Oral History: EventTapes

The Rainbow History Project
Preserving Our Community's Memories

Tapes of Rainbow History Project Discussions

The tape collection of the Rainbow History Project includes tapes of our topical panel discussions. Copies of these tapes are available to researchers and members of the community. We would appreciate receiving a blank tape or a donation to cover the cost of copying the tapes. People requesting a tape copy will need to sign a release agreeing to Rainbow History's restrictions on use of the tape. To request a tape call 202.907.9007 or email info@rainbowhistory.org.

Tapes available are:

Event Date Participants Notes

GLAA: Celebrating
30 Years of Activism April 30, 2001 Craig Howell, Dr Franklin E Kameny,
Paul Kuntzler, Joel Martin Discussion focused on origins of the Gay Activists Alliance - DC in 1971, its early activities, its connection with the Kameny for Congress campaign, with a particular emphasis on the campaign to rescind the APA's definition of homosexuality as a pathology.

1979: Beginnings May 25, 2001 Darren Buckner (mod.), Philip Pannell,
Valerie Papaya Mann, Michael Sainte-
Andress Panelists discussed the issues and events of 1979 for the African-American GLBT community, including carding issues, the Third World conference, the March on Washington and the creation of the DC Coalition and the NCBG

1979: Beginnings June 8, 2001 Darren Buckner (mod.), Michelle
Parkerson, A Billy S Jones Discussion focused on the artistic/intellectual currents of the time in the African-American GLBT community, bisexuality, the creation of the Natiional Coalition of Black Gays

There is No Path ... June 7, 2001 Jose Guttierez (mod.), Yolanda Santiago, Ric Mendoza, Sofia Carrero, Tomas Gomez, Yajaira Arreaza, Gabriella Montez, Fausto Fernandez The emergence of ENLACE, Salud, and other Latino GLBT groups, the effect of AIDS on the community and the community's response, the development of Latino/a drag shows, bars, and AIDS outreach.

Pushing the Envelope June 6, 2001 David Lett (mod.) Bruce Pennington, Cheryl Cort, Wayne Turner, Cheryl Spector The origins, strategies, and tactics of DC's Gay Liberation Front, the Lesbian Avengers, ACT-UP, and OUT.

The Sickness Question September 19, 2001 Dr Franklin E Kameny The strategies and events involved in convincing the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from the DSM in 1973.

Waking Up to AIDS: 1981-1982 November 30, 2001 Dr Pat Hawkins, Dr Richard DiGioia,
Lou Chibbaro Assumptions, actions, and emerging awareness of AIDS in DC, including mistaken assumptions of the medical community, mental health issues, and the politics of the emerging response to AIDS.

Creating Communities
of Faith December 11, 2001 Bruce Pennington (mod.) Faisal Alam, Bob Miailovich, Michael Vanzant, Jerry Goldberg, Andrew Hudson, Dan
Schellhorn Reasons why GLBT faith groups were created, specifically on the local origins of MCC-DC, Faith Temple, Al-Fatihah, MIntwood Zendo, Bet Mishpachah, and Dignity.

Taking It on the Road: DC's Gay Motorcycle Clubs January 16, 2002 Larry Stansbury, Dan Dutcher Panelists represented the Spartans and the Centaur motorcycle clubs and discussed the origins, founders, club traditions and events, including runs, leather cocktails, Mid-Atlantic Leather weekend, and the creation of Brother, Help Thyself.

Talking History: Dr Kameny February 2, 2002 Dr. Franklin E Kameny Dr Kameny chatted about his motivation and life in gay activism

Talking History: DC's Gay Liberation Front March 2, 2002 Bruce Pennington, Brian Miller Organization, activities, and splits in DC's Gay Liberation Front

Organizing for African American Lesbians March 26, 2002 Valerie Papaya Mann, Fatu Yarrow, Leigh Mosley Groups that emerged in the 70s and 80s to support African American esbians, particularly the Sapphire Sapphos and the Black Lesbian Support Group.

Gay Youth: Organizing in the 70s April 11, 2002 James Crutchfield (mod.) Support groups for gay youth that emerged in the 70s

The Social Clubs May 22, 2002 Buddy Sutson, Chris Bates, James 'Juicy' Coleman Origins and activities of Afrrican American social clubs, especially Best of Washington, Metropolitan Capitolites, Associates

The Social Clubs June 4, 2002 Buddy Sutson, John Eddy, Chris Bates Origins and activities of Afrrican American social clubs, especially Best of Washington, Metropolitan Capitolites, Associates

Creating Pride: 1972 & 1975 June 5, 2002 Bruce Pennington, Deacon Maccubbin Organizing DC's first Pride festivals in May 1972 and June 1975

Gay Sports in DC September 24, 2002 James Crutchfield (mod.), Cal Steinmetz, Steve Weinberg, Gene Frye, Derek Price Origins of Gay softball (since 1982), bowling (since 1981), hockey (since 1993), basketball groups in DC

ENLACE October 22, 2002 Letitia Gomez, Origins, outreach, and activities of DC's first Latino/a gay support organization: ENLACE

Legal Love - Repealing DC's Sodomy Law January 29, 2003 Dr. Franklin E Kameny, Bob Summersgill The history of DC's sodomy law and the 30 year campaign to repeal it.

Fighting Police Harassment & Entrapment March 27, 2003 Dr. Franklin E Kameny, Craig Howell, Larry Kamins, Tom Lowderbaugh Patterns of police harassment and entrapment of gays in DC and the Gay Activists Alliance work to end harassment and build a new relationship with the Metropolitan Police Department

Supporting Our Gay Youth in the 80s April 7, 2003 James Crutchfield, Chuck Goldfarb, Chris Dyer The Young Adults Group, SMYAL, the Twenties Group, and the founding of Youth Pride as support for gay youth in the 80s and 90s

Books & Community Spirit June 5, 2003 Deacon Maccubbin, Jane Troxel The founding and role in the community of Lammas and Lambda Rising bookstores

Gays and the Holocaust November 3, 2003 Barrett Brick, Craig Howell The campaign for recognition of Nazi persecution of gays and lesbians and for its inclusion in the US Holocaust Memorial and Museum

Talking History: JEB March 6, 2004 Joan E Biren Joan Biren shares memories of her life, the Furies, and the lesbian community in DC

Title 34 April 15, 2004 Eva Freund, Craig Howell Freund discussed the campaign for passage of DC's first human rights law, Title 34; Howell focused on implementation of the law, issues before the Office of Human Rights, and GLAA's work to empower OHR

Coming Out Lesbian April 21, 2005 Cheryl Spector (mod.), Bonnie Morris, Patsy Lynch, Kim Sescoe. Boden Sandstrom, Casse Culver Five DC women discuss coming out in this area and the resources available to them.

Event	Date	Participants	Notes

GLAA: Celebrating 30 Years of Activism	April 30, 2001	Craig Howell, Dr Franklin E Kameny, Paul Kuntzler, Joel Martin	Discussion focused on origins of the Gay Activists Alliance - DC in 1971, its early activities, its connection with the Kameny for Congress campaign, with a particular emphasis on the campaign to rescind the APA's definition of homosexuality as a pathology.
1979: Beginnings	May 25, 2001	Darren Buckner (mod.), Philip Pannell, Valerie Papaya Mann, Michael Sainte- Andress	Panelists discussed the issues and events of 1979 for the African-American GLBT community, including carding issues, the Third World conference, the March on Washington and the creation of the DC Coalition and the NCBG
1979: Beginnings	June 8, 2001	Darren Buckner (mod.), Michelle Parkerson, A Billy S Jones	Discussion focused on the artistic/intellectual currents of the time in the African-American GLBT community, bisexuality, the creation of the Natiional Coalition of Black Gays
There is No Path ...	June 7, 2001	Jose Guttierez (mod.), Yolanda Santiago, Ric Mendoza, Sofia Carrero, Tomas Gomez, Yajaira Arreaza, Gabriella Montez, Fausto Fernandez	The emergence of ENLACE, Salud, and other Latino GLBT groups, the effect of AIDS on the community and the community's response, the development of Latino/a drag shows, bars, and AIDS outreach.
Pushing the Envelope	June 6, 2001	David Lett (mod.) Bruce Pennington, Cheryl Cort, Wayne Turner, Cheryl Spector	The origins, strategies, and tactics of DC's Gay Liberation Front, the Lesbian Avengers, ACT-UP, and OUT.
The Sickness Question	September 19, 2001	Dr Franklin E Kameny	The strategies and events involved in convincing the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from the DSM in 1973.
Waking Up to AIDS: 1981-1982	November 30, 2001	Dr Pat Hawkins, Dr Richard DiGioia, Lou Chibbaro	Assumptions, actions, and emerging awareness of AIDS in DC, including mistaken assumptions of the medical community, mental health issues, and the politics of the emerging response to AIDS.
Creating Communities of Faith	December 11, 2001	Bruce Pennington (mod.) Faisal Alam, Bob Miailovich, Michael Vanzant, Jerry Goldberg, Andrew Hudson, Dan Schellhorn	Reasons why GLBT faith groups were created, specifically on the local origins of MCC-DC, Faith Temple, Al-Fatihah, MIntwood Zendo, Bet Mishpachah, and Dignity.
Taking It on the Road: DC's Gay Motorcycle Clubs	January 16, 2002	Larry Stansbury, Dan Dutcher	Panelists represented the Spartans and the Centaur motorcycle clubs and discussed the origins, founders, club traditions and events, including runs, leather cocktails, Mid-Atlantic Leather weekend, and the creation of Brother, Help Thyself.
Talking History: Dr Kameny	February 2, 2002	Dr. Franklin E Kameny	Dr Kameny chatted about his motivation and life in gay activism
Talking History: DC's Gay Liberation Front	March 2, 2002	Bruce Pennington, Brian Miller	Organization, activities, and splits in DC's Gay Liberation Front
Organizing for African American Lesbians	March 26, 2002	Valerie Papaya Mann, Fatu Yarrow, Leigh Mosley	Groups that emerged in the 70s and 80s to support African American esbians, particularly the Sapphire Sapphos and the Black Lesbian Support Group.
Gay Youth: Organizing in the 70s	April 11, 2002	James Crutchfield (mod.)	Support groups for gay youth that emerged in the 70s
The Social Clubs	May 22, 2002	Buddy Sutson, Chris Bates, James 'Juicy' Coleman	Origins and activities of Afrrican American social clubs, especially Best of Washington, Metropolitan Capitolites, Associates
The Social Clubs	June 4, 2002	Buddy Sutson, John Eddy, Chris Bates	Origins and activities of Afrrican American social clubs, especially Best of Washington, Metropolitan Capitolites, Associates
Creating Pride: 1972 & 1975	June 5, 2002	Bruce Pennington, Deacon Maccubbin	Organizing DC's first Pride festivals in May 1972 and June 1975
Gay Sports in DC	September 24, 2002	James Crutchfield (mod.), Cal Steinmetz, Steve Weinberg, Gene Frye, Derek Price	Origins of Gay softball (since 1982), bowling (since 1981), hockey (since 1993), basketball groups in DC
ENLACE	October 22, 2002	Letitia Gomez,	Origins, outreach, and activities of DC's first Latino/a gay support organization: ENLACE
Legal Love - Repealing DC's Sodomy Law	January 29, 2003	Dr. Franklin E Kameny, Bob Summersgill	The history of DC's sodomy law and the 30 year campaign to repeal it.
Fighting Police Harassment & Entrapment	March 27, 2003	Dr. Franklin E Kameny, Craig Howell, Larry Kamins, Tom Lowderbaugh	Patterns of police harassment and entrapment of gays in DC and the Gay Activists Alliance work to end harassment and build a new relationship with the Metropolitan Police Department
Supporting Our Gay Youth in the 80s	April 7, 2003	James Crutchfield, Chuck Goldfarb, Chris Dyer	The Young Adults Group, SMYAL, the Twenties Group, and the founding of Youth Pride as support for gay youth in the 80s and 90s
Books & Community Spirit	June 5, 2003	Deacon Maccubbin, Jane Troxel	The founding and role in the community of Lammas and Lambda Rising bookstores
Gays and the Holocaust	November 3, 2003	Barrett Brick, Craig Howell	The campaign for recognition of Nazi persecution of gays and lesbians and for its inclusion in the US Holocaust Memorial and Museum
Talking History: JEB	March 6, 2004	Joan E Biren	Joan Biren shares memories of her life, the Furies, and the lesbian community in DC
Title 34	April 15, 2004	Eva Freund, Craig Howell	Freund discussed the campaign for passage of DC's first human rights law, Title 34; Howell focused on implementation of the law, issues before the Office of Human Rights, and GLAA's work to empower OHR
Coming Out Lesbian	April 21, 2005	Cheryl Spector (mod.), Bonnie Morris, Patsy Lynch, Kim Sescoe. Boden Sandstrom, Casse Culver	Five DC women discuss coming out in this area and the resources available to them.