The Outwords Archive

QUEER HISTORY LIVES HERE. Our Story. Forever.

Queer History Lives Here. Our Story. Forever.

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Collage of eight diverse individuals with color overlays in shades of red, purple, and pink. Top row from left to right: Person with a knitted cap and dreadlocks; individual with glasses looking aside; smiling person with curly hair and glasses; older person with high-collared jacket looking to the side. Bottom row from left to right: Person with dramatic makeup and blonde wig looking upward; individual with long straight hair staring at the camera; person in a white hat and bow tie smiling at the camera; person with long gray hair and glasses smiling at the camera.

OUTWORDS captures, preserves, and shares the stories of LGBTQIA2S+ elders, to build community and catalyze social change.

MILESTONES IN QUEER HISTORY

Introducing below a selection of our interviews featuring major events in LGBTQIA2S+ history, from the elders who were there.

1969 Stonewall Riots

After one too many police raids, queer bar patrons fought back—and the modern-day LGBTQ+ civil rights movement was launched.

1993 March on Washington

A million LGBT+ people gathered in our nation’s capital, with bisexual people claiming increased visibility and strength.

Marriage Equality

From a little-known 1971 lawsuit to Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), the long and winding road to marriage equality.

More Curated Content

Browse Our Interviews By Category.

LGBTQ+ Identities

Looking for stories from the ’tentpole’ letters in our ever-expanding community acronym? Begin your exploration here.

Race / Ethnicities

Explore the kaleidoscope of ethnic, racial, and cultural identities that make up the queer community.

LGBTQ+ Topics

Coming out stories, gender identity journeys, lesbian separatism, kink, and so much more.

General Topics

Stories relating to fields of study, special interests, and points of intersectionality.

LGBTQ+ History

Two steps forward, one step back: milestone events in our community’s historic journey of claiming our rights and our space.

LGBTQ+ Groups

Dive deep into some of the major organizations that make us who we are.

Getting Started With OUTWORDS

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Short Interview Videos

Artist Joey Terrill discusses the impact of the intersectionality of his Chicano identity and queer identity in the context of his understanding of himself and his artistic practice. DP: Andrew Lush Editor: Matthew Sorgie OUTWORDS is the first-ever national project to record the stories of LGBTQ+ elders across the United States. We share our full catalog of interviews with LGBTQ+ elders, completely free of charge, on our website. We also have a book of interviews, called “The Book of Pride”. We partner with Flipgrid to share our stories with students and teachers around the globe; offer a wide range of webinars on timely LGBTQ+ topics and issues; and provide paid DEI consulting services to companies and organizations like Microsoft, AARP, and Everytown for Gun Safety. Visit us and sign up for our newsletter today at theoutwordsarchive.org.

This video is private.

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YouTube Video UEw1cU5ENEx4Rm5BX3JrOHFuWnk3RDV1Wk1CTTN6aUVpZC5GN0EwRkMxQTJGMTFCNDc1

Chicano artist Joey Terrill: "Warts and All"

PFLAG mom, LGBTQ+ ally, educator, and author Marsha Aizumi reflects on the long and "messy" road to finding her voice, supporting her son, and standing up for trans kids everywhere. OUTWORDS is the first-ever national project to record the stories of LGBTQ+ elders across the United States. We share our full catalog of interviews with LGBTQ+ elders, completely free of charge, on our website. We also have a book of interviews, called “The Book of Pride”. We partner with Flipgrid to share our stories with students and teachers around the globe; offer a wide range of webinars on timely LGBTQ+ topics and issues; and provide paid DEI consulting services to companies and organizations like Microsoft, AARP, and Everytown for Gun Safety. Visit us and sign up for our newsletter today at theoutwordsarchive.org.

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YouTube Video UEw1cU5ENEx4Rm5BX3JrOHFuWnk3RDV1Wk1CTTN6aUVpZC40MzEwNkU4RUE0MjhBRjg4

Trans ally and PFLAG mom Marsha Aizumi: "Deeper Connections"

Motivational speaker and Trans Equality advocate, Charley Burton, shares his journey in finding his way to health, stability, and success after an early life filled with addiction and depression. Technical Director: Juan Raymundo Ramos Editor: Astra Price OUTWORDS is the first-ever national project to record the stories of LGBTQ+ elders across the United States. We share our full catalog of interviews with LGBTQ+ elders, completely free of charge, on our website. We also have a book of interviews, called “The Book of Pride”. We partner with Flipgrid to share our stories with students and teachers around the globe; offer a wide range of webinars on timely LGBTQ+ topics and issues; and provide paid DEI consulting services to companies and organizations like Microsoft, AARP, and Everytown for Gun Safety. Visit us and sign up for our newsletter today at theoutwordsarchive.org.

Motivational speaker and Trans Equality advocate, Charley Burton, shares his journey in finding his way to health, stability, and success after an early life filled with addiction and depression.

Technical Director: Juan Raym Ramos
Editor: Astra Price

OUTWORDS is the first-ever national project to record the stories of LGBTQ+ elders across the United States. We share our full catalog of interviews with LGBTQ+ elders, completely free of charge, on our website. We also have a book of interviews, called “The Book of Pride”. We partner with Flipgrid to share our stories with students and teachers around the globe; offer a wide range of webinars on timely LGBTQ+ topics and issues; and provide paid DEI consulting services to companies and organizations like Microsoft, AARP, and Everytown for Gun Safety. Visit us and sign up for our newsletter today at theoutwordsarchive.org.

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YouTube Video UEw1cU5ENEx4Rm5BX3JrOHFuWnk3RDV1Wk1CTTN6aUVpZC5BNzdEQzY0REQzQTEyN0U3

Trans author Charley Burton: "This Is Who I Am"

Artist and Indigenous language advocate L. Frank (pronoun: pó) describes pó connection to the place that pó was born, through pó connection to pó Indigenous ancestors and artistic practice. Frank also discusses pó relationship to the term two-spirit and other gender-expansive terminology. [Editor’s Note: L. Frank’s pronoun is pó from the Tongva language, conveying two-spirit and Indigenous identity nuances the English language cannot.] DP: Raym Ramos Editor: Astra Price OUTWORDS is the first-ever national project to record the stories of LGBTQ+ elders across the United States. We share our full catalog of interviews with LGBTQ+ elders, completely free of charge, on our website. We also have a book of interviews, called “The Book of Pride”. We partner with Flipgrid to share our stories with students and teachers around the globe; offer a wide range of webinars on timely LGBTQ+ topics and issues; and provide paid DEI consulting services to companies and organizations like Microsoft, AARP, and Everytown for Gun Safety. Visit us and sign up for our newsletter today at theoutwordsarchive.org.

This video is private.

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YouTube Video UEw1cU5ENEx4Rm5BX3JrOHFuWnk3RDV1Wk1CTTN6aUVpZC40ODU2MTBGM0M5MkIwQzU0

Two-spirit artist L. Frank: "Unveiling What Has Already Been There"

Artist Miguel Criado shares his path to flag dancing after a double amputation, defying the expectations of doctors and the public for a person living with a disability. DP: Kate Kunath Editor: Justin Streichman OUTWORDS is the first-ever national project to record the stories of LGBTQ+ elders across the United States. We share our full catalog of interviews with LGBTQ+ elders, completely free of charge, on our website. We also have a book of interviews, called “The Book of Pride”. We partner with Flipgrid to share our stories with students and teachers around the globe; offer a wide range of webinars on timely LGBTQ+ topics and issues; and provide paid DEI consulting services to companies and organizations like Microsoft, AARP, and Everytown for Gun Safety. Visit us and sign up for our newsletter today at theoutwordsarchive.org.

Artist Miguel Criado shares his path to flag dancing after a double amputation, defying the expectations of doctors and the public for a person living with a disability.

DP: Kate Kunath
Editor: Justin Streichman

OUTWORDS is the first-ever national project to record the stories of LGBTQ+ elders across the United States. We share our full catalog of interviews with LGBTQ+ elders, completely free of charge, on our website. We also have a book of interviews, called “The Book of Pride”. We partner with Flipgrid to share our stories with students and teachers around the globe; offer a wide range of webinars on timely LGBTQ+ topics and issues; and provide paid DEI consulting services to companies and organizations like Microsoft, AARP, and Everytown for Gun Safety. Visit us and sign up for our newsletter today at theoutwordsarchive.org.

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YouTube Video UEw1cU5ENEx4Rm5BX3JrOHFuWnk3RDV1Wk1CTTN6aUVpZC4zNDIxRUJGQThFRTg1QzAy

Gay amputee Miguel Criado: "A Huge Liberation from Pain"

Former Santa Monica City Council member and Mayor, Judy Abdo, reflects on her life in activism, the surprising non-issue of life in public office as an out lesbian, and the early female role models that made a life in public service seem possible. OUTWORDS is the first-ever national project to record the stories of LGBTQ+ elders across the United States. We share our full catalog of interviews with LGBTQ+ elders, completely free of charge, on our website. We also have a book of interviews, called “The Book of Pride”. We partner with Flipgrid to share our stories with students and teachers around the globe; offer a wide range of webinars on timely LGBTQ+ topics and issues; and provide paid DEI consulting services to companies and organizations like Microsoft, AARP, and Everytown for Gun Safety. Visit us and sign up for our newsletter today at theoutwordsarchive.org.

This video is private.

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YouTube Video UEw1cU5ENEx4Rm5BX3JrOHFuWnk3RDV1Wk1CTTN6aUVpZC5DODY2Qzc5Mzc1QkZEQ0NF

Openly lesbian mayor Judy Abdo: "Normal to Me"

Social Media Videos

In this week’s episode of Youspeak Radio 2024, Madeline (she/they) speaks to Joey Terrill about the evolution of queer Latinx representation in art and community activism in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Terrill reflects on the early influence of his father in his artmaking, his experience as an “out” high schooler in 1970s Los Angeles, his efforts to uplift LGBTQ+ Chicano life through visual art, his advocacy work through the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and his advice to LGBTQ+ youth today. Listen at https://www.oneinstitute.org/youspeakradio/ #LatinX #QueerLatinX #QueerArtist #ChicanoArt #chicano

In this week’s episode of Youspeak Radio 2024, Madeline (she/they) speaks to Joey Terrill about the evolution of queer Latinx representation in art and community activism in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Terrill reflects on the early influence of his father in his artmaking, his experience as an “out” high schooler in 1970s Los Angeles, his efforts to uplift LGBTQ+ Chicano life through visual art, his advocacy work through the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and his advice to LGBTQ+ youth today. Listen at https://www.oneinstitute.org/youspeakradio/
#LatinX #QueerLatinX #QueerArtist #ChicanoArt #chicano

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YouTube Video UEw1cU5ENEx4Rm5BXzVxd0U4VlVHdDZlUTdTZWlYRW9ldy43ODA2MDVCQzY5QzZDMjUw

Queer Latinx Artist Joey Terrill: "I'm going to keep on doing the art that I'm doing"

"I took the bumps from her." Gay uncle Reverend Robert Arrington reflects on the role he's played for his lesbian niece, and his advice for her. Happy Gay Uncles Day! #GayUncle #guncle #guncles #intergenerational #BlackGay

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YouTube Video UEw1cU5ENEx4Rm5BXzVxd0U4VlVHdDZlUTdTZWlYRW9ldy5GNzk2RTlDQTNCQzJCQzJG

Gay uncle Reverend Robert Arrington: "I took the bumps from her"

In this week’s episode of Youspeak Radio 2024, Charlotte (she/they) speaks to Jewelle Gomez about the transformative power of imaginative storytelling and embracing life at the intersection of many identities. Gomez reflects on the inspirational storytelling of her grandmothers, the influence of James Baldwin and her friend Audre Lorde on her writing and activism, her contributions to intersectional feminism, and her advice to LGBTQ+ youth today. Listen at https://www.oneinstitute.org/youspeakradio/ #QueerPodcast #intergenerational #IntergenerationalHealing #BlackLesbians #QueerWriters

In this week’s episode of Youspeak Radio 2024, Charlotte (she/they) speaks to Jewelle Gomez about the transformative power of imaginative storytelling and embracing life at the intersection of many identities. Gomez reflects on the inspirational storytelling of her grandmothers, the influence of James Baldwin and her friend Audre Lorde on her writing and activism, her contributions to intersectional feminism, and her advice to LGBTQ+ youth today. Listen at https://www.oneinstitute.org/youspeakradio/
#QueerPodcast #intergenerational #IntergenerationalHealing #BlackLesbians #QueerWriters

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YouTube Video UEw1cU5ENEx4Rm5BXzVxd0U4VlVHdDZlUTdTZWlYRW9ldy44QjNCNkRENjNFQTBEMUND

Jewelle Gomez, lesbian vampire novelist, and Charlotte, 11th grade: “Your words touch other people”

It's been such a pleasure working with @oneinstitute to connect LGBTQ+ high schoolers and elders! In the premiere episode of Youspeak Radio 2024, Kelly (she/her) speaks to Donna Sachet – drag entertainer and community activist – about the power of drag to empower LGBTQ+ people and drive social change. Sachet reflects on her youth in the conservative South, the freedom she found through drag, her friendship with José Sarria in San Francisco, her contributions to HIV/AIDS fundraising, and her advice to LGBTQ+ youth today. Listen now: https://www.oneinstitute.org/youspeakradio/

It's been such a pleasure working with @oneinstitute to connect LGBTQ+ high schoolers and elders! In the premiere episode of Youspeak Radio 2024, Kelly (she/her) speaks to Donna Sachet – drag entertainer and community activist – about the power of drag to empower LGBTQ+ people and drive social change. Sachet reflects on her youth in the conservative South, the freedom she found through drag, her friendship with José Sarria in San Francisco, her contributions to HIV/AIDS fundraising, and her advice to LGBTQ+ youth today. Listen now: https://www.oneinstitute.org/youspeakradio/

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YouTube Video UEw1cU5ENEx4Rm5BXzVxd0U4VlVHdDZlUTdTZWlYRW9ldy5EMUJFNzRCNDRFQjE5RjM4

Donna Sachet, drag entertainer and activist: "Push against your fears." #DragQueen #queerpodcast

Karla Jay saw herself in the counselors at her sleep-away camp as a kid, without having the words for it. #LesbianVisibility #SummerCamp #CampCounselor

Karla Jay saw herself in the counselors at her sleep-away camp as a kid, without having the words for it. #LesbianVisibility #SummerCamp #CampCounselor

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“I cried when I went home”: Gay Liberation Front and Lavender Menace member Karla Jay #lesbian

Today is the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), also known as National Disability Independence Day. Writer and disability activist Kenny Fries shares some of the history of the disability rights movement: “Just like Stonewall didn’t happen out of the blue, the disability rights movement did not just happen.” #DisabilityPrideMonth #DisabilityRights #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityPride #DisabilityAwarenessMonth

Today is the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), also known as National Disability Independence Day. Writer and disability activist Kenny Fries shares some of the history of the disability rights movement: “Just like Stonewall didn’t happen out of the blue, the disability rights movement did not just happen.” #DisabilityPrideMonth #DisabilityRights #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityPride #DisabilityAwarenessMonth

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YouTube Video UEw1cU5ENEx4Rm5BXzVxd0U4VlVHdDZlUTdTZWlYRW9ldy41ODIyMTgwQzA4NjJCQkZC

Queer writer & disability activist Kenny Fries: “The disability rights movement did not just happen”

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Sponsors

    • THE BOOK OF PRIDE
    LGBTQ Heroes Who Changed the World

    BY MASON FUNK

    Meet the leaders and activists on the front lines of the LGBTQ movement, from the 1960s to the present, through stunning interviews and compelling black and white photographs compiled and presented by OUTWORDS. The 75 individuals featured in THE BOOK OF PRIDE – including marriage pioneer Evan Wolfson, trans icon Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Stonewall-era rabble-rouser Mark Segal and legendary Anti-DADT activist Grethe Cammermeyer – fought…

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