Abstract

Ms. Curry describes growing up in Shaw and Eastgate, the influence of music in her early life, coming into her own gender and sexuality in her teens, joy and pain on the streets and in the clubs, traumatic experiences in Lorton prison, organizing against discrimination against transgender women, her continued advocacy, and the importance of helping and loving each other.

Abstract In this oral history interview, Easter Brown discusses her life and experiences moving from Marshville, North Carolina, to Washington, DC, in 1959. Recalling her upbringing in Marshville, Ms. Brown talks about her early educational experiences, her family’s work as sharecroppers, and racial segregation in her hometown. Ms. Brown talks about her decision to move to Washington, finding work in the city, meeting her husband and raising her children, and the changes she’s seen in her...

Abstract Ms. Thomas discusses growing up in North Brentwood, just outside D.C., her early sense of herself as different and coming into her gender and sexuality, other people treating her as a girl from a young age, the importance of support from her family, how D.C. was the center of things and where she found community with transgender women, sex work, the AIDS epidemic and working as a home health aide, her involvement with gay, transgender and HIV/AIDS organizations including Transgender Health...

Abstract Layne Garrett discusses growing up in a typical household in Tennessee and spending his childhood, visiting family on long road trips to Texas. While interest in music was always present in Layne’s life, it was in high school that exposure to outsider literature and open tuning in guitar brought him to be a part of music projects and pursue creative expression. He reflects on four years of living in a new city in Phoenix after college, where lack of social engagements got him to experiment...

Abstract

Ms. Earls discusses growing up in D.C., mostly in Shaw, her early sense of herself as different and coming into her gender and sexuality, the importance of dancing and performance to her from an early age, her struggle with addiction and time in prison, go-go and hand dancing, being in the National Museum of African American History, remembering everyone who has passed and her thankfulness for living to such an age.

Abstract

Ms. Steward discusses growing up in D.C., mostly in Shaw, her early sense of herself as different and coming into her gender and sexuality, going to clubs and working, the impact of the AIDS epidemic, her involvement with transgender and HIV/AIDS organizations including Transgender Health Empowerment, and the changes in the city.

Abstract Please note this interview was recorded over Zoom. Sandra Perrin reflects on her experiences organizing and doing political work as part of the union that represented Metro workers. Her story begins with her childhood in Washington, D.C. Born to two working class parents, she developed a love of reading fueled by the bookmobile that would regularly visit her neighborhood. When her father died in a car accident, her mother became the wage earner. She speaks about her time at Howard...

Abstract

Ms. Shanice discusses growing up in D.C., in several different neighborhoods, her family, going to high school and coming into herself, going to clubs and sex work, the impact of the AIDS epidemic, the violence transgender women faced and the killing of a close friend, getting involved in non-profit work, and the changes in the city.

Abstract

Ms. Prout discusses her experiences in grade school and living in public housing in Boston, her introduction to the gay world, moving to New York City in the 1950s and gay and transgender culture then, the influence of trans women from D.C. on the New York scene, and her decision to move to D.C. based on those relationships and its status as Chocolate City.

Abstract

Ms. Prout discusses gay and transgender culture in NYC in the 1960s and 1970s, interactions with police, the Stonewall Riots, the impact of AIDS, her decision to move to D.C., the different feeling in D.C., raising her adopted son, and changes in the city.