LGBTQ Guide: Oral History Interviews

Setting the Scene: An Oral History Interview with Mr. Andre Powell

Although LGBTQ+ individuals have always existed, they have a long history of being denied equal access and opportunity, and the state of Maryland is no exception. During the 1970s, many same-sex individuals sought licenses to get married, leading some states to outright ban same-sex marriage, with Maryland being the first (The State of Marriage Equality in America). During the 70s, gay liberation activists started encouraging other LGBTQ+ individuals to openly identify as a part of the community to display pride and allow society to see that there are many LGBTQ+ members (Ferentinos). LGBTQ+ groups started forming in Maryland, including Baltimore’s Gay Liberation Front, the Baltimore Gay Alliance, and the Gay Student Alliance at the University of Maryland. Additionally, community centers such as the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore and LGBTQ+ underground newspapers would form. While those groups were coming together in the 70s, Andre Powell was working to form his own LGBTQ+ student group, the Essex Gay Student Union, at the Essex Community College, now the Community College of Baltimore County. I sat down with Andre who explained the origins of the Essex Gay Student Union, which was the first gay student club at Essex, and what it meant to be a gay man in the 70s.  

References

Ferentinos, Susan, Egerman, Benjamin. Maryland LGBTQ Historic Context Study, 2020, https://www.preservationmaryland.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/maryland-lgbtq-historic-context-study-september-2020-full-web.pdf 

Office of the Attorney General. (2015, April). The State of Marriage Equality in America, https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Reports/The%20State%

20of%20Marriage%20Equality%20in%20America%202015.pdf 

Interview Highlights

Setting the Scene: An Oral History Interview with Tami Jackson-Lincoln

Tami Jackson-Lincoln is a former CCBC student who served as president of the Rainbow Club in 2009. Tami and her wife BJ’s home served as a safe space for CCBC’s LGBTQ community and other at-risk students. During her time at CCBC, the Rainbow Club had many active members and engaged with the community through events and by partaking in nationwide campaigns such as the Day of Silence and the It Gets Better Project. Day of Silence is a national student-led protest where participants stay silent for the day in solidarity with the LGBTQ people who’ve faced harassment and discrimination in a school setting (GLSEN, 2022). The It Gets Better Project started in 2010 with a social media campaign that encouraged LGBTQ people and allies to share stories of hope and happiness for those struggling with their gender or sexuality (It Gets Better, 2022). The Rainbow Club partook in the movement by creating a video where club members, CCBC students, and faculty told their own stories of being a part of the LGBTQ community or their allyship. 

The Rainbow Club was Tami’s first experience being a part of the community, and that’s why LGBTQ student groups carry so much importance. In this interview, you’ll learn about Tami’s life and gain more understanding of what it was like being a lesbian and a part of the Rainbow Club in the early 2010s. Tami also shares and honors her memories of her late wife BJ, who always encouraged and supported her. Tami and BJ married in May 2010, not long after gay marriage became legalized in Washington DC (Dazio, 2012). 

References 

Dazio, S. (2012, February 24). Same-sex marriage in D.C.: A Timeline. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-same-sex-marriage-in-dc-a-timeline/2012/02/24/gIQAZoFTYR_blog.html 

GLSEN. (2022, April 22) Join us for day of silence on April 22, 2022 and support LGBTQ students! https://www.glsen.org/day-of-silence  

It Gets Better. (2022, February 25). About. https://itgetsbetter.org/about/ 

Interview Highlights

Setting the Scene: An Oral History Interview with Olivia Yates

2020 was a year that many of us don’t look back on fondly. A pandemic took the world by storm, leaving many behind locked doors and in fear of the “what-if”. In addition to that, we had an election unlike one we have never seen before, followed by an attempted coup on the capital. 2020 was also a hard year for those who identified with the LGBTQ+ community – with then President Donald J. Trump seeking to push back against the rights that those who don’t identify as cisgender or heterosexual have fought tirelessly to gain (Reid). 

There is no denying that 2020 wasn’t an easy year by any means – however it was still a big year for LGBTQ representation within the political climate. According to Them, 336 out of the 782 “out” LGBTQ candidates during the 2020 election were voted into office. Eleven LGBTQ individuals had been voted into the Senate and House of Representatives – as well as the first gay black man being voted into Congress. (Lang, 2020) 

It was also the year that Liv Yates sought to begin her higher education journey at the Community College of Baltimore County, joining the Gay Student Alliance (GSA) During her first semester. Liv helped to facilitate “Culture from your Couch” events where members of the GSA would give presentations on LGBT historical moments or artists. 

References  

Lang, Nico. (9 Dec. 2020). The Results Are in: A Record-Breaking 334 LGBTQ+ Politicians Were Elected in 2020. Them.  www.them.us/story/334-lgbtq-politicians-elected-2020.  

Reid, G. (2021, Feb. 24). Global Trends in LGBT Rights During the Covid-19 Pandemic. Human Rights Watch. www.hrw.org/news/2021/02/24/global-trends-lgbt-rights-during-covid-19-pandemic. 

Setting the Scene: An Oral History Interview with Dr. Morgan Slusher 

The year is 1995. Dr. Morgan Slusher joins Essex Community College. At the time, federal courts were denying discrimination protection for gay and lesbian persons pertaining to housing, employment, or other matters of concern. Organizations and individuals were encouraged to take their concerns up with local authorities. This same year, lawmakers rejected a gay rights bill in Maryland that would have prohibited discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations based on sexual orientation.  

It was not until 2001 that Maryland issued statewide protections against discrimination based on an individual's sexual orientation, though it is unclear exactly what those protections covered. Then in 2013, same-sex marriages were finally legalized and went into effect in January. While some LGBTQIA+ laws and protections have changed, there is still a long way to go. LGBTQIA+ history and human rights education is still lacking in most grade schools, as well as many colleges. Formerly Essex Community College, CCBC (Community College of Baltimore County) now offers “Women’s Studies” as well as “Racial and Cultural Minorities,” but they do not offer any LGBTQIA+ centered courses.  

CCBC is dedicated to ensuring that their own history is preserved for future generations. By creating these oral history interviews, we assure that individual pieces of LGBTQIA+ history are preserved for future generations to come. Thanks to the programs, policies, and efforts of Dr. Morgan Slusher both students and faculty can find their community space at CCBC. Please watch Dr. Slusher’s interview to hear about some of the special projects and programs that he has inspired, created, and collaborated on during his time at CCBC.

References

Freedom for All Americans. (2018, February 18). LGBTQ Non-discrimination in the States: Maryland.  Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://freedomforallamericans.org/category/states/md/ 

Morris, J.A. (1995, March 14). Md. House panel kills gay-rights bill. Baltimore Sun.  https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-03-14-1995073055-story.html 

Slusher, M. P., Mayer, J. C., & Dunkle, R. E., (1996, February 1). Gays and Lesbians Older and Wiser (GLOW): A Support group for older gay people. The Gerontologist, 36(1), 118-123. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/36.1.118 

Interview Highlights

Setting the Scene: An Oral History Interview with Melissa Hopp

In 2007, Melissa Hopp joined Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) as Vice President of Administrative Services. Although same-sex marriage was not yet legal at the time, Maryland began to recognize domestic partnerships, which would eventually pave the path to same-sex marriage. Prior to the legalization of same-sex marriage, Maryland passed laws on January 1, 2008, that extended domestic partner benefits to both unmarried same-sex and opposite-sex couples. These laws opened the doors to many LGBTQ+ couples as it allowed them to receive health insurance, bereavement leave, and legal protections, including the right to make hospital visits and funeral arrangements. Eventually CCBC followed suit, and in 2011, with the involvement of Vice President Melissa Hopp, CCBC implemented a policy that provided domestic partner benefits to their employees.  

Soon enough, on January 1, 2013, same-sex marriage became legal in Maryland, which was a huge turning point for the LGBTQ+ community. As Maryland began to be more accepting towards LGBTQ+ individuals and their rights, CCBC would also continue to expand their efforts and resources towards more LGBTQ+ diversity, inclusion, and belonging of their students and faculty. In this interview, Vice President Melissa Hopp discusses CCBC policies, including domestic partner benefits, gender-inclusive bathrooms, and preferred names. Each of these policies have increased the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals on campus. You will also learn about Melissa’s life and gain an insight on her journey and experience as an LGBTQ+ individual that has held executive and leadership positions for almost 40 years.  

References

Austermhule, M. (2015, June 26). Before it was legal nationally, here’s how same-sex marriage became legal locally. WAMU 88.5 American University Radio. https://wamu.org/story/15/06/26/same_sex_marriage_already_ 

legal_locally_now_legal_nationally/

Ferentinos, S., Egerman, B. (2020 Sept.).  Maryland LGBTQ Historic Context Study, https://www.preservationmaryland.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/maryland-lgbtq-historic-context-study-september-2020-full-web.pdf  

Venable LLP. (2008, Oct. 31). Maryland domestic partner legislation. Lexology. https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=afb013e9-e022-4585-9d52-089ddf79d4ee 

Setting the Scene: An Oral History Interview with Scott Krysztofiak

Around the early 2000s the LGBTQ community was met with several challenging legal situations. In Maryland, consensual same-sex intimacy was banned in the state until 1999 (Sullivan and Adams, 1999). While the invalidation of the laws against intimacy was a step forward in LGBTQ history, unfortunately, same sex marriage would remain illegal until January 1, 2013. (Eckholm, 2012). 

In 2001, while Scott, our interviewee, was attending Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), Maryland passed a significant law that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing, and public accommodations (Au, 2001). This legislation provided crucial protections for LGBTQ individuals ensuring they had equal rights in various aspects of daily life. This was a huge step forward in achieving a more just and equitable future for LGBTQ individuals. 

Shortly after coming out as gay, Scott Krysztofiak enrolled at CCBC and began connecting with the LGBTQ community within the college. Initially he was not very comfortable with his identity but as he became more involved in the Rainbow Club and theatre, he started to become his most authentic self. Scott came to the college intending to focus on architecture but changed to psychology. Scott now works as a licensed clinical psychologist working in a group practice in Alexandria, Virginia. 

References

Au, Y. (2001). Maryland Legislative Summary: Senate Bill 205: Anti-Discrimination Act. https://scholarworks.law.ubalt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2043&context=lf 

Eckholm, E. (2012 Nov 07). In Maine and Maryland, Victories at the Ballot Box for Same-Sex Marriage. New York Times, http://ccbcmd.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/maine-maryland-victories-at-ballot-box-same-sex/docview/1139294269/se-2  

Sullivan, D. H., Adams, M., & Ii, M. H. S. (1999). The Legalization of Same-Gender Sexual Intimacy in Maryland. https://scholarworks.law.ubalt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1937&context=lf 

Setting the Scene: an Oral History Interview with Mr. Ken Jiretsu

Between the years of 2010 and 2014, when Ken Jiretsu attended CCBC (Community College of Baltimore County), there had been a lot of advancement in the laws surrounding lives of LGBTQ+ citizens in the United States and more specifically Maryland. In 2013 same -sex marriage became legal in Maryland. During this time there was a new deeper understanding of gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals. However there was not really an understanding of transgender and nonbinary individuals. In 2017 around 56% of US adults believed that whether someone is a man or a woman is determined by the sex they were assigned at birth (Minkin & Brown 2021). 

 Ken Jiretsu attended CCBC at a time where there was not much support for transgender individuals. This influenced Mr. Jiretsu to commit to a career of advocacy for transgender individuals while also experiencing his own journey of transitioning, starting with his interest in CCBC’s Rainbow Club. Maryland is a state that has particularly supported and improved transgender rights. In 2014 the general assembly of Maryland passed a bill to protect transgender individuals from discrimination by landlords and employers based on their identity (Johnson 2014). Even with these impactful changes there was still so much that needed improvement, which kept Ken on his road to advocacy. In the following interview he discusses his journey, starting his career in advocacy, and the influence his time at CCBC had on finding his passion.  

References

Johnson, J. (2014, March 27). Maryland approves legislation addressing transgender rights. The Washington Post. Retrieved July 5, 2022, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/md-lawmakers-pass-legislation-banning-discrimination-against-transgender-people/2014/03/27/c455b43a-b5e8-11e3-8cb6-284052554d74_story.html  

Minkin, R., & Brown, A. (2021, July 27). Rising shares of U.S. adults know someone who is transgender or goes by gender-neutral pronouns. Pew Research Center. Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/07/27/rising-shares-of-u-s-adults-know-someone-who-is-transgender-or-goes-by-gender-neutral-pronouns/  

Learn more about Hearts and Ears, the peer-run LGBTQIA+ mental health, wellness, and recovery center where Ken is currently Executive Director: https://www.heartsandears.org/

Interview Highlights

Setting the Scene: An Oral History Interview with Mary Jo Richards

In 2006, the landscape of LGBTQ rights in America, particularly regarding same-sex marriage, was a battleground of progress and resistance. Although the Maryland case of  Deane & Polyak v. Conaway (Md., 2007) challenged the state's same-sex marriage ban, the ban was upheld. In 2001, Maryland's legislature passed the Anti-Discrimination Act of 2001, which gave protection in employment and housing, to individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. 

 By 2008, the recognition around LGBTQ rights around the country had noticeably evolved, focusing on marriage equality, anti-discrimination laws, and repealing discriminatory policies. The state of Maryland began showing progress in 2009 by acknowledging out-of-state same-sex marriages, indicating a shift toward greater LGBTQ inclusivity. After the fighting and multiple losses of equal rights,  in 2013, same-sex marriage was legalized in the state of Maryland. The marriage equality legislation highlights the broader issue of the slow pace of democratic change for LGBTQ rights in the United States, which spanned nearly 40 years. The period from 2006 to 2011 was built by challenges and achievements in the community, impacting institutions like CCBC by fostering greater awareness, advocacy, and support for LGBTQ individuals on campus. 

In 2008, students at CCBC who were a part of the Rainbow Club that Mary Jo Richards advised, started to voice their desire for gender-inclusive bathrooms, and they were the start of advocation for equal LGBTQ bathroom rights at CCBC. Currently, 16 years later, CCBC offers gender-inclusive bathrooms on each campus, allowing privileges for restroom usage without identifying as a specific gender. 

References

American Civil Liberties Union (2010, Dec. 10).  Faces of Justice denied – Gita Deane and   

 Lisa Polyak. https://www.aclu.org/documents/faces-justice-denied-gita-deane-and  

 -lisa-polyak  

Community College of Baltimore County. (n.d.). Campus facilities and amenities. https://www.ccbcmd.edu/Student-Life/Campus-Amenities/index.html

Deane & Polyak v. Conaway. American Civil Liberties Union. (2006, November 1). 

 https://www.aclu.org/cases/deane-polyak-v-conaway  

 Deane v. Conway, 401 Md. 219, 932 A. 2d 571 (2007). 

 Office of the Attorney General. (2015, April). The State of Marriage Equality in America.   

https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Reports/The

%20State%20of%20Marriage%20Equality%20in%

20America%202015.pdf