Making Gay History | LGBTQ Oral Histories from the Archive

Explore personal experiences during the AIDS crisis and the impact it had on the narrator's life. Get a preview of upcoming chapters delving into the stories of those affected by AIDS.

Guest Kay Lahusen, a monumental figure in the LGBTQ civil rights movement, discusses her involvement in the early LGBTQ rights movement, the formation of ECHO, efforts for acceptance and distribution struggles, and the satisfaction and progress of the gay movement.

Meet Meg Christian, the cofounder of Olivia Records and a pioneer in the women's music movement. Learn about her impact on the LGBTQ+ community and her conversation with Studs Terkel. Explore her journey of embracing her southern roots and empowering women through music. Discover how she represented women's experiences and challenged limited portrayals of women in popular music. Follow her journey of self-discovery and acceptance in the LGBTQ community. Explore her musical career, involvement with Olivia Records and Olivia Cruises.

Leonard Matlovich, LGBTQ rights pioneer and former racist, discusses his legal battle for reinstatement in the Air Force after being discharged for being gay. Topics include challenges faced in the military, self-acceptance, tenderness, love, the fight against societal fear, and Matlovich's activism and legacy.

Radical lesbian feminist, Jill Johnston, sparks controversy with her book 'Lesbian Nation' advocating a complete break from men. In an interview with Studs Terkel, they discuss lesbianism as self-commitment, feminism, cultural conditioning, and autonomy. Johnston's influential works and partnership with Ingrid Newbao are also explored.

A half-century ago, Studs Terkel interviewed three members of the homophile group Mattachine Midwest: the organization’s president, a student activist, and lesbian pulp author Valerie Taylor. Join them for a wide-ranging and laugh-filled conversation about gay liberation both personal and political.Visit our episode webpage for background information, archival photos, and other resources. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Quentin Crisp, an author, raconteur, and provocateur, discusses his unconventional life and struggles in a 1970 conversation with Studs Terkel. They explore social stigma, limited employment opportunities, experiences of being followed and arrested, as well as freedom, loneliness, and regrets in later life.

Studs Terkel interviews female impersonator Les-Lee about their art, experiences of being different, and their career. They discuss the art of female impersonation, feeling different and creative inclinations in childhood, finding independence and self-acceptance, and Les-Lee's unique life and career as a performer.

Lorraine Hansberry, the first Black woman to have a play produced on Broadway, discusses racial and gender inequity with Studs Terkel. They explore the specificity and universality of her play 'A Raisin in the Sun' and the role of women in oppressed groups. They also delve into the autobiographical nature of the play and the significance of art in conveying truth.

Author Christopher Isherwood left England for Germany in 1929. His stories about his years there inspired the musical “Cabaret,” which shaped the image of decadent interwar Berlin in the popular imagination. But as he told Studs Terkel in this 1977 interview, to him, Berlin meant, above all, boys.Visit our episode webpage for background information, archival photos, and other resources. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices