko Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Julia Bennington OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2018oh305_lgbtq017_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Lafayette High School Gay-straight alliances LGBTQ community Support Family acceptance OHMS Object Text 5 2018oh305_lgbtq017 Interview with Julia Bennington, June 5, 2018 2018oh305_lgbtq017 01:44::08 ohlgbtq Outsouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection lgbtq001 Outsouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) LGBTQ people Gay-straight alliances in schools Social work with sexual minorities. Sexual minorities. Transgender youth. Lafayette High School Gay-straight alliances LGBTQ community Support Family acceptance Julia Bennington Adriana Sisko 0 Vimeo video &lt ; iframe src=&quot ; https://player.vimeo.com/video/273766927&quot ; width=&quot ; 640&quot ; height=&quot ; 360&quot ; frameborder=&quot ; 0&quot ; allowfullscreen&gt ; &lt ; /iframe&gt ; 0 Her home life It is June 5th and this is Adriana Sisko. Bennington discusses being adopted and the type of home life she was brought into. She also talks about meeting and losing her birth mother, as well as her adoptive mother's jealousy towards her birth mother. She also discusses how her choice of college degree stemmed from the abuse she went through by her adoptive father. Adoptive parents ; Adults ; Alcoholism ; Analytical ; Angry ; Balance ; Bankers ; Biological children ; Biological connections ; Birth mothers ; Cincinnati Children's Home ; Colleges ; Contact ; Diabetic seizures ; Domestic violence shelters ; Fayette County Public Schools ; Females ; Forgiveness ; Home ; Human beings ; Husbands ; Insecurities ; Issues ; Jealous ; Jobs ; Lafayette High School ; Love ; Mariemont High School ; Master's degrees ; Meanings ; Orphanages ; Parallels ; Pregnant women ; Protection ; Providers ; Psychology ; Records ; Relationships ; Resentment ; Roles ; Rules ; Schools ; Screens ; Siblings ; Single women ; Social workers ; Society ; Teenagers ; Women Abuse ; Adoption. ; Cincinnati (Ohio) ; Domestic violence ; Families. ; Family histories. ; Mental health. 17 669 Her love for her friends in childhood So, you painted a picture of your home life. Bennington discusses the sports that she played in school to avoid being home with her abusive adoptive father as well as how she focused all of her attention on her friends, who she considered to be her family. She tells the story of her adoptive mother finally leaving her adoptive father after having an affair and how she, eventually, ended up living with her father and his new wife, Joyce. Adoptive parents ; Affairs ; Apartments ; Arguments ; Banks ; Basketball teams ; Catalysts ; Cheerleading teams ; Devastation ; Divorce attorneys ; Doors ; Friends ; Friendships ; Front doors ; Gardening ; High schools ; Home ; Involvement ; Joyce ; Lawyers ; Mariemont High School ; Middle class ; Middle schools ; Minors ; Moving trucks ; Normalcy ; Phones ; Police ; Popular kids ; Popularity ; Race car drivers ; Railroad tracks ; Relationships ; Small towns ; Soccer teams ; Softball teams ; Stability ; Students ; Swim teams ; Terrace Park ; Tickets ; Towns ; Upper class ; Woman ; Wonderful Child abuse ; Cincinnati (Ohio) ; Divorce. ; Domestic violence ; Loudonville (Ohio) ; School sports. 17 1262 The love of her life It was during this time that I started--I, I lost my cheer-leading position. Bennington tells a story that spans across decades as she describes meeting the love of her life, being ripped away from her, and, finally, reuniting with her after decades of not seeing or talking to each other. Within the story, she discusses going off to college, meeting and marrying a man, as well as having children (both adoptive and biological) with him and then divorcing once she realized she was unhappy. Affection ; Air Force ; Awkward ; Bedrooms ; Beds ; Biological children ; Cell phones ; Cincinnati Police Department ; Colleges ; Compassionate ; Counseling sessions ; Dates ; Daughters ; Feelings ; Finances ; Grandma ; Grandmothers ; Habits ; Hope ; Hospitals ; Hotels ; Ignorance ; Information ; Jokes ; Letters ; Liberal arts schools ; LinkedIn ; Love ; Mailboxes ; Money ; Muscular ; Pansexual ; Paper ; Partners ; Paychecks ; Psychology ; Restaurants ; Retirement ; Reuniting ; Sex ; Sexuality ; Social workers ; Stressful ; Summer ; SWAT team ; Symbolic value ; Tan ; Technology ; Townhouses ; Trauma ; Weekends ; Worry Attempted murder ; Child abuse ; Divorce. ; Domestic violence ; Lesbian teenagers ; Lesbians--Relations with heterosexuals ; Love. ; Parents of gays. ; Religion ; Roatán (Honduras) ; Sexual minority parents. ; Sexual orientation. ; Transgender people. 17 2359 Her childhood awareness of the LGBTQ community Let's backtrack a little bit. Bennington discusses what she heard about the LGBTQ community as she was growing up, as well as whether or not the church that she attended discussed the topic of homosexuality. Aware ; Behaviors ; Choirs ; Churches ; Comfort ; Conversations ; Denominations ; Fears ; First kisses ; Hillsdale College ; Home ; Households ; LGBTQ ; Master's degrees ; Memory ; Priests ; Schools ; Sphere of knowledge ; Strict ; Students ; Uncles ; Words ; Wrong Episcopal Church. ; Homophobia. ; Homosexuality. ; LGBTQ people ; Religion 17 2789 Coming out Um, so, at a certain point, you are reunited with Angie again. Bennington discusses telling her family that she reunited with Angie as well as the rejection she faced at first, but then the gradual acceptance. She also talks about the perpetual struggle of coming out and coming out to her co-workers. She also briefly discusses setting up a gay-straight alliance program at Lafayette High School. Acceptance ; Acquaintances ; Attraction ; Audiences ; Boxes ; Conferences ; Conversations ; Decisions ; Family ; Family functions ; Father's Day ; Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) ; Hard feelings ; Healing ; Help ; Human beings ; Labels ; Lafayette High School ; Legal transitions ; Maturity ; Medical transitions ; Men ; Mothers ; Pansexual ; Partners ; Perpetual ; Personal life ; Perspective ; Picture ; Presentations ; Principals ; Resolution ; Situations ; Social circles ; Social transitions ; Statutory rape ; Student panels ; Teachers ; Tenure ; Text groups ; Trainings ; Walls ; Women Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Education ; Gay-straight alliances in schools ; LGBTQ people ; Roatán (Honduras) ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual orientation. ; Social work with sexual minorities. ; Transgender youth. 17 3514 Her career And your title at Lafayette--what is your specific title? Bennington discusses her career, including the title of her job, what her work consists of, and the idea of retirement. She also talks about her progress with not taking her work home with her. Advocates ; Anxiety ; Attention ; Bikes ; Boundaries ; Child welfare ; Classes ; Coping skills ; Counseling ; Depression ; Discussions ; Domestic violence shelters ; Emotional labor ; Empowered ; Family acceptance ; Freshmen ; Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) ; Good grades ; GSA faculty advisors ; Home ; Horrifying ; Human service professionals ; LGBT housing ; Meetings ; Mindfulness ; Numb ; Open doors ; Parents ; Positive affirmations ; Pronouns ; Relief ; Rewarding ; Satisfaction ; School social workers ; School work ; Self-soothing techniques ; Skills ; Substances ; Suicidal ideas ; Support ; Theory ; Titles ; Transitioning ; Videos Careers ; Education ; Gay-straight alliances in schools ; LGBTQ people ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority students. ; Social work with sexual minorities. ; Transgender youth. 17 4124 Forgiving her adoptive mother Uh, in terms of you--this was mentioned, you know, several, several minutes ago. Bennington discusses how she came to terms with how her mother treats her and how she learned to forgive people. She also talks about having more time to herself after her divorce, and where her father is now. Anger ; Compassionate ; Counselors ; Decisions ; Diet coke machine ; Drug problems ; Expectations ; Healing ; Homeless man ; Homeostasis ; Husbands ; Jail ; Loving ; Maturity ; Money ; Mothers ; Pain ; Peace ; Pleasure ; Profound ; Quiet time ; Reading ; Self-help books ; Story ; Time Forgiveness. ; Resentment. ; Self-help. 17 4490 Religion and her life It sounds like religion played a strong role in your childhood, like we discussed earlier, but to what extent did it play a role in your life as you got older? Bennington discusses how she feels about religion now that she's older and has a better outlook on the world. She also compares her partner's views to her own and discusses why she disagrees with her. 'Things happen for a reason' ; Baptism ; Churches ; Despair ; Environment ; Higher power ; LGBT community ; LGBTQ community ; Moral compass ; Roles ; School shootings ; Significance ; Traumas Death. ; Domestic violence ; Episcopal Church. ; Families. ; LGBTQ people ; Religion 17 4676 Her relationship with the LGBTQ community And what do you consider your relationship with the LGBT community to be? Bennington discusses her relationship with the LGBTQ community and how she used the gay-straight alliance at Lafayette High School to bring LGBTQ youth together in order to connect. She also talks about the GSA at her school being nominated for an award by GLSEN, as well as her supportive colleagues. Colleagues ; Drag performers ; Gay, Lesbian &amp ; Straight Education Network ; Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) ; GLSEN ; Guidance ; High schools ; Interview process ; Lafayette High School ; LGBT community ; LGBT youth ; LGBTQ youth ; Organizations ; Parents ; Pride picnics ; Relationship ; Situations ; Students ; Supportive ; Trainings ; Vendors Gay-straight alliances in schools ; LGBTQ people ; Sexual minorities. ; Social work with sexual minorities. 17 4860 Her involvement in pride marches So, remind me, what year was it when you and Angie moved to Lexington? Bennington discusses the pride marches that she attends with her partner, Angie. She also talks about the changes she has noticed in Lexington, Kentucky since she has come to live in the city, and some of the places that she feels safe, as well as her hopes for the future. Big picture ; Capable hands ; Cheering ; Christmas break ; Cincinnati Police Department ; Cool ; Cops ; Events ; Eye-opening experiences ; Fun ; Gay ; Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) ; Happy ; Harassment ; Healthy environments ; Home ; Increase ; Kids ; Lafayette High School ; LGBTQ liaison officers ; Organizations ; Parents ; Police ; Police cars ; Police uniforms ; Population ; Pulse nightclub shooting ; Restaurants ; Risks ; Roommates ; Schools ; Sharing ; Simple ; Students ; Tenure ; Transgender ; Vendors ; Waving ; Weekends ; Welcome Careers ; Change. ; Cincinnati (Ohio) ; Future. ; Gay pride parades ; Lesbians ; Lexington (Ky.) ; Police officers 17 5408 The Lafayette High School Gay-Straight Alliance Uh, this is my--probably my last, at least planned out, question. Bennington talks about what she had to go through to get the Lafayette High School Gay-Straight Alliance started and how she wishes to help the rest of the high schools in Fayette County, Kentucky to begin one for their students. Benefits ; Dunbar High School ; Friends ; Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) ; Hard work ; Kids ; Lafayette High School ; Posters ; Principals ; Process ; Ridicule ; Safe ; School years ; Staff ; Step ; Support ; Support groups ; Volumes ; Volunteers ; Words Fayette County (Ky.) ; Gay-straight alliances in schools ; LGBTQ people ; Sexual minority students. ; Sexual minority youth ; Social work with sexual minorities. 17 5608 Helping her transgender students Uh, that brings us to the end of my questions, but I wanted to open the floor up to you in case there was anything you wanted to mention, or discuss, or elaborate on that maybe I skipped over, um, or didn't latch on to. Bennington discusses her daughter's friend committing suicide because of her family rejecting her for being gender non-conforming. She also discusses how she helps her transgender students to cope with their families, transitioning, and their teachers. She comments on how she advises teachers to ask the students what they want to be called rather than just not calling on them in class. Anxiety ; Apartments ; Bathrooms ; Challenges ; Communication ; Coping skills ; Counseling ; Daughters ; Depression ; Effective support ; Family acceptance ; Family rejection ; Focus ; Fulfilling ; Gender non-conforming ; Halls ; Happy ; Healthy ; Help ; Home ; Hospitals ; Impact ; Impressions ; Interact ; Intervention plans ; Journey ; Life journey ; Middle schools ; Names ; Pansexual ; Parents ; Professional experience ; Profoundly ; Pronouns ; Respectful ; Roommates ; School years ; Shame ; Significant ; Stages ; Suffering ; Suicidal ideation ; Support ; Support plans ; Support systems ; Supportive ; Transitions ; Understanding ; Unique Education ; Families. ; Suicide. ; Transgender people. ; Transgender students ; Transgender youth. 17 interview Julia Bennington shares her personal journey, which spanned decades, toward meeting, being separated from, then eventually reuniting with her partner. Bennington discusses how her upbringing eventually led her to a career in clinical social work and working with teens. In addition, Bennington shares a great deal about the importance of her work with transgender youth. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. video Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2018oh305_lgbtq017_bennington_ohm.xml 2018oh305_lgbtq017_bennington_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt70gb1xgm7q Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Julia Bennington Description An account of the resource Julia Bennington shares her personal journey, which spanned decades, toward meeting, being separated from, then eventually reuniting with her partner. Bennington discusses how her upbringing eventually led her to a career in clinical social work and working with teens. In addition, Bennington shares a great deal about the importance of her work with transgender youth. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2018oh305_lgbtq017 Subject The topic of the resource LGBTQ people Gay-straight alliances in schools Social work with sexual minorities. Sexual minorities. Transgender youth. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video https://nunncenter.net/outsouth/files/original/ab104289aaf3999efabab404258aa905.PNG 8f7d40f147010a94fa1444dc2abd7ea3 Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Adriana Sisko Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Steven Johnson OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2018oh285_lgbtq016_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Encouragement Kentuckiana People with AIDS Coalition Psychotherapy Lexington Men's Chorus University of Kentucky OHMS Object Text 5 2018oh285_lgbtq016 Interview with Steven Johnson, May 21, 2018 2018oh285_lgbtq016 01:50:02 ohlgbtq Outsouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection lgbtq001 Outsouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Sexual orientation. Gay men. Gay community Coming out (Sexual orientation) Religion Encouragement Kentuckiana People with AIDS Coalition Psychotherapy Lexington Men's Chorus University of Kentucky Steven Johnson Adriana Sisko 0 Vimeo video &lt ; iframe src=&quot ; https://player.vimeo.com/video/271532768&quot ; width=&quot ; 640&quot ; height=&quot ; 480&quot ; frameborder=&quot ; 0&quot ; webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen&gt ; &lt ; /iframe&gt ; 0 His childhood school experiences This is Adriana Sisko and I'm here at the Nunn Center with Steven Johnson. Johnson talks about the schools he went to as he was growing up, as well as gives some basic background information about himself and his family. He also briefly discusses how he discovered the meaning of the word 'gay' as well as if he knew anyone openly out. Air force bases ; Angst ; Awareness ; Bonnaroo ; Books ; Brothers ; Chorus ; Class ; Classmates ; Clinical social workers ; Curriculum ; Discussions ; Diversity ; Engineers ; Everything You Should Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) (Book) ; Football ; Football stars ; Freshmen year ; High schools ; Jack T. Farrar Elementary School ; Lectures ; Middle schools ; Openly out ; Parents ; Partners ; Phases ; Positive experiences ; Prejudice ; Psychiatry residents ; Psychotherapy ; Puberty ; Restaurants ; Schools ; Show choir ; Sisters ; Small towns ; Sports ; Students ; Teaching ; Traumatic ; Trouble ; University of Kentucky ; Vice chair of education ; Vice presidents ; Wind tunnels ; Words African Americans. ; Bullying. ; Childhood ; Coffee County (Tenn.) ; Education ; Gay men. ; Sexual orientation. ; Teachers ; Tullahoma (Tenn.) 17 634 His religion and self discovery What kind of church did you go to? Johnson talks about his religion and the church he went to as he was growing up. He also discusses his best friend coming out to him and how his religion played a role in him trying to find his identity as a gay man and trying to find what he would want to do as a profession. Accepting ; Army chaplains ; Best friends ; Books ; Business ; Christian Church Disciple of Christ ; Christianity ; Church camps ; Drinking ; Editing ; Encouragement ; Existential crisis ; Faith ; Faith journey ; Females ; Football ; Formals ; Fraternity ; Friends ; Girlfriends ; Grandfathers ; Harsh doctrines ; High schools ; Ideas ; Journals ; Love ; Mainline denominations ; Majors ; Marijuana ; Masculine ; Ministers ; Ministry ; Overwhelming ; Parties ; Pot smoking ; Present ; Progressive ; Self acceptance ; Self discovery ; Sexual encounters ; Sorority girls ; Straight ; Support ; Technical communications ; Tennessee Technological University ; Uncles ; Vanderbilt University ; Vocals ; Withdrawal ; Women ; Writing ; Youth choirs ; Youth directors ; Youth program Careers ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Education ; Religion ; Sexual orientation--Religious aspects. ; Sexual orientation. 17 1150 His undergraduate degree Uh, going back for--to college. Johnson discusses changing majors several times during his undergraduate education as well as how he came to join a fraternity. He also talks about suspecting some of the men in the fraternity of being gay and mentions seeing one of his fraternity brothers at the gay weekend held at Pensacola Beach. Ball caps ; Bass ; Biology ; Business ; Choir directors ; Choirs ; Choral music ; Church camps ; Classes ; Competitive ; Computers ; Dormitories ; Ear training ; Editing ; Engineering ; English ; Ensemble choirs ; Fraternity brothers ; Friends ; Gay weekend ; Greek life ; Groups ; Hobbies. ; Honor ; Interesting ; Interests ; Music classes ; Music culture ; Music majors ; Music theory ; Notes ; PE classes ; Pensacola Beach ; Phi Delta Theta ; Physical education classes ; Piano lessons ; Pieces ; Quarters ; Rush ; Sorority ; Technical classes ; Twin sisters ; Vocals ; Voice lessons ; Writing Careers ; College ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Fraternities ; Gay men. ; Music. 17 1514 His coming out So, you keep referencing in the closet, out of the closet, so let's get to coming out. Johnson discusses the process he went through to come out to his family as well as accepting that his homosexuality would affect whether or not he could go to seminary. Ultimately, he decided on a master's of social work, leading him to Lexington, Kentucky, where he met his future husband, Dan. Meeting Dan eventually led to him coming out to his parents and he talks about that experience, as well as the tension between him and his father since then. Accepting ; Angry ; Applications ; Band season ; Bands ; Bisexual ; Books ; Boyfriends ; Brothers ; Calling ; Christmas ; Christmas day ; Christmas Eve ; Churches ; Clergy ; College majors ; College of Social Work ; Connections ; Conversations ; Cowboy towns ; Dating ; Denominations ; Dinners ; Downtown ; Dunbar High School ; Explanations ; Fate ; Fathers ; Females ; Football ; Fortunate ; Friends ; Gay jokes ; Gay restaurants ; Generational differences ; Graduate schools ; Gyms ; Happy ; Holidays ; Horrible ; Husbands ; Interviews ; Issues ; Letters ; Lexington Theological Seminary ; Lures ; Masters of Divinity ; Masters of Social Work ; Mechanical ; Members ; Ministry ; Moment ; Mothers ; Music directors ; Needs ; Negative ; Numbers ; Openly gay ; Partners ; Phone ; Problems ; Questions ; Races ; Reception ; Rejection ; Relationships ; Respect ; Respectful ; Self acceptance ; Seminary ; Significant others ; Sons ; Sunday evenings ; Supportive ; Tearful ; Tense ; Territorial ; Twin sisters ; Uncharted Lives: Passages for Gay Men (Book) ; Uncomfortable ; Withdrew ; YMCA ; Youth choirs ; Youth directors ; Youth musicals African American women in higher education ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Education ; Families. ; Gay men. ; Gays--Family relationships. ; Lexington (Ky.) ; Long View (Tex.) ; Nashville (Tenn.) ; Parents of gays. ; Religion ; Sexual orientation. 17 2819 Marrying his partner of 20 years Tell me more about the wedding. Johnson talks about making the decision to get married to his partner of 20 years, as well as the details of the wedding. He also talks briefly of the reception held at the alumni center at the University of Kentucky. Alumni centers ; Artists ; Breakfast ; Chair of elders ; Church background ; Construct ; Dancing ; Dinners ; Family ; Fraternity brothers ; Friends ; Mothers ; Overkill ; Parties ; Private ceremony ; Rededication ; Sisters ; University of Kentucky ; Weddings Chicago (Ill.) ; Marriage ; Relationships. ; Religion ; Same-sex marriage 17 2972 His work in psychiatry You mentioned the alumni center and that got me thinking about UK again. Johnson discusses how he came to find the field of psychiatry as his calling and how he is able to work with the LGBTQ community through the counseling services that he offers. He also briefly talks about a friend who died from contracting AIDS, as well as his time spent working with a support organization for people with AIDS. Addiction ; Adults ; AIDS/HIV ; Alone ; Anxiety ; Backgrounds ; Case load ; Cliches ; Coming out support group ; Commitment ; Community Mental Health ; Counseling ; Courage ; Department of psychiatry ; Depression ; Difficult ; Drugs ; Eastern Kentucky ; Emotional difficulty ; Enjoyment ; Friends ; Graduate ; Guidance ; Health insurance ; Help ; Human condition ; Human experiences ; Humanity ; Information ; Jobs ; Kentuckiana People with AIDS Coalition ; Lexington Men's Chorus ; LGBTQ ; Lives ; Low point ; Master's degrees ; Necessary ; Openly gay ; Pain pills ; Postpone ; Problems ; Progressive ; Psychiatric hospitals ; Psychotherapy ; Rewarding ; Schools ; Semesters ; Sexuality ; Smaller city ; Social work ; Stealth ; Struggles ; Support ; Support groups ; Teaching ; Teenagers ; Terminal illnesses ; Towns ; University of Kentucky ; Youth directors AIDS (Disease) ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Death. ; Gay community ; Gay men. ; Lexington (Ky.) ; Mental health. ; Psychiatry. ; Sexual minorities. ; Transgender people. 17 3685 The AIDS crisis Two things. Um, this one's looping back to a few minutes ago. Johnson discusses more in-depth about what it was like to work with AIDS patients at the Kentuckiana People with AIDS Coalition, as well as how the gay community and even himself was affected by the crisis. He also talks about some of the stereotypes and slurs that people were called if someone thought they were gay. AIDS/HIV ; Anal sex ; Bars ; Beer ; Bottles ; Campus ; Colleges ; Condoms ; Dance ; Dances ; Dangerous ; Edwin Hackney ; Effeminate ; Factors ; Fears ; Fraternity ; Fun ; Glass ; High schools ; Higher risk ; Hysteria ; Ideas ; Image ; Kentuckiana People with AIDS Coalition ; Masculine ; Music ; Officers ; Partying ; Positive ; Practicum ; Production ; Promotional materials ; Reality ; Regions ; Resources ; Sexual experience ; Sexually active ; Slurs ; Small schools ; Social work curriculum ; Sports ; Straight friends ; Support groups ; Time ; Transmission AIDS (Disease) ; Death. ; Gay bars ; Gay community ; Gay men. ; HIV-positive gay men ; Huntsville (Ala.) ; Lexington (Ky.) ; Stereotypes (Social psychology) 17 4272 Pop culture and gay men What about in popular culture when you were growing up and when you were in college? Johnson discusses how gay men were portrayed by pop culture as well as the level of acceptance that college provided for people that were more feminine. He also talks about getting &quot ; cruisey vibes&quot ; from men at the gym. 'Cruisey vibes' ; Acceptance ; Androgyny ; Asymmetrical haircuts ; Bath houses ; Bisexual men ; Colleges ; Concerts ; Conflicting emotions ; Context ; Cute ; Downtown ; Exciting ; Experiences ; Eye contact ; Feminine ; Flirting ; Fraternity ; Functions ; Gallery Hop ; Gyms ; Handsome ; Heart rate ; Loafers ; Locker rooms ; Michael Jackson (Artist) ; Movies ; Naughty ; Prince (Artist) ; Private gyms ; Ripped jeans ; Self expression ; Smiles ; Socks ; Taboo ; Tolerance Closeted gays. ; Gay community ; Gay men. ; Marriage ; Pop culture. 17 4590 A continuous cycle of coming out So, do you ever find yourself coming out still? Johnson discusses the concept of constantly having to come out to new people and in what situations he is comfortable with doing so. Ambiguous ; Appropriate ; Assumptions ; Authentic ; Books ; Comfortable ; Disclosure ; Discussions ; Friends ; Husbands ; Issues ; Jobs ; Lady ; Lectures ; Life long ; Mental health ; Offensive ; Patients ; People ; Perpetual coming out ; Professional situations ; Professors ; Psychotherapy ; Researchers ; Sexual abuse ; Straight ; Teachers ; Terms ; Therapeutic relationships ; Treatment Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Gay men. ; Marriage ; Sexual orientation. 17 4957 Carrying on his love for music So, it seems like--jumping topics a bit, it seems like music has been a big part of your life-- Johnson discusses his love for music and how he uses that love for music to lead a choir that is welcoming to both male and female members that either are LGBTQ or are supporters of the community. Another Note ; Audiences ; Choirs ; Communication ; Concerts ; Dinners ; Dissertations ; Encouragement ; Ensembles ; Feelings ; Fellowship ; Frustration ; Gay men's singing groups ; Goals ; Inclusion ; Language ; Lexington Men's Chorus ; LGBTQ ; LGBTQ non-profit organizations ; Meals ; Money ; Movable Feast ; New Song in the Bluegrass ; Pride Community Services Organization ; Rehearsal ; Skills ; Straight ; Team sports ; Vocal music ; Voices ; Words Communities. ; Gay community ; Music. ; Singing. 17 5281 His social circles I was actually just about to ask about, um, community. Johnson discusses the kinds of people that he hang outs with and that he likes to keep in his life. Affirming ; Facebook ; Fraternity ; Friends ; Husbands ; Reconnect ; Roommates ; Social circles ; Social life ; Toyota Manufacturing Company ; Unusual ; Wife ; Wives ; Woodland Christian Church Artists. ; Friendship. ; Religion 17 5453 Changes in attitudes regarding the LGBTQ community It seems like you're really, at least to me, it seems like you're very connected with the LGBTQ community, in terms of your work. Johnson discusses the change that he has noticed throughout the LGBTQ community as well as in Lexington and his hometown. He also talks about places that he feels safe and why he would never move back to his hometown. Acceptance ; Adults ; Churches ; Colleges ; Commonwealth ; Congregations ; Convenience stores ; Downtown ; Eastern Kentucky ; Encouragement ; Examples ; Fairness ordinates ; Fall ; Family ; Fundamentally conservative ; Gas stations ; Generations ; Graduate students ; Grown ; High schools ; Holidays ; Homes ; Hometowns ; Job positions ; LGBTQ community ; Lights ; Love, Simon (Motion picture) ; Marriage licenses ; Mayors ; Military contracts ; Models ; Nephews ; Nieces ; Offices ; Organizations ; Partners ; Restaurants ; Scary ; Sisters ; Small towns ; Spaces ; Spring ; Struggles ; Students ; Summer ; Symbolism ; Uncomfortable ; University of Kentucky ; University of Tennessee ; Warm ; Weird ; Work Change. ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Communities. ; Gay pride parades ; Lexington (Ky.) ; Sexual minorities. ; Talluhoma (Tenn.) ; Travel. 17 6150 His views on the future Speaking of, um--'cause to an extent that touches on politics. Johnson discusses his outlook on the future in terms of the current presidential administration and whether or not he thinks America will learn from it. Backlash ; Behavior ; Center ; Compromise ; Congress ; Disasters ; Environment ; Feelings ; Forward ; Grieving ; Historical cycles ; Hopes ; Left ; Liberal ; Moderate ; Polarization ; Political climate ; Progressive ; Psychotherapy ; Reactions ; Screens ; Support ; Technology ; Values ; White, straight male Elections ; Future. ; Politics and government ; Racism ; Trump, Donald, 1946- 17 interview Steven Johnson details his journey from Tennessee to Kentucky, describing his personal journey identifying as a gay man, as well as his path into a career in psychiatry and clinical social work. Johnson discusses his passion for music, his commitment to LGBTQ people and causes, and how he met his husband. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. video Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2018oh285_lgbtq016_johnson_ohm.xml 2018oh285_lgbtq016_johnson_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt70gb1xgm7q Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Steven Johnson Description An account of the resource Steven Johnson details his journey from Tennessee to Kentucky, describing his personal journey identifying as a gay man, as well as his path into a career in psychiatry and clinical social work. Johnson discusses his passion for music, his commitment to LGBTQ people and causes, and how he met his husband. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2018oh285_lgbtq016 Subject The topic of the resource Sexual orientation. Gay men. Gay community Coming out (Sexual orientation) Religion Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video https://nunncenter.net/outsouth/files/original/6ba1973dee6defe5640574a9c13e24c7.PNG b599fcdac82be6beb4cc718f4675734d Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Adriana Sisko Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Melissa N. Stein OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2018oh233_lgbtq014_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Rutgers University Indiana University University of Kentucky LGBTQ community Social justice Religion Politics and government OHMS Object Text 5 2018oh233_lgbtq014 Interview with Melissa N. Stein, May 2, 2018 2018oh233_lgbtq014 ohlgbtq Outsouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection lgbtq001 Outsouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Philadelphia (Pa.) Childhood Coming out (Sexual orientation) Gays--Identity. Gay youth Homosexuality. Lesbian youth. Lesbianism. Lesbians--Identity. Sexual minorities--Identity. Sexual orientation. Families. Education Education, Higher Sexual minorities' families. Parents of gays. Gays--Family relationships. Gay community Gay parents. Gay couples. Lesbian couples. Sexual minority parents. Lexington (Ky.). Rutgers University Indiana University University of Kentucky LGBTQ community Social justice Religion Politics and government Melissa N. Stein Adriana Sisko 0 Vimeo video &lt ; iframe src=&quot ; https://player.vimeo.com/video/268060108&quot ; width=&quot ; 640&quot ; height=&quot ; 360&quot ; frameborder=&quot ; 0&quot ; allowfullscreen&gt ; &lt ; /iframe&gt ; 1 Childhood This is Adriana Sisko and the date is May second. Melissa Stein is introduced. She gives a brief overview of her life. She describes her childhood in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey area. She talks about her family's social class, her parents' jobs, and her experiences in school. Children ; Family ; Friends ; High schools ; New Jersey ; Only children ; Parents ; Popularity ; Schools ; Shy ; Social classes ; Suburbs ; University of Kentucky ; Wife ; Working class Childhood ; Education ; Families. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) 17 221 Awareness of LGBTQ people and identity in early life I started to kind of come out, um, and be-- uh, slash kind of be outed my senior year of college. Stein mentions being outed her senior year of high school, as well as a relationship with a friend that led to rumors around the school. She talks about her awareness of LGBT individuals mostly coming from the AIDS crisis, and talks about the lack of visibility of gay women. She talks about when she began using the label 'lesbian' for herself. AIDS (Disease) ; AIDS crisis ; Awareness ; Conflicts ; Crushes ; Derogatory ; Fried Green Tomatoes (Film) ; Friendships ; Gay women ; High schools ; Labels ; LGBTQ women ; Media ; Melissa Etheridge ; Outed ; Relationships ; Rumors ; Slurs ; Terminology ; Visibility Childhood ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Gay men. ; Gay youth ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Lesbian youth. ; Lesbianism. ; Lesbians--Identity. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual orientation. 17 564 Coming out in high school and being out in college So you're having these thoughts and these feelings and, you know, at a certain point you started applying, uh, the word lesbian to yourself-- Stein talks about her experience coming out to friends while in high school and their reactions. She talks about temporarily applying the label 'bisexual' to herself, but later realizing that it was not the most accurate label. She talks about telling an aunt and discusses her aunt's reaction. She talks about her experiences in college coming out, including reactions from friends, roommates, and the wider campus. She talks about being the sole member of the college LGBT organization, and being very visible on campus. She talks about her dating experiences, including the difficulty of dating women who were still in the closet. She returns to the story of being outed while in high school, providing more details about the experience. Attitudes ; Aunts ; Bisexuality ; Boyfriends ; Campus ; Colleges ; Conservative ; Dating ; Experimentation ; Faculty ; Family ; Feelings ; Freshman year ; Friends ; Haircuts ; High schools ; In the closet ; Internet ; Jokes ; LGBTQ organizations ; Marking ; Online ; Outed ; Outing ; Peers ; Reactions ; Rebellion ; Relationships ; Responses ; Roommates ; Senior year ; Sex ; Students ; Support ; Visibility Childhood ; Closeted gays. ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Families. ; Gay youth ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Lesbian youth. ; Lesbianism. ; Lesbians--Identity. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual orientation. 17 1591 Interest in activism in high school and college Uh, it sounds like you were very politically active-- Stein talks about her activism experiences during college, including her membership in various organizations, writing for the campus newspaper, and hosting a college radio show. She talks about the attitudes toward feminism on campus and her own growing interest in feminism at the time. Colleges ; Committees ; Coursework ; Defensive ; Diversity ; Female-centric music ; Feminists ; LGBTQ organizations ; Misunderstandings ; Music ; Newspapers ; Poetry ; Political activism ; Politically active ; Radio shows ; Riot Grrrl ; Stereotypes (Social psychology) ; Women's history classes ; Zines Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Feminism ; Lesbianism. ; Lesbians--Identity. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Women political activists 17 2058 Interest in the punk scene / Coming out to her parents How did you get access to the whole zine and like Riot Grrrl and all that kind of stuff? Stein talks about how she became interested in zines, Riot Grrrl, and the punk scene during high school. She talks about her parents' growing suspicions and accusations regarding her sexual orientation. She talks abut initially coming out to her mother as bisexual, her mother's reactions, and why she later regretted using the label 'bisexual'. She talks about her father's reactions, her relationship with her parents, and the outcome of attending family therapy. Accessibility ; Appearance ; Attitudes ; Bisexuality ; City ; Colleges ; Conflicts ; Crying ; Family therapy ; Fathers ; Films ; High schools ; Mothers ; Movies ; Negative ; Parents ; Public ; Punk scene ; Reactions ; Relationships ; Snooping ; Tense ; Wife ; Zines Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Education ; Education, Higher ; Families. ; Gay youth ; Gays--Family relationships. ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Lesbian youth. ; Lesbianism. ; Lesbians--Identity. ; Parents of gays. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual orientation. 17 3003 Coming out to extended family It seems like, um, putting this lightly, coming out to your parents was complicated. Stein talks about her parents' demand that she not come out to her grandparents. She talks about how they eventually found out and discusses their reactions. Attitudes ; Cousins ; Extended family ; Grandparents ; Reactions Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Families. ; Gay youth ; Gays--Family relationships. ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Lesbian youth. ; Lesbianism. ; Lesbians--Identity. ; Parents of gays. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual orientation. 17 3307 Role of religion in her life What role, if any, did religion play in your childhood or in your family to any extent? Stein talks about her family's religious beliefs and her experience in church as a child. She tells the story of why she stopped attending her childhood church. Baptist ; Catholic ; Churches ; Conservative ; Evangelical ; Fears ; Image ; Parents ; Protestant ; Rapture ; Reactions ; Rebellion ; Refusal ; Youth pastors ; Youth retreats Childhood ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Families. ; Gay youth ; Gays--Family relationships. ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality--Religious aspects. ; Homosexuality. ; Lesbian youth. ; Lesbianism. ; Lesbians--Identity. ; Parents of gays. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Religion ; Sexual minorities' families. ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual orientation--Religious aspects. ; Sexual orientation. 17 3620 Impact of the Internet So backtracking to something you mentioned earlier-- Stein talks about meeting other LGBTQ individuals online which led to relationships and friendships. She briefly mentions meeting her wife online. Chatrooms ; Fandoms ; Friends ; Instant messengers ; Internet ; Meeting ; Online ; Relationships ; Wife Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Lesbianism. ; Lesbians--Identity. ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual orientation. 17 3818 Experiences during graduate school So after undergrad, walk me through what happened from there. Stein talks about her life after her undergraduate experiences. She talks about living in Philadelphia and working as a grant writer before returning to graduate school. She talks about earning her PhD in history at Rutgers University, her dating life during this time, and the LGBTQ community on campus. Apartments ; Being out ; City ; Faculty ; Feminism ; Gender &amp ; Women's Studies ; Gender and Women's Studies ; Graduate schools ; Grant writers ; History ; Jobs ; LGBTQ community ; PhDs ; Piercings ; Presence ; Relationships ; Schools districts ; Undergraduate ; Work Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Education, Higher ; Gay community ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Lesbianism. ; Lesbians--Identity. ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Rutgers University ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual orientation. 17 4193 Experience during her postdoctoral fellowship / Meeting her wife And so you go to Rutgers. Stein talks about taking a postdoctoral fellowship at Indiana University, where she says she was lonely and miserable. She talks about briefly returning to Rutgers University before being offered at position at the University of Kentucky. She talks more about meeting her wife. Dating ; Decisions ; Jobs ; Lonely ; Meeting ; Philadelphia (Pa.) ; Postdoctoral fellowships ; Relationships ; University of Kentucky ; Walking ; Wife Education, Higher ; Indiana University ; Rutgers University 17 4426 Interest in gender, race, and science / First experience teaching You mentioned that gender, race, and science in the sense of like scholastic subjects was your thing. Stein talks about why she became interested in the field of gender, race, and science. She describes her first teaching experience as a graduate student. Biological determination ; Body-conscious ; Graduate schools ; Graduate students ; Illnesses ; Nervous ; Scholarship ; Sickness ; Summer classes ; Surgery Childhood ; Education, Higher ; Teachers ; Teaching 17 4661 Opinions of Lexington, Kentucky / Perpetual coming out So it sounds like, at least for the most part, you're, you're in the northeast at least somewhere, whether-- Stein talks about her expectations of Lexington before moving to the area and how those compared with reality. She talks about coming out as a perpetual process, and talks about her experiences with coming out in relation to her children's school and activities. Appearance ; Assumptions ; Being out ; Bloomington (Ind.) ; Children ; Correcting ; Expectations ; Northeast ; Oblivious ; Parenthood ; Process ; Stereotypes (Social psychology) ; Transitions Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Families. ; Gay couples. ; Gay parents. ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Lesbian couples. ; Lesbianism. ; Lesbians--Identity. ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority parents. ; Sexual orientation. 17 4955 Campus life and identity at the University of Kentucky / Parenthood Talk to me a bit about, uh, campus life here at the University of Kentucky. Stein talks about the atmosphere on the UK campus in regard to being out, and talks specifically about the Gender and Women's Studies Department. She talks about how her friendships have changed since having children. She talks about how she and her wife came to adopt their two children after being foster parents for a time. She talks about her social circles, which now include other parents as well as older lesbians. Age ; Artificial insemination ; Attitudes ; Campus life ; Changes ; Children ; Dating ; Faculty ; Foster care ; Foster children ; Foster parent mentors ; Foster parents ; Friendships ; Gender &amp ; Women's Studies ; Gender and Women's Studies ; Generational differences ; Mothers ; Older ; Parenthood ; Parenting ; Private adoption ; Social circles ; Students ; Wife Families. ; Gay couples. ; Gay parents. ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Lesbian couples. ; Lesbianism. ; Lesbians--Identity. ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority parents. ; Sexual orientation. ; University of Kentucky 17 5728 Welcoming and unwelcoming spaces So now that we're on the subject, this is a topic that comes up a good bit in these interviews. Stein talks about when she first heard the word 'queer', what it meant then, and what it means to her now. She talks about some of the spaces in Lexington that she has found to be welcoming, including the Gender and Women's Studies Department at UK, her neighborhood, and her current church. She talks about her initially unwelcoming experiences with her son's sports team and how those attitudes have changed. Acceptance ; Attitudes ; Churches ; Daycares ; Derogatory ; Diversity ; Experiences ; Gender &amp ; Women's Studies ; Gender and Women's Studies ; Labels ; Latino ; LGBTQ community ; Little league teams ; Neighborhoods ; Ostracized ; Parents ; People of color ; Progressive ; Queer ; Safe spaces ; Schools ; Social justice ; Teachers ; Terminology ; Umbrella terms ; Unitarian churches Families. ; Gay couples. ; Gay parents. ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Lesbian couples. ; Lesbianism. ; Lesbians--Identity. ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority parents. ; Sexual orientation. ; University of Kentucky 17 6210 Current political climate Uh, one of the questions--well, this is a subject that keeps coming up-- Stein discusses the American political climate at the time of this interview. She talks about her attempts to walk the line between protecting their children and teaching them about social and racial justice. She talks about the complications of raising Mexican-American children in the current social climate. She talks about her hopes for the future. The interview is concluded. Administration ; Black Lives Matter Movement ; Children ; Consciousness ; Future ; Generations ; Hopes ; Intersectionality ; Latino ; Mexican Americans ; Overt resistance ; People of color ; Political change ; Political climate ; Protection ; Race ; Racial justice ; Safety ; Scholarship ; Social justice ; Trauma Families. ; Gay couples. ; Gay parents. ; Gays--Identity. ; Homosexuality. ; Lesbian couples. ; Lesbianism. ; Lesbians--Identity. ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Politics and government ; Sexual minorities--Identity. ; Sexual minority parents. ; Sexual orientation. 17 interview Melissa Stein talks about her journey as a white lesbian mother, detailing her life from her growing up in the Northeast (United States), to eventually living and working in Kentucky. Stein discusses how she realized her sexuality, her coming out, and her eventual interest in subjects of gender, race, and science. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. video Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2018oh233_lgbtq014_stein_ohm.xml 2018oh233_lgbtq014_stein_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt70gb1xgm7q Sort Priority 0007 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Melissa N. Stein Description An account of the resource Melissa Stein talks about her journey as a white lesbian mother, detailing her life from her growing up in the Northeast (United States), to eventually living and working in Kentucky. Stein discusses how she realized her sexuality, her coming out, and her eventual interest in subjects of gender, race, and science. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2018oh233_lgbtq014 Subject The topic of the resource Philadelphia (Pa.) Childhood Coming out (Sexual orientation) Gays--Identity. Gay youth Homosexuality. Lesbian youth. Lesbianism. Lesbians--Identity. Sexual minorities--Identity. Sexual orientation. Families. Education Education, Higher Sexual minorities' families. Parents of gays. Gays--Family relationships. Gay community Gay parents. Gay couples. Lesbian couples. Sexual minority parents. Lexington (Ky.). Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video https://nunncenter.net/outsouth/files/original/9b4896d3f0ee8d78fb06a7429f2b0f97.png ef0efa00a48fd041ffacf12bf935da0c Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Adriana Sisko Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Theo Meacham OHMS Object https://nunncenter.net/ohms-spokedb/render.php?cachefile=2018oh226_lgbtq013_ohm.xml Interview Keyword Bowling Green (Ky.) Education, Higher Adoption LGBTQ kids LGBTQ youth Queer community Company Q Queer youth theater company Lesbians Girl Scouts OHMS Object Text 5 2018oh226_lgbtq013 Interview with Theo Meacham, April 27, 2018 2018oh226_lgbtq013 ohlgbtq Outsouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection lgbtq001 Outsouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Childhood Transgender people--Identity Transgender youth. Families. Coming out (Gender identity) Transgender identity Transgender people. Transgender people--Identity. Gender identity. Transgender people--Violence against Sexual minority parents. Sexual minority youth Lexington (Ky.). Bowling Green (Ky.) Education, Higher Adoption LGBTQ kids LGBTQ youth Queer community Company Q Queer youth theater company Lesbians Girl Scouts Theo Meacham Adriana Sisko 2018oh226_lgbtq013_meacham_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2018oh226_lgbtq013_meacham_acc001.mp3 Other audio 1 Introduction This is Adriana Sisko and I am at 389 Waller Avenue, the Pride Center in Lexington, and I'm sitting here with Theo Meacham. Meacham briefly introduces himself as a theater artist, a father, and husband. Bowling Green (Ky.) ; Fathers ; Husbands ; Partners ; Wives Children ; Grandchildren ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Theater 17 52 Childhood in Bowling Green, Kentucky Now, let's go back to Bowling Green first. Meacham describes his upbringing in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He reminiscences about a happy childhood, talking about his parents and, particularly, his older brother. While Meacham describes his home life as happy and standard, he describes school differently. Bowling Green (Ky.) ; Brothers ; Family ; Grades ; Middle class ; Parents ; Siblings ; Tomboys ; Troublemaking Bullying ; Bullying in schools ; Childhood ; Families. ; Marriage 17 154 Awareness of LGBTQ people during school / Awareness of terminology surrounding gender and sexual identity Uh, how about your awareness of LGBT people when you were in school? Meacham discusses his lack of awareness of out LGBTQ people and LGBTQ terminology as a child, chalking it up to the unspoken nature of those topics when he was young. Meacham also discusses his initial coming out at age ten as a lesbian, and his simultaneous knowledge, from the beginning, that he was a boy, and the conflict that presented as he frequented female-exclusive spaces such as the Girl Scouts and an all-female college. Meacham talks about discovering the word 'transgender' at a later date, and the ways he was able to express his boyhood by playing army with his brother, as well as his brother's and his parents' reactions when he eventually came out as a transgender man. &quot ; Dyke community&quot ; ; Acceptance ; Attitudes ; Aunts ; Boyhood ; Boys ; Closet ; Coming out (Gender identity) ; Discovering ; Ellen DeGeneres ; Examples ; Family ; Gender roles ; Girls ; Labels ; LGBTQ family ; LGBTQ family members ; Lilith Fair ; Packing ; Parents ; Questioning ; Reactions ; Schools ; Stuffing ; Truth ; Unspoken ; Visibility ; Women-only spaces Childhood ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Families. ; Gender identity ; Girl Scouts ; Lesbians--Identity ; Mass media and gays ; Single-sex schools ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people ; Transgender people--Identity ; Transgender youth. 17 478 Experiencing boyhood as a child and as a teenager You told, you know, an anecdote about, um, how you experienced your boyhood through playing-- Meacham discusses the various ways he expressed and experienced his boyhood throughout his childhood and teenage years. Primarily, Meacham focuses on the games he and his brother would play, including dressing up as pool sharks in fedoras. Meacham also talks about 'butching it up' with more masculine individuals (one who later ended up coming out as a transgender man) at the all-women's college he attended. All girls schools ; Butch up ; Dress up ; Dress-up ; Gender expression ; Girls' schools ; Older brothers ; Playing ; Trans masculinity ; Trans men ; Transgender men ; Women's colleges ; Younger brothers Butch and femme (Lesbian culture) ; Education, Higher ; Gender identity ; Lesbians--Identity ; Masculinity ; Single-sex schools ; Transgender people ; Transgender people--Identity 17 595 Going to college at fifteen And you--I wanna loop back to--you mentioned going to college at fifteen. Meacham talks about attending college at fifteen through a gifted program. Meacham discusses being a teenager in a relatively free college setting. Additionally, he also discusses the misguided ways that the college, at the time, dealt with disciplinary issues among students. All girls schools ; Alternative programs ; Discipline ; Dorms ; Gifted students ; Girls schools ; Kicked out ; Mary Baldwin College ; Mary Baldwin University ; Program for the Exceptionally Gifted ; Training ; Trauma ; Women's colleges Bachelor of arts degree ; Bullying ; Bullying in schools ; College ; Education, Higher ; High school ; Single-sex schools ; Teenagers ; Undergraduates 17 788 Post-undergrad search for work / What drew him to English and theater as majors What happened--what was the next step? Although he obtained his bachelor's degree at a young age, Meacham says he was not work place ready. Meacham discusses his eventual search for professional theater work in stage managing after taking a post-college break and doing some freelance theater work. Meacham also explains what drew him to taking on an English and theater double major for his bachelor's degree. Careers ; College majors ; Employment ; English majors ; Freelance theater ; Jobs ; Majors ; Minors ; Poetry ; Stage managing ; Stagecraft ; Theater gigs ; Theater major ; Theaters ; Workplace ready College ; College theater ; Stage managers ; Teenagers ; Theater ; Theater programs ; Undergraduate students 17 951 LGBTQ presence and awareness at college / First transgender person he knew What was the, um, I'm trying to figure out how to phrase this, but what was the LGBT distribution in your college in terms of like prevalence and awareness? Meacham discusses the LGBTQ distribution at his college, and the prevalence of lesbian and bisexual women students and professors at his college. Meacham also talks about the first transgender people he knew, including his aunt, and a transgender man (who only came out later on as transgender) he met in the midst of an abusive situation with an ex-girlfriend. Abuse ; All girls school ; Attitudes ; Aunts ; Awareness ; Boyfriends ; Dating ; Faculty ; Family ; Friends ; Girlfriends ; Girls' schools ; LGBTQ family ; LGBTQ family members ; Mary Baldwin College ; Mary Baldwin University ; Misgendering ; Professors ; Reactions ; Relationships ; Trans male friendship ; Trans men ; Trans women ; Transgender men ; Transgender women ; Women's colleges Abusive lesbian partners ; Abusive women ; Bisexual women ; Coming out (Gender identity) ; Coming out (Sexual orientation) ; Families. ; Friendship ; Lesbians ; Sexual harassment of women ; Single-sex schools ; Transgender college students ; Transgender people 17 1456 Social circles / Relationship with the LGBTQ community Um, well now that we're talking about, you know, social circles, I, I'm gonna skip ahead to that question. Meacham describes his social circles including his friends from the theater ensemble he currently runs (Company Q), other theater friends, friends from the fostering and adopting community, and lesbian parents. Meacham also characterizes his relationship with the LGBTQ community. Adopting community ; Childrearing ; Company Q ; Ensemble theater ; Fathers ; Fostering community ; Friends ; LGBTQ community ; LGBTQ kids ; LGBTQ youth Adoptive parents ; Children ; Children's theater ; College ; Foster parents ; Gay youth ; Lesbian couples as parents ; Sexual minority parents. ; Sexual minority youth ; Theater ; Transgender people ; Transgender youth. 17 1596 Tokenization as a transgender man We were talking even before we started the interview about the tokenization thing. Meacham shares his feelings on being tokenized as a transgender man, and describes how often it takes place. Meacham speculates as to the intentions behind that focus, and shares his stance on so often being the 'token trans guy' in the workplace. Career ; Corporate job ; Desk work ; Employment ; Exhausting ; Explanations ; Female-bodied ; LGBTQ representation ; Orlando nightclub shooting ; Pulse nightclub shooting ; Questions ; Tokenism ; Tokenization ; Tokenizing ; Tokens Transgender people ; Transgender people--Identity 17 1788 Social justice work How long have you been working at the, the corporate finance job? Meacham talks about his social justice work, particularly at his place of employment in regard to systemic racism. Careers ; Childhood ; Corporate ; Employment ; Jobs ; Leadership positions ; Parents ; People of color ; Racial justice ; Social justice ; Systemic racism Discrimination in employment. ; Race discrimination. ; Race relations ; Racism 17 1973 Coming out as transgender So we already talked about your, um, first coming out when you were much younger. Meacham talks about his process of coming out as a transgender man, and why he waited so long because he did not want to be a bother to his loved ones, partly because of his Southern mentality. He talks about the people he told first and their reactions, and talks about his wife's initial reaction. He talks about how they define their relationship today, and speaks on the distinction for him between cisgender men and himself as a trans man. He talks more about his Southern mentality. Attitudes ; Authenticity ; Birth names ; Bother ; Cis men ; Cisgender men ; Crying ; Death ; Difficult ; Distinctions ; Established ; Fathers ; Friends ; Grandmothers ; Hospitality ; Hosts ; Lesbians ; Married ; Political activism ; Processing ; Pronouns ; Queer ; Reactions ; Relationships ; Responsibility ; Southern ; Southern mentality ; Therapy ; Trans men ; Transgender men ; Truth ; Wife ; Wives Coming out (Gender identity) ; Gender identity. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 2587 Perpetual coming out and the danger involved Do you find yourself coming out still? Meacham talks about having to come out continuously, because of assumptions people make based on his appearance. He talks about his awareness of the danger of being out, and describes some of the threats and harassment he or his friends have experienced. Acceptance ; Assumptions ; Bodies ; Choices ; Colleges ; Correcting ; Dangers ; Death threats ; Deaths ; Fears ; Harassment ; High schools ; Public ; Safety ; Sons ; Wife ; Wives Coming out (Gender identity) ; Gender identity. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people--Violence against ; Transgender people. 17 2766 Wife and adopting LGBTQ children So your son is trans? Meacham talks about how he and his wife met and describes their relationship. He talks about wanting children and the decisions he and his wife made about how to have them. He talks about how they came to adopt their first son and briefly mentions some of the trauma their son went through before being adopted. He talks about how they came to have a second son, and their son's gender identity. He talks about the relationship between his sons, and talks about how he came to be a grandfather. He talks about why it is important to him to adopt LGBTQ youth. Adoption ; Biological children ; Childbirth ; Children ; Engagements ; Family ; Foster care ; Foster children ; Foster parents ; Grandchildren ; Internet ; Kicked out ; LGBTQ kids ; LGBTQ youth ; Married ; Meeting ; Neighbors ; Online dating ; Pronouns ; Trauma ; Wife ; Wives Coming out (Gender identity) ; Gay teenagers. ; Gay youth ; Gender identity. ; Sexual minority parents. ; Sexual minority youth ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people--Violence against ; Transgender people. ; Transgender youth. 17 3486 Role of religion in his life You mentioned the subject of religiosity. Meacham talks about the role of religion in his life, beginning during childhood. He says his family attended church every Sunday. He talks about why he stopped attending church services and describes his current religious beliefs. Bowling Green (Ky.) ; Bullying ; Churches ; College students ; Colleges ; Lutheran ; Ministers ; Open-minded ; Pastors ; Quakers ; Religious beliefs Childhood ; Religion 17 3642 Regional differences Uh, this was, you know, several minutes ago but you had mentioned that you had done some traveling because of your theater work. Meacham talks about the various places he has lived and how his life experiences differed in each place. He talks about the Florida lesbian community, the dynamics in Washington, D.C., and why he enjoys living in Lexington, Kentucky. Ages ; Alcohol ; Bowling Green (Ky.) ; Dating ; Differences ; Dynamics ; Environments ; Florida ; International ; Kentucky ; Leaving ; Lesbian communities ; Lexington (Ky.) ; LGBTQ community ; Relationships ; Returning ; Stereotypes (Social psychology) ; Theater ; Travel ; Washington (D.C.) Gay community ; Gender identity. ; Lesbian community ; Sexual minorities. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 3876 Queer community How would you characterize your relationship with--and it depends on where you're at because there's, you know, the issue of regional identities... Meacham talks about the problems he sees with the LGBT community, and why he prefers the queer community. He talks about what the queer community means to him, what it means to 'queer spaces' as a verb, and how the meaning of the word 'queer' has changed over time. He talks about why he identifies as queer. Accepting ; Activism ; Authenticity ; Childhood ; Freedom ; Intersectionality ; Issues ; LGBT community ; LGBTQ community ; Meanings ; Misogyny ; Power ; Pride Youth Theater Alliance ; Privilege ; Problems ; Pulse nightclub shooting ; Queer community ; Queering spaces ; Racial justice ; Racism ; Radical love ; Slurs ; Social justice Coming out (Gender identity) ; Gay community ; Gender identity. ; Lesbian community ; Sexual minorities. ; Sexual minority community. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 4322 Work with a queer youth theater company We're gonna backtrack a little bit and go back to the subject of theater. Meacham talks about how he came to work with a queer youth theater company, Company Q. He talks about what it is like to work with the kids, the shows they have put on, and some of the most rewarding experiences from his work with the kids. Audiences ; Company Q ; Gatekeeping ; Harassment ; Performances ; Plays ; Pride Community Services Organization (PCSO) ; Pride Youth Theater Alliance ; Shows ; Subjects ; Suicide ; Suicide notes ; Teaching ; Theater companies ; Tokenism ; Tokenization ; Tokens ; Topics ; Writing ; Youth-led Gay teenagers. ; Gay youth ; Gender identity. ; Sexual minority youth ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. ; Transgender youth. 17 4743 Welcoming spaces Uh, well actually this connects with, uh, what we were just talking about. Meacham talks about spaces that have been welcoming to him, as well as what he does when a space is not welcoming. He talks at length about the importance of his experiences at Girl Scout Camp as a child and how they shaped his life. Bear Creek Aquatic Center ; Bowling Green (Ky.) ; Bullying ; Camp counselors ; Camp Pennyroyal ; Care ; Children's Theater ; Colleges ; Comfortable ; Experiences ; Friend groups ; Friends ; Girl Scout Camp ; International ; Leaving ; Lesbian mentors ; Outdoor activities ; Safe spaces Childhood ; Gender identity. ; Lesbian community ; Sexual minority community. ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. 17 5053 His wedding Tell me about the wedding. Meacham describes his and his wife's wedding. He talks about why they insisted the word 'forever' not be included in their ceremony. Brothers ; Clothes ; Forever ; Friends ; Fun ; Georgetown (Ky.) ; Married ; Outfits ; Queer weddings ; Vows ; Weddings ; Wife ; Wives Marriage 17 5237 Opinions on Kentucky We're gonna move a little big picture-- Meacham talks more about why he loves living in Lexington, Kentucky and describes how the area has changed since his childhood. Attitudes ; Changes ; Culture ; Eastern Kentucky ; Local pride ; Progressiveness ; Second sons ; Settlement ; Socially active ; Socially aware ; State pride ; Stuffy ; Virginia ; Washington (D.C.) Childhood ; Kentucky ; Lexington (Ky.). ; Sexual minority community. ; Transgender people. 17 5450 Hopes for the future Now a couple times in the interviews I've done, the subject of the future of this country... Meacham talks about his feelings regarding the political climate at the time of this interview. He talks about the importance of his work with the kids in his theater company as well as his own children, and talks about what he learns from the younger generation. Acceptance ; Company Q ; Future ; Impact ; Learning ; LGBTQ children ; LGBTQ kids ; LGBTQ youth ; Pronouns ; Responsible ; Terrifying ; Uncertainty ; Young people Gay teenagers. ; Gay youth ; Gender identity. ; Politics and government ; Sexual minority youth ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people. ; Transgender youth. 17 5679 Trans politics How has--this connects with what you just said. How have trans politics changed over time? Meacham talks about how trans politics have changed over time and talks about how he has been affected by bathroom bills and the danger of using public restrooms. He talks about the challenges he has faced in teaching his children about social justice. The interview is concluded. Bathroom bills ; Changes ; Children ; Dangers ; Discussions ; Easy ; Fears ; Privilege ; Public restrooms ; Racial justice ; Racism ; Safety ; Scary ; Social justice ; Teaching ; Uncomfortable ; Visibility Gender identity. ; Politics and government ; Sexual minority parents. ; Sexual minority youth ; Transgender identity ; Transgender people--Identity. ; Transgender people--Violence against ; Transgender people. ; Transgender youth. 17 interview Theo Meacham shares his journey into coming out as a queer transgender man. Meacham also talks about his passion for theater, and working with LGBTQ youth. Meacham also discusses his and his wife's commitment to fostering and adopting LGBTQ children in need. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2018oh226_lgbtq013_meacham_ohm.xml 2018oh226_lgbtq013_meacham_ohm.xml https://oralhistory.uky.edu/catalog/xt70gb1xgm7q Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Theo Meacham Description An account of the resource Theo Meacham shares his journey into coming out as a queer transgender man. Meacham also talks about his passion for theater, and working with LGBTQ youth. Meacham also discusses his and his wife's commitment to fostering and adopting LGBTQ children in need. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2018oh226_lgbtq013 Subject The topic of the resource Childhood Transgender people--Identity Transgender youth. Families. Coming out (Gender identity) Transgender identity Transgender people. Transgender people--Identity. Gender identity. Transgender people--Violence against Sexual minority parents. Sexual minority youth Lexington (Ky.). Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio