The Outwords Archive

QUEER HISTORY LIVES HERE. Our Story. Forever.

Queer History Lives Here. Our Story. Forever.

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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

Thomi Clinton, CEO and Founder of the Transgender Health & Wellness Centers in the Coachella Valley, tells her story from Mountainburg, AR to a community leader in Southern California. Additionally, she addresses the complications of equity for trans communities within LGBTQ+ population, as well as within larger society. 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 partnered 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.

Thomi Clinton, CEO and Founder of the Transgender Health & Wellness Centers in the Coachella Valley, tells her story from Mountainburg, AR to a community leader in Southern California. Additionally, she addresses the complications of equity for trans communities within LGBTQ+ population, as well as within larger society.

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 partnered 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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Thomi Clinton: "Pushing Out Space"

Ceyenne Doroshow, founder of G.L.I.T.S. (Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society), discusses her work in the ongoing struggle to ensure that trans individuals are not tokenized and have ownership of their lives and futures. Featuring excerpts from Ceyenne's oral history interview (recorded remotely during the pandemic), this video focuses on the work it takes to lift everyone up together. Ceyenne Doroshow's full interview can be found at The Outwords Archive: https://theoutwordsarchive.org/interview/ceyenne-doroshow/ 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 partnered 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.

Ceyenne Doroshow, founder of G.L.I.T.S. (Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society), discusses her work in the ongoing struggle to ensure that trans individuals are not tokenized and have ownership of their lives and futures. Featuring excerpts from Ceyenne's oral history interview (recorded remotely during the pandemic), this video focuses on the work it takes to lift everyone up together.

Ceyenne Doroshow's full interview can be found at The Outwords Archive: https://theoutwordsarchive.org/interview/ceyenne-doroshow/

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 partnered 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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Black trans activist Ceyenne Doroshow: "A Position of Authority"

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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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. 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 partnered 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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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"

Social Media Videos

Lesbian birth mother Lamar Van Dyke recalls reuniting with the daughter she placed for #adoption. #BirthMother #AdoptionStories #GayAdoption #AdoptionJourney

Lesbian birth mother Lamar Van Dyke recalls reuniting with the daughter she placed for #adoption. #BirthMother #AdoptionStories #GayAdoption #AdoptionJourney

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Birth mother Lamar Van Dyke: "I thought I would be so cool"

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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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

This video is private.

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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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Jewelle Gomez, lesbian vampire novelist: “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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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

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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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