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.
Archival Collection
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.
Archival Collection
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.
Archival Collection
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.
Archival Collection
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.
Archival Collection
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.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Sally MacEachern conducted by Dennis McBride on February 24 and March 11, 2002 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. MacEachern opens her interview discussing her birth and upbringing with her twin sister in Wisconsin during the 1940s. She then describes her family history, her life as a twin, and what it was like to be part of a military family. MacEachern then talks about her first lesbian sexual encounters and meeting other lesbians for the first time. She discusses joining the military and efforts within the organization to remove lesbians from the service that eventually lead to her termination. MacEachern then recalls going to college in the 1960s, meeting other lesbians, and moving in with her first girlfriend. She describes moving to Las Vegas, Nevada for graduate school, joining the gay community, and frequenting local gay businesses including Maxine's and Camp David. She then discusses the lesbian separatists movement, the different struggles gay men face compared to lesbian women, and the local community response to the AIDS crisis.
Archival Collection
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.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Dale Kimball conducted by Dennis McBride on May 16, 1999 and January 1, 2001 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Kimball discusses their personal impressions of and historical information about the people who donated to the Nevada Coalition for the Protection of Marriage, an organization which opposed same sex marriage. The interview consists entirely of Kimball reading through a list of donors to the Coalition and providing personal anecdotes on each individual.
Archival Collection