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Hazel Gay oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00662

Abstract

Oral history interview with Hazel Gay conducted by Claytee D. White on December 02, 1995 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Gay discusses her husband being the first African-American mortician in Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as being the assistant manager at the Sands Hotel and Casino and an executive at the Union Plaza. Gay also discusses running dress shops and working as a display artist and retail clerk in other shops.

Archival Collection

James A. "Jimmy" Gay oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00665

Abstract

Oral history interview with James A. Gay III (Jimmy Gay) conducted by Perry Kaufman on April 12, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Gay discusses becoming the first African-American mortician in Las Vegas, Nevada and his work improving race relations, social, economic, and civic issues.

Archival Collection

Jan Jones oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00970

Abstract

Oral history interview with Jan Jones conducted by Dennis McBride on March 26, 1998 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Jones discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1981 and describes the car dealership commercials she was involved in with Kenny Kerr in the 1980s. Jones recalls the No Hate rallies that were organized in Nevada to support gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. She then talks about the backlash she received as Mayor of Las Vegas because of her support for the gay community.

Archival Collection

James A. "Jimmy" Gay III oral history interview

Identifier

OH-00664

Abstract

Oral history interview with James A. (Jimmy Gay) Gay III conducted by Joyce M. Wright in 1973 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Gay recalls details about his education in Arkansas and his training in mortuary science in Chicago, Illinois and discusses the nine-year delay in obtaining his license to practice as a mortician in Nevada because of racial discrimination. He recounts his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1946, his experiences as a recreation director and as a personnel and communications director for the hotel industry, work that he took while waiting for his licensure to practice. He also talks about his career as a mortician with Palm Mortuary in Las Vegas, the atomic testing of the 1950s and 1960s, and his long involvement with the NAACP and the Freedom Fund. He closes by reciting two poems that have inspired him and express his philosophy.

Archival Collection

Kendall Stagg oral history interview

Identifier

OH-01754

Abstract

Kendall Stagg oral history interview conducted by Dennis McBride on January 11, 2002 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In the interview, Stagg discusses his early life in Utah, his religious upbringing, coming out as gay, and his involvement with the gay community in Reno, Nevada. He also talks about running for Nevada State Assembly District 32 in 2000 as one of Nevada's youngest openly gay politicians. Lastly, Stagg recalls his time as president of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Student Union in University of Nevada, Reno and co-founding Reno’s first Gay Pride parades in 1999.

Archival Collection

Lee Martin oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02557

Abstract

Oral history interview with Lee Martin conducted by Dennis McBride on May 01, 2013 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Martin discusses his involvement with the Nevada Gay Action League and the Pacifica Hotel, an effort to open a gay resort in Las Vegas, Nevada during the mid 1980s. He describes managing Paradise Bookstore, a bookstore for gay literature, in downtown Las Vegas. Lastly, Martin discusses other gay businesses that he was involved with in Las Vegas.

Archival Collection

Jane Heenan oral history interviews

Identifier

OH-02552

Abstract

Oral history interviews with Jane Heenan conducted by Dennis McBride on June 21 and 28, and August 30, 2005 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In the interviews, Heenan begins by clarifying the vocabulary used within the transgender and queer communities for self-identification, comparing these terms with terms used in the medical and psychological fields. They then discusses the distinction between gender identity and sexual orientation. Next, Heenan recalls growing up and in Chicago, Illinois, coming out in the 1990s, and undergoing sex reassignment surgery. Lastly, they talk about arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1994, the Las Vegas transgender support and advocacy community, and Las Vegas transgender organizations.

Archival Collection

George Smith oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02566

Abstract

Oral history interview with George Smith conducted by Dennis McBride on June 28, 2002 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Smith discusses his life as a priest of the Christian Orthodox church and a gay man. He describes his experiences living in an Orthodox monastery, his interactions with the gay community of Las Vegas, Nevada since the 1960s, and other gay priests Smith has known. Smith also details bringing in speakers for talks with his gay congregation to provide information on topics including sexually transmitted diseases and careers. He concludes by discussing his involvement with gay student groups at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Archival Collection

Stormy Caldwell oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02540

Abstract

Oral history interview with Stormy Caldwell conducted by Dennis McBride on March 26, 2005 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Caldwell discusses the gay community in Lake Tahoe and Reno, Nevada. She talks about her involvement with Stonewell Park, an idea of a separated gay community during the 1980s. Caldwell then discusses buying land on Thunder Mountain, Nevada and the possibility of Stonewell Park being built in that area.

Archival Collection

Pamela Dallas oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02544

Abstract

Oral history interview with Pamela Dallas conducted by Dennis McBride on February 07, 2004 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Dallas discusses working alongside gay activist Fred Schoonmaker and her involvement with Stonewall Park, an idea of a separated gay community during the 1980s. She talks about fundraising for Stonewall Park and the homophobia that the community of Silver Springs, Nevada had towards the construction of Stonewall Park.

Archival Collection