Slate Daily Feed A Postlude for 'When We All Get to Heaven'
Dec 17, 2025
Lynne Gerber, a scholar and host of When We All Get to Heaven, and producer Siri Colum, share insights after years of documenting queer history. They discuss the generational disconnect regarding AIDS and the loss of community knowledge due to the trauma. The transformation of MCC San Francisco and the importance of queer-specific spaces for innovation are explored. They draw parallels between past and present political struggles, emphasizing community values like safety and joy. Personal reflections on music and connection wrap up their heartfelt journey.
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AIDS Feels Distant To Younger Generations
- Many students treat the AIDS crisis as distant history and lack personal connection to its lived reality.
- Lynne Gerber found this generational gap shifted her sense of AIDS from living history to something more historical.
Knowledge Loss From Community Bereavement
- The loss of a generation to AIDS erased oral histories and elder mentorship within queer communities.
- Siri Colum highlights that surviving elders often carry trauma that limits knowledge transmission.
Gay Churches Have Shrunk And Shifted Locations
- MCC San Francisco has shrunk and relocated from the Castro to an Episcopal chapel, reflecting wider shifts in queer religious life.
- Lynne Gerber notes MCC’s smaller size results partly from mainstream churches becoming more affirming.