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Interview with James A. Gay III conducted by Perry Kaufman on April 12, 1972. Arriving in 1946 from Fordyce, Arkansas, Gay became the first African-American mortician in Las Vegas. He later worked as Assistant Manager of the Sands Hotel and Casino and Union Plaza while serving as an executive board member of the Culinary Union. Instrumental in the Las Vegas community, Gay worked to improved race relations, addressing social, economic, and civic issues. Gay was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1988.
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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 Robert "Bob" Fulkerson conducted by Dennis McBride on March 27, 2007 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Fulkerson discusses his involvement in the Nevada for Constitutional Employment (NCE) organization and their 1993 efforts to repeal Nevada's sodomy law. Fulkerson describes how the gay community reacted and prepared for the 2002 voting season, specifically regarding question 2, which banned same-sex marriage in Nevada. Later, Fulkerson compares both legislative events. Lastly, Fulkerson discusses the future of the gay community in the state of Nevada.
Archival Collection
Black and white portrait photograph of Jimmy Gay working at his desk, dated 1946.
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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 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.
Archival Collection