History Commons^™

Facts You Should Know, Western New York Aids Program

HIV/AIDS Educational Material

Pamphlet containing information on HIV and where to receive help.

Safe Sex A How-To Guide, Act Up Western New York

HIV/AIDS Educational Material

Handout in English and Spanish containing information on safe sex practices, including: condom instruction, local STI statistics, and information on HIV/AIDS.

Aids Service Providers Consortium Of Western New York Pamphlet, Aids Service Providers Consortium Of Western New York

HIV/AIDS Educational Material

Pamphlet containing information about the Aids Service Providers Consortium of Western New York.

The Harm Reduction Program, Buffalo Columbus Hospital

HIV/AIDS Educational Material

Pamphlet containing information on the Harm Reduction Program provided through the Buffalo Columbus Hospital.

Pamphlet For Benedict House, Benedict House

HIV/AIDS Educational Material

Pamphlet containing information on Benedict House.

Burdin, Johannah, Samantha Rouillard

Querying the Past: LGBTQ Maine Oral History Project Collection

Johannah Burdin shares her story as a lesbian/queer woman experiencing southern Maine in the 1990s. Her story touches on topics involving coming out, relationships, a traumatic incident that left her disabled, activism, and much more. She was active in her youth in spreading awareness on the AIDS/HIV crisis, education on safe sex, and spent her evenings at popular Portland gay bars, like Sister’s Bar and Limelight/The Underground. Although she is not much into drinking, she recognized these were some of the few spots queer people could go to make community and relationships. Johannah also shares her story of becoming a …

Marcous, Dana, Robben Harris

Querying the Past: LGBTQ Maine Oral History Project Collection

Dana Marcous is a spiritual, successful and fascinating man who at times lives in the extremes, but always seems to maintain his balance. His life story and his spiritual path are so closely intertwined, it might appear as if he has eclipsed the spiritual and physical world. From being a world-class hairdresser and opening one of the most successful hair salons in Maine, to pursuing a career as an actor in L.A., Dana is a person who always follows his dreams and looks for the signs. This interview contains stories of Dana’s early life, including his process of coming out …

Blanchard, Mike, Micaiah Wert

Querying the Past: LGBTQ Maine Oral History Project Collection

Mike Blanchard is a 60 year old gay man from Westbrook Maine. He has struggled as an alcoholic due to repressing his queer identity, but has been sober for 33 years (since 1989). Through addiction recovery he was able to come out as gay in 1992. After years of struggling with alcohol and rough relationships, Mike met his husband at Blackstones in Portland, and describes their relationship as, “nothing I ever chased and everything I could have hoped for.” Mike worked for a long time in the field of recreation, but left after feeling as though he could not be …

Robedee, Matthew, Hannah Gorham, Jason White

Querying the Past: LGBTQ Maine Oral History Project Collection

Matthew (Mat) Robedee is a 35-year-old gay man who lives in Portland, Maine. For seven years, he was a health and outreach worker and former prevention programs manager for the Frannie Peabody Center, in Portland. He has also worked with organizations such as Portland Pride and Equality Maine and is currently a real estate agent.

Mat grew up in Buxton, Maine. In elementary school, he revealed to a friend that he thought he was gay. His friend reprimanded him, telling him never to tell anyone about his secret. That event set the tone for years to come, and Mat hid …

Kawamoto, Eric, Cosette Holmes, Tiana Cope-Ferland

Querying the Past: LGBTQ Maine Oral History Project Collection

This interview with Eric Kawamoto reveals a journey of self-discovery in Chicago, L.A., Boston, and Portland; an intersection between being Asian American and being queer; and survival of AIDS as a result of reserve. Kawamoto places these personal themes among his account of the LGBTQ+ and Asian American communities’ overarching struggles, like the fight for domestic partnership benefits, representation of Asian American gay men, and spreading awareness about Japanese American internment in California.

Citation

Please cite as: Querying the Past: LGBTQ Maine Oral History Project Collection, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+ Collection, Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in …

Hopkins, Susan, Ysanne Bethel

Querying the Past: LGBTQ Maine Oral History Project Collection

Susan Hopkins is a 53-year-old member of the LGBTQIA community, living in Westbrook, Maine. Susan grew up with her family on the small island of Vinalhaven in Penobscot Bay, hearing tales of her anti-racist bisexual aunt. A self-identified feminist in her adolescence, Susan recognized that she was not straight early on, but did not feel safe to come out in her small community. Going to the University of Maine, Orono, Susan experienced her first lesbian relationship and taste of chosen family. Eventually, Susan found herself at the Howard University School of Law, where she interned at Whitman Walter Clinic in …

Elias, Richard, Benjamin Cornwall

Querying the Past: LGBTQ Maine Oral History Project Collection

Richard Elias grew up in Northern Maine and moved to Portland at a young age. In this interview, we discuss: coming out as a gay man, his family life, his experience with Portland gay bars (The Phoenix, Roland’s and Blackstones), some of his travel stories, his love for dancing, and the effect of the AIDS epidemic on his life.

Citation

Please cite as: Querying the Past: LGBTQ Maine Oral History Project Collection, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+ Collection, Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine, University of Southern Maine Libraries.

For more information about the Querying the Past: …

Grindle, Charles, Gwendolyn Wolf, Johnna Ossie

Querying the Past: LGBTQ Maine Oral History Project Collection

Charles Grindle is a 66-year-old man from Ellsworth, ME. He is a piano player, as well as a minister. He has been heavily involved in church, music and theater since childhood. He has also done a lot of traveling- he’s lived in Portland, Boston, San Diego and England. He has years of experience working for churches- doing sermons and weddings, etc. In his earlier years, he played piano at many hopping places- such as The Front Porch and the Inn By the Sea. He worked at Blackstones when it first opened. Other bars that he frequented were Styxx and Rollins. …

Brooks, Frank, Rachel Spigel, Elizabeth Wise Horan

Querying the Past: LGBTQ Maine Oral History Project Collection

Frank Brooks is a 64 year old Social Worker and Social Work educator born and raised in Maine. He when came out as gay in 1976, he was in a heterosexual marriage and he has a son from that marriage. He was involved in an LGBT parent's group, LGBT social worker's group, volunteered for the AIDS project, worked on referenda and political campaigns, and was a board member of both the MLGPA (now Equality Maine) and the MCLU (now ACLU of Maine). His life's work has been serving the LGBTQ community through both activism and social work. …

Solomon, Howard, Richard Morin, Michelle Johnston

Querying the Past: LGBTQ Maine Oral History Project Collection

Howard Solomon is a 76 year-old man who grew up in New Castle, Pennsylvania. During his early years, and still today, Judaism played a significant role in his life. His dad was a Kosher butcher, and Solomon attended a Hebrew school while growing up. Solomon’s profession was teaching history as a college professor at New York University, Tufts University, and the University of Southern Maine. Towards the end of his full-time teaching career, he taught a class about Lesbian and Gay History. During the same period, he openly discussed his homosexuality in the university context. He witnessed the AIDS epidemic …

Stonewall Democrats Of Wny Flyer, The Stonewall Democrats Of Wny

Event Flyers and Pamphlets

Flyer from the Stonewall Democrats of WNY in support of the Kellie McCarthy Memorial AIDS Walk.

Program From The 1999 Spring Aids Memorial, The Aids Coalition Of Sbi

Event Flyers and Pamphlets

Program from the 1999 Spring Aids Memorial held at the University at Buffalo. Includes ticket for the event.

Evergreen Foundation Pamphlet, Evergreen Foundation

HIV/AIDS Educational Material

Pamphlet containing contact information for AIDS community services, donation information, and news quotes.

Spirituality Compassion Action Pamphlet, Episcopal Diocese Aids Commission

Event Flyers and Pamphlets

Pamphlet for Spirituality Compassion Action.

Pamphlet For Aids Walk '95, Aids Community Services Of Western New York

Event Flyers and Pamphlets

Pamphlet containing information and registration form for the 1995 Western New York AIDS Walk.

Retro Tea Dance Party Flyer, Unknown

Event Flyers and Pamphlets

Flyer for a fundraising event supporting the Buffalo team riding in the Boston New York AIDS Ride.

The Fabric Of Remembrance Flyer, The Canisius College Aids Memorial Quilt Committee

Event Flyers and Pamphlets

Advertisement for the displaying of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt at Canisius College.

The Fabric Of Remembrance Booklet, The Canisius College Aids Memorial Quilt Committee

Event Flyers and Pamphlets

Booklet handed out at a NAMES Project event held at Canisius college.

Ad And Registration Form For Aids Walk '94, Aids Community Services Of Western New York

Event Flyers and Pamphlets

Ad and registration form for the Western New York AIDS Walk '94.

Cause For Celebration! 1994 Pamphlet, Aids Community Services Of Western New York

Event Flyers and Pamphlets

Pamphlet containing information on Cause for Celebration! 1994.

Aids Awareness Week, Aids Alliance Of Western New York

Event Flyers and Pamphlets

Advertisement promoting AIDS Awareness Week

Scavenger Hunt, Aids Alliance Of Western New York

Event Flyers and Pamphlets

Advertisement and registration form for the 1st Annual Buffalo Scavenger Hunt. The event was part of AIDS Awareness Week 1993.

Flyer For Mending Of The Hearts Memorial Project, Mending Of The Hearts Memorial Project

Event Flyers and Pamphlets

Flyer for "Mending of the Hearts Memorial Project," held on October 24th 1992 at Buffalo State College.

Pamphlet For The 2nd Annual Living Well Conference, The Living Well Commission

Event Flyers and Pamphlets

Pamphlet with information on 2nd annual Living Well Conference.

Flyer For Highlights Of The 7th International Conference On Aids, The Community Advisory Board Of The Buffalo Aids Clinical Trials Unit

Event Flyers and Pamphlets

Flyer for Highlights of the 7th International Conference on AIDS.