Oral history interview with Richard Ham conducted by Dennis McBride on January 18, 2002 for the Las Vegas Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Ham discusses the assault of Nevada Supreme Court Justice Frank McNamee in 1965. Ham describes being accused by McNamee of being a communist, McNamee's sexuality, and how McNamee was able to succeed politically despite being a gay man. He continues, discussing the history of the trial following McNamee's assault, and also describes other aspects of Nevada's political history during that time. Ham concludes by discussing being gay and some of his sexual experiences with men.
Oral history interview with Kenny Kerr conducted by Dennis McBride on May 29, 2001 and May 30, 2001 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. Kerr discusses his childhood and the beginning of the female character, Kenny Kerr. Kerr also talks about the shows Boylesque, Gay Illusions, Doll Factory, and Vive les Boys. Kerr then discusses the other aspects of his career in drag performance.
Oral history interviews with Susan and Holly Carratelli conducted by Dennis McBride on June 24 and 26, 1999 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. In the interviews, Susan and Holly recall first meeting during the planning for the 1994 National Coming Out Day event in Las Vegas, Nevada. They discuss what they value in a relationship, their past relationship experiences, and their involvement with the Gay and Lesbian Community Center and Metropolitan Community Church. Other subjects they cover include their marriage, anecdotes about living together, having children, their daily routine, and conflicting inter-community perceptions between gay men and women in Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Mark Douglas conducted by Dennis McBride on May 16, 1999 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Douglas discusses his family and upbringing in the Mormon Church, his realization of his sexuality, first experiences with gay clubs and associations, and the conflict between his feelings and his faith. He continues talking about Church views of homosexuality in a modern and historical context and then details two organizations that offer support to LGBT members of the Mormon Church.
Oral history interview with Richard Schlegel conducted by Dennis McBride on June 03, 2006 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Schlegel discusses his involvement with Equal Rights Nevada (ERN) and the petition to amend the Nevada Constitution that prevented same-sex marriages in the early 2000s. He talks about the approach that ERN took to campaign against the petition and the role that the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage had at the time. Schlegel then describes the Marriage Protection Pledge, his experiences managing a campaign supporting marriage rights for gay couples, and explains how the outcome of the petition affected the Las Vegas, Nevada gay community.
The collection is comprised of University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) professor, Dr. Patrick W. Carlton's, research files dating from 1982 to 2011 in the "Oral History of the Public School Principalship" Project. The papers include research files about principals in Las Vegas, Nevada and Superintendents on the Clark County School District.
Oral history interviews with Jerry Cade conducted by Dennis McBride on various dates in February, May, June, July, and November of 2003 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. In these interviews, Cade recalls his early life in Kermit, Texas, his education, his Methodist upbringing, and understanding his sexuality during high school and college. He then talks about traveling to Spain in January 1976 where he met his first romantic partner. Cade then describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1981 to work at the Community Health Centers of Southern Nevada. He also discusses other relationships he had since moving to Las Vegas, his political activism, working on the first American Medical Association panel to study AIDS in 1983, and his first AIDS patient in August 29, 1985. Cade then elaborates on the history of AIDS in Las Vegas, AIDS support and advocacy groups in Las Vegas, the public perception of AIDS and the gay community, and the repeal of Nevada's sodomy law.
Oral history interview with Rodney Sumpter conducted by Dennis McBride on August 30, 1999 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Sumpter discusses his involvement with repealing one of Nevada’s sodomy laws (NRS 201.190) in 1985. He recalls going to the Nevada State Supreme Court and discusses similar cases involving sodomy laws in the United States.
Oral history interview with Rick Arpin conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on May 22, 2024 for the Game On! The Oral History of Las Vegas Sports project. In this interview, Las Vegas native Rick Arpin reflects on his East Las Vegas childhood, his career in accounting and finance, and his role with MGM Resorts in conceiving, building, and operating the T-Mobile Arena, home of the Vegas Golden Knights. Arpin mostly focuses on the idea of what would become T-Mobile arena, possible sites and designs for the arena, and putting everything on hold through the financial crisis (2008-2009) and the building of City Center (2008-2010). He talks about MGM Resorts realizing they had to manage all sports and entertainment venues across the company, including security, vendors, booking, and all operations. Arpin recalls the multiple people, institutions, and determination that helped chip away the "stigma" that professional and collegiate sports felt clouded Las Vegas as a location for professional or collegiate sports. Digital audio available.
Archival Collection
Game On! The Oral History of Las Vegas Sports Interviews
Oral history interviews with Lee Plotkin conducted by Dennis McBride on August 02, 10, and 16; and October 04, 2006 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. In these interviews, Plotkin talks about his reaction to Lieutenant Governor of Nevada Myron E. Leavitt's claim that attending the Nevada Gay Rodeo violated Nevada's sodomy laws in the early 1980s. Plotkin recalls his childhood, coming out during high school, his early involvement with the Las Vegas, Nevada gay community, and his memories of Lieutenant Governor Leavitt and Leavitt's family. Plotkin also discusses the development and activities of LGBTQ organizations and demonstrations, including Golden Rainbow and Gay Pride. Lastly, he talks about the repeal of Nevada's sodomy laws in 1993, the defeat of Nevada Citizens' Alliance's anti-gay initiative petition Minority Status and Child Protection Act of 1994, and the growth of the Las Vegas LGBTQ community.