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

Former Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors reflects on a lifetime of engaging with politics, the progress made by the LGBTQ+ movement, and some words of wisdom from his mother. DP: Kate Kunath 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 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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Geoff Kors: "This Is Not a Dress Rehearsal"

Founder of Minsterio Latino Rev. Rhina Ramos shares her faith journey, from immigrating to the United States, to coming to terms with her attraction to women, to creating a Spanish-speaking ministry that serves LGBTQ+ people. DP: Raym Ramos Editor: Enzo Perez Alonso 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 UEw1cU5ENEx4Rm5BX3JrOHFuWnk3RDV1Wk1CTTN6aUVpZC5DNUEzOUFFNkIyOUUzOTRC

Rev. Rhina Ramos: "Unbroken Queer Faith"

Author and professor Jeff Mann, Ladies and Gents of the Blue Ridge - Transgender Alliance co-founders Erika Joyner and Dolly-Davis Dollberg, Denim Day founder Nancy Kelly, and House of Expression house father Garland Gravely share their stories of connection to Southwest Virginia and Virginia Tech. These interviews were sponsored by Virginia Humanities.

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Virginia LGBTQ+ Elders Share Their Stories

Gay Liberation Front and Lavender Menace founding member Karla Jay discusses growing up visually impaired, student protests at Columbia in 1968, the aftermath of Stonewall, and creating a more intersectional women's movement. DP: Kate Kunath 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 UEw1cU5ENEx4Rm5BX3JrOHFuWnk3RDV1Wk1CTTN6aUVpZC4wNjIzRDA1OTQ2M0UyODEw

Karla Jay: "No Action, No Change"

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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YouTube Video UEw1cU5ENEx4Rm5BX3JrOHFuWnk3RDV1Wk1CTTN6aUVpZC41QTQ4QTIyM0Y1RTBGMUNE

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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YouTube Video UEw1cU5ENEx4Rm5BX3JrOHFuWnk3RDV1Wk1CTTN6aUVpZC5CRjBFOTUzQTE4Mjg3RUJF

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

Social Media Videos

This month, OUTWORDS' Interim Operations Wizard Kurt takes some time to tell us about his personal connection to the many, varied stories that exist in the archive. As LGBTQ+ History Month comes to a close, we want to remind everyone that OUTWORDS is a resource that can be used to connect with and learn from our LGBTQ elders. We have so far to go, but thankfully they've left us a roadmap filled with lessons, tragedies, triumphs, and hope. #OUTWORDSObsession #Obsessed #LGBTQHistoryMonth #LGBTQHistory

This month, OUTWORDS' Interim Operations Wizard Kurt takes some time to tell us about his personal connection to the many, varied stories that exist in the archive.

As LGBTQ+ History Month comes to a close, we want to remind everyone that OUTWORDS is a resource that can be used to connect with and learn from our LGBTQ elders. We have so far to go, but thankfully they've left us a roadmap filled with lessons, tragedies, triumphs, and hope.

#OUTWORDSObsession #Obsessed #LGBTQHistoryMonth #LGBTQHistory

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OUTWORDS Interim Operations Wizard Kurt's Obsession of the Month

Former Equality California Executive Director and former Mayor of Palm Springs Geoff Kors speaks on the value of losses and of sharing our stories to catalyze change, which has always been OUTWORDS' mission. OUTWORDS will be honoring Geoff this Friday at our 3rd annual Palm Springs gala celebration: The Future of OUTWORDS. We hope to see you there! #LossesAreLessons #LGBTQPolitics #PalmSprings

Former Equality California Executive Director and former Mayor of Palm Springs Geoff Kors speaks on the value of losses and of sharing our stories to catalyze change, which has always been OUTWORDS' mission.

OUTWORDS will be honoring Geoff this Friday at our 3rd annual Palm Springs gala celebration: The Future of OUTWORDS. We hope to see you there!

#LossesAreLessons #LGBTQPolitics #PalmSprings

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LGBTQ+ Policymaker Geoff Kors: "Big setbacks turn into major accelerators"

Today is the last day of Latine/Hispanic Heritage Month. We had the pleasure of interviewing Rev. Rhina Ramos (@revrhinaramos) last year, our first bilingual interview! Here she talks about coming to terms with her sexuality, prayer and chickens. You can watch Rev. Ramos' full interview here: https://theoutwordsarchive.org/interview/rhina-mercedes-ramos/ #LatineHeritageMonth #HispanicHeritageMonth #LatinxHeritageMonth #LGBTQFaith #QueerChristian

Today is the last day of Latine/Hispanic Heritage Month. We had the pleasure of interviewing Rev. Rhina Ramos (@revrhinaramos) last year, our first bilingual interview! Here she talks about coming to terms with her sexuality, prayer and chickens. You can watch Rev. Ramos' full interview here: https://theoutwordsarchive.org/interview/rhina-mercedes-ramos/

#LatineHeritageMonth #HispanicHeritageMonth #LatinxHeritageMonth #LGBTQFaith #QueerChristian

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Rev. Rhina Ramos on the last day of Latine/Hispanic Heritage Month

Growing up playing sports and making community ties, Terra Muncy has a long history in West Virginia. Here she speaks on the love she's felt from her community and the unconditional love she's shown in return. #RuralQueer #Hometown #WestVirginia #CountryRoadsTakeMeHome

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Terra Muncy's love for her West Virginia Community

Jeff Mann is a proud "homo hillbilly". He exemplifies the openness and pride that LGBTQIA2+ folks deserve to walk the earth with. This Friday, October 3, Jeff will be one of our featured panelist at LGBTQ+ Activism in Southwest, Virginia: A Rich History. This will be an evening of conversation and celebration at Virginia Tech. For more info and to RSVP: shorturl.at/WRFVy #SouthernQueer #Virginia #VirginiaTech #OralHistory

Jeff Mann is a proud "homo hillbilly". He exemplifies the openness and pride that LGBTQIA2+ folks deserve to walk the earth with. This Friday, October 3, Jeff will be one of our featured panelist at LGBTQ+ Activism in Southwest, Virginia: A Rich History. This will be an evening of conversation and celebration at Virginia Tech.
For more info and to RSVP: shorturl.at/WRFVy

#SouthernQueer #Virginia #VirginiaTech #OralHistory

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"Homo hillbilly" Jeff Mann: a panelist at LGBTQ+ Activism in Southwest, Virginia: A Rich History

Today is National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day. In this spirit, we're jumping back in time to the beginning of the summer when we were happy to take the stage at the very last AIDS/LifeCycle, an event that has raised money and HIV/AIDS awareness for 30 years. We've been honored to be a part of of the ride as TEAM OUTWORDS and to celebrate the positive impact that this event has had on the LGBTQ+ community for decades. It will live on in our hearts and our bikes! #AIDSLifeCycle #LastRide #AIDSAwareness #HIVAwareness

Today is National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day. In this spirit, we're jumping back in time to the beginning of the summer when we were happy to take the stage at the very last AIDS/LifeCycle, an event that has raised money and HIV/AIDS awareness for 30 years. We've been honored to be a part of of the ride as TEAM OUTWORDS and to celebrate the positive impact that this event has had on the LGBTQ+ community for decades. It will live on in our hearts and our bikes!

#AIDSLifeCycle #LastRide #AIDSAwareness #HIVAwareness

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OUTWORDS taking the stage at the very last AIDS/LifeCycle

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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…

    READ MORE