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
Oral history interview with Ron Lawrence conducted by Dennis McBride on 1997 June 22, July 11, and August 08 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. In this interview Ron Lawrence discusses his early life, his career, and the gay community in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also discusses gay rights and the AIDs epidemic in the 1980s.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Rick May conducted by Dennis McBride on December 29, 2001 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. May begins by discussing his upbringing in Texas, what it was like growing up knowing he was gay while living in a conservative area, and the moment he accepted his sexuality. May describes some of his early sexual experiences with other men and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, so that he could contribute to the gay community. May details attending and organizing gay pride events in Las Vegas, participating in the gay community, and starting his own gay-friendly business, named "R & R Sorted Sundries." May also discusses his work as a nurse.
Archival Collection
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
Oral history interviews with David Parks conducted by Dennis McBride on February 16 and 21, 2000 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In the interviews, Parks talks about his early life in Boston, Massachusetts, his education, and his service with the United States Air Force, where he was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1967. Parks then recalls understanding his sexuality during his military service and policies regarding gay military personnel. He remembers coming out as gay in 1972, when he attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and worked for the City of Las Vegas as a computer operator. He then talks about getting involved with politics, his involvement with gay support organizations including Aid for AIDS of Nevada, and his experiences running as the first openly gay Nevada State Assemblyman in 1996. Lastly, Parks discusses same sex rights legislation that was brought forward during his time in office.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Christie Young conducted by Dennis McBride on October 18, 1998 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In the interview, Young talks about her early life in Reno, Nevada and her experiences with race and sexuality during this time. She then describes attending University of Nevada, Reno in 1974, getting pregnant, having an abortion, and the social implications of abortions. Young recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1979 to study anthropology at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, learning about gay culture, and attending the Metropolitan Community Church. She then explains joining gay rights organizations as a straight woman, gay rights activism in the 1980s and 1990s, and stories of individuals within the Las Vegas gay community.
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 Wendy Butler conducted by Dennis McBride on May 23, 2007 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Butler discusses her involvement with the magazine
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Gudrun Fonfa conducted by Dennis McBride on June 15, 2008 and June 22, 2008 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In these interviews, Fonfa discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1981 and describes the lesbian community at the time. She talks about the founding of organizations to support the rights of the gay community. Fonfa discusses her contributions to Nevadans for Human Rights (NHR) and the development of the gay community. Lastly, Fonfa describes Women United of Nevada (WUN) and the organization's decision to change their mission statement.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Ralph Vandersnick conducted by Dennis McBride on October 18, 1997 for the Las Vegas Gay Archives Oral History Project. Vandersnick discusses growing up on a farm with his family in Illinois, owning a gay bar called the Studio Club in California, and owning another gay bar called Snick's Place when he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1976.
Archival Collection