Lesbian Herstory Archives AudioVisual Collections

Mary T., July 7, 1978 (Tape 1)

Item

460.jpg

Title

Mary T., July 7, 1978 (Tape 1)

Subject

Sexual relationships
Lesbians--family--relationships
Lesbians--Relations with heterosexuals
Gay military personnel--United States
Lesbian bars
U.S. states--Race relations
Role playing
Lesbian community
Lesbians--United States--Social conditions
Lesbian culture
Gay men--Relations with lesbians

Description

Side A: Mary briefly describes her childhood and family dynamics. Mary and the interviewer then discuss the first time Mary recognized being different and her thoughts on desiring women at a young age, yet not knowing about lesbianism as a concept or about the lesbian community. Mary then recalls the first time she encountered the word "lesbian" when she joined the U.S. Air Force and describes her experiences with women while in the service. Mary talks about being a lesbian in the military, the investigation into her conduct, and her dishonorable discharge. After Mary got another job, she started going to a bar in Buffalo, N.Y., and she talks about the other lesbians she met there. Mary then discovered other bars and talks about the scene as well as the role-playing of butch and femme.

Constant whirring noise that stops about 10 minutes into the recording.

Side B: Mary continues the discussion on butch and femme role-playing. She elaborates on fights, holding down jobs, and being "out." She also explains the relationships lesbians had with gay men in Buffalo, N.Y., and the bar scene dynamics of mixed, gay, or lesbian bars. Mary and the interviewer discuss gay activism and the difficulties of being involved in activism at that time. Mary also describes outings where there was a risk of being visible as a group, such as going on picnics or renting cottages. She elaborates on her experience with social dynamics like cliques and having heterosexual friends within the lesbian and gay community. Mary then expands upon the nature of her relationships with women as well as with black lesbians - racial prejudice and relationships are discussed.

Constant whirring noise that stops about 5 minutes into the recording.

Creator

Mary T.

Date Created

1978-07-07

Contributor

Pratt Institute, School of Information and Library Science, 665 Projects in Digital Archives Students

Is Format Of

tape cassette “SPW460 Mary T”

Extent

Side A: 45:52
Side B: 45:52

Medium

mpeg
wav

Language

eng

Type

Sound
Oral History Interview

Identifier

SPW#460

Rights Holder

Lesbian Herstory Archives, Contact Designation: Maxine Wolfe, Contact Address: 484 14th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215, Phone Number: 718-768-3953

Citation

Mary T., “Mary T., July 7, 1978 (Tape 1),” Lesbian Herstory Archives AudioVisual Collections, accessed March 28, 2024, http://herstories.prattinfoschool.nyc/omeka/items/show/25.