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.

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LGBTQ+ policymaker and former Palm Springs mayor 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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Immigrant and Ministerio Latino founder 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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Gay Liberation Front and Lavender Menace founding member Karla Jay: "No Action, No Change"

AIDS/Lifecycle rider Doreen Gonzales shares how sports and athletics have shaped her life and her ability to contribute to the lives of others. 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.

AIDS/Lifecycle rider Doreen Gonzales shares how sports and athletics have shaped her life and her ability to contribute to the lives of others.

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.

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AIDS/Lifecycle rider Doreen Gonzales - "A Passion for Humanity"

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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Trans health CEO Thomi Clinton: "Pushing Out Space"

Social Media Videos

Bisexual and HIV community activist Luigi Ferrer has been living with HIV most of his adult life. Luigi has worked to make sure that the LGBTQ+ youth of today are informed and empowered with resources and access to treatment. The end of the HIV epidemic is in sight and we thank Luigi for his contributions in this struggle. On Saturday, February 21, Luigi and other OUTWORDS interviewees will be exploring the different regional legacies and strategies central to the ongoing work of HIV/AIDS activism in the southern United States. OUTWORDS is proud to present “Documenting Defiance: A Conversation on the Legacy of AIDS Activism in the Queer South,” a panel discussion, for Invisible Histories’ Queer History South conference. You can register for the conference at https://givebutter.com/QHS2026 #HIVAwareness #HIVAEducation #HIVPrevention #PublicHealth #PublicHealthEducation #HIVPositive #HIVAIDS

Bisexual and HIV community activist Luigi Ferrer has been living with HIV most of his adult life. Luigi has worked to make sure that the LGBTQ+ youth of today are informed and empowered with resources and access to treatment. The end of the HIV epidemic is in sight and we thank Luigi for his contributions in this struggle.

On Saturday, February 21, Luigi and other OUTWORDS interviewees will be exploring the different regional legacies and strategies central to the ongoing work of HIV/AIDS activism in the southern United States. OUTWORDS is proud to present “Documenting Defiance: A Conversation on the Legacy of AIDS Activism in the Queer South,” a panel discussion, for Invisible Histories’ Queer History South conference. You can register for the conference at https://givebutter.com/QHS2026

#HIVAwareness #HIVAEducation #HIVPrevention #PublicHealth #PublicHealthEducation #HIVPositive #HIVAIDS

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HIV Activist Luigi Ferrer: “The Light at the End of the Tunnel”

Fashionisto and Community Organizer Garland Gravely loooooves ballroom! As a long-held safe space for Black and brown LGBTQ+ folks, ballroom culture is a place to celebrate, educate, and wow the crowd with incredible fashions. By founding Roanoke's House of Expression, Garland carries the torch of Black trans women who made this space, keeping the dream alive. #Ballroom #StrikeAPose #LGBTQFashion #LGBTQSpaces #BallroomCulture

Fashionisto and Community Organizer Garland Gravely loooooves ballroom! As a long-held safe space for Black and brown LGBTQ+ folks, ballroom culture is a place to celebrate, educate, and wow the crowd with incredible fashions. By founding Roanoke's House of Expression, Garland carries the torch of Black trans women who made this space, keeping the dream alive.

#Ballroom #StrikeAPose #LGBTQFashion #LGBTQSpaces #BallroomCulture

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Garland Gravely looooooves ballroom culture!

Trans health advocate Jude Patton speaks on the power of self-love and self-compassion. January is Self-Love Month! What will you do to show yourself some love today? #SelfLove #SelfCompassion #TransIsHandsome #TransIsBeautiful

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Trans elder Jude Patton on Self-Love

Today, we honor Martin Luther King Jr., a courageous civil rights activist. Many of us learn about Dr. King as youngsters in school, but as adults we must continue to uphold his dreams through our actions. Please join us (and OUTWORDS interviewee Dale Guy Madison) in celebrating Dr. King's birthday by dreaming and continuing his fight for racial equality and justice in your own community. #MartinLutherKingJr #MLKDay #FreedomForAll

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Dale Guy Madison on MLK: "I've been moved by dreams"

Erika Joyner is a community activist, musician, and proud Virginian. Here she shares how a chance meeting with a trans guy helped her make home in Roanoke. #RuralQueers #SouthernQueers #LGBTQStories #TransElders #TransIsBeautiful

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Virginia trans activist Erika Joyner: “Manna from Heaven”

OUTWORDS' Founder and Executive Director Mason Funk is #obsessed with the immigrant voices in our archive. We've been fortunate enough to have many immigrant interviewees share their stories of discovery, joy, and resilience with us. We want to show our support by taking time to uplift these stories and shine a light on the impact they have in our community. #ImmigrantVoices #ImmigrantStories #LGBTQimmigrants #OUTWORDSObsession

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OUTWORDS founder Mason Funk is #obsessed with LGBTQ immigrant stories

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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