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.
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.
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 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 interviews with Kevin M. Kelly conducted by Dennis McBride on September 08 and 22; and November 10, 2000 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. In the interviews, Kelly talks about his family and early life in Boston, Massachusetts with a focus on his Catholic upbringing. He recalls his law education, serving in the United States Army during the Vietnam War for eleven years, and discovering his sexuality in 1966 while working in the Boston City Hospital. Kelly then describes being discharged from the military due to allegations of being gay, and his family's reaction. He then recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1978, where he was involved in a robbery and shooting incident with a male sex worker in 1982. Kelly goes on to recall the trial that proceed the incident and how it publicly outed him. He details how he was charged with felony sodomy and ultimately lost his job as a result of the trial. Finally, he talks about serving on a task force to investigate bias in Nevada's court system in 1992 and being honored in 1994 by the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada for his work.
Oral history interview with Albert Hood conducted by Dennis McBride on June 16, 1998 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. In this interview Bert Hood discusses his early life, getting married to a woman, joining the army, discovering his sexuality, and the various loves of his life. He also talks about coming to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1962, working at the Sands Hotel as a bartender, serving The Rat Pack, who tipped him generously, cruising at Squires Park, local gay landmarks, and the first drag shows in Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Jay and Jayson Dicotignano conducted by Dennis McBride on November 05, 2006 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, the Dicotignanos talk about their marriage and the Men’s Movement of the late 1980s. Jay discusses his career as a therapist, in public health, and the process to have a gay marriage ceremony at a church. Later, the two describe gay parenthood and what gay couples did to have children. Lastly, they recall foster parent training and becoming foster parents.
Oral history interview with Rodney Sumpter conducted by Dennis McBride on January 20, 2004 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Sumpter discusses Fred Schoonmaker, a Reno, Nevada gay activist, and his efforts to create Stonewall Park, a town for LGBTQ members in Nevada that was never realized. Sumpter describes his professional relationship with Schoonmaker as his attorney. He also recalls the early stages for Stonewall Park, including finding a location and struggling to find financial and local support for the town. Lastly, Sumpter talks about Schoonmaker's HIV health issues and his personal thoughts on the LGBTQ community.
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.