GOHI Oral Histories - Ohio History Connection

Karla Rothan (December 8, 2008)

Karla Rothan was born in June of 1964 and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. She studied theater at The Ohio State University and then began working in children's theater with MadCap productions, in Cincinnati, and later with the Columbus Children's Theatre. In June 2006, Rothan became the Stonewall Executive Director for a six-month interim before becoming the full-time director in March of 2007. Rothan began as a six-month interim director and took the helm as the Executive Director in March 2007. She inherited a Stonewall that was in debt, overextended, and little business infrastructure. Rothan transformed the business model for the organization, increasing its budget and has grown Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival. She retired from Stonewall in 2018, but continues to work on issues like the opioid epidemic.

In her interview, Rothan talks about her family life, school, and growing up in Cincinnati. She discusses her coming out experience, her work in the theater, and the social scene in Columbus in the 1970s. Rothan describes her political activism, how the AIDS crisis united the LGBTQ+ community, and her work with Stonewall. She concludes her interview by reviewing how LGBTQ+ issues have evolved, the growth of the Pride parade, and what accomplishment she is most proud.

Shane Morgan (December 7, 2008)

Shane Morgan was born in 1975 in California and came to Ohio for his career. He founded the nonprofit TransOhio to create a safe space for trans individuals to with each other and find supportive resources. Morgan also started the TransOhio Transgender & Ally Symposium and is the largest gathering of transgender and nonbinary people in Ohio. In 2015, Morgan won Columbus's Health Leader Impact Award for Outstanding Community Advocacy.

In his interview Morgan talks about growing up in California, his career path, and the journey of discovery that lead him to transition. He discusses his first gay bar experience, the transition process, and trans community issues. Morgan describes creating TransOhio, its goals and impact, and the growth of the community around the state. Morgan concludes his interview by talking abut the changes in his personal life after transitioning.

Gloria McCauley (December 4, 2008)

Gloria McCauley was born in 1952 in New York. Her mother didn't have the means to raise a child so McCauley grew up in a Catholic convent just north of New York City until the age of 12. She came to Columbus in the early 1970s to visit a friend and ended up staying. In 1996, she founded BRAVO, the Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization, with support from the Lesbian Business association and the United Way. BRAVO assisted people with legal issues, lobbied for culturally competent service at all levels of government, and taught self-defense classes to at-risk communities. McCauley also coordinated event security for many of the Columbus Gay Pride parades and stayed engaged with many other activist groups throughout her life. In her interview, McCauley talks about growing up in a convent, her experience coming out, and the reactions of people in her life.

She was active in anti-war protests starting in the 1960s and transition to feminist activism in the 1970s with such groups as NOW, the National Organization for Women. She describes her political activism, problems arising from not taking her husbands name, and the LGBTQ+ social scene in the 70s and 80s. McCauley discusses the integration of the LGBTQ+ community over time, her daughters activism, and how she started BRAVO. Concluding her interview she talked about the things she most proud of and her work with "Blood Sisters" during the AIDS epidemic.

Chris Cozad (November 25, 2008)

Petie Brown (February 24, 2008)

Petie Brown was the owner of the Summit Station bar, formerly known as Jack's A Go-Go. Brown started working at the bar in 1971 as a bartender when all she knew how to do was "open a beer." The bar quickly became know as a women's bar and was the first lesbian bar in Ohio and one of the first three in the nation. Brown bought the bar in 1980, renaming it Summit Station. She put every dime she had into the bar, so much that on her first night as owner she had to borrow money to put in the cash register. Summit Station wasn't only a safe place for women, but also supported many lesbian performers, drag king/queen groups, and was the home bar for the the National Women’s Football League team the Pacesetters. The bar also supported the Stonewall Union, and held benefits for organizations such as the Children’s Hospital, the Columbus AIDS Task Force, and CHOICES.

n her interview Brown talks about her childhood, her path to understanding her sexuality, and finding her community in college. She describes what it was like to be a lesbian growing up in rural Ohio where it wasn't always safe to be different, and the opportunities were limited. Brown discusses working in a machine gun factory, how she got a job at Summit Station, and the decision to make it a women's bar. The bar found a renewed life as a bar for women, but that came along with challenges of it's own including police harassment, angry men, and cops who wanted her to inform on her boss. Brown discusses the changes that began in the 80s with the start of Stonewall Union, the gay pride parade, and just more people being open about their sexuality. She concludes by talking about her religious beliefs, the charities supported by Summit Station, and how Columbus has changed for the better.

This is 1 of 2 oral histories from Petie Brown. The second includes the voices of other regulars at Summit Station and focuses more the things that went on in the bar especially their charity events. This other oral history can be found at: https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p15005coll37/id/303/rec/1

Linda Apple (February 24, 2008)

Linda Apple was born in 1946 in a small town along the Ohio River in the Appalachian hills. She was an artist from an early age drawing and painting. In 1964, Apple received a scholarship to the Columbus College of Art & Design where she exceled before going on to study in Rome and later California.

In her interview, Apple talks about her artistic training and interests, her studies at the Columbus College of Art and Design, and discovering her sexual identity. Growing up in a small town she didn't hear much about anything related to LGBTQ people or issues, and when she went to college she was still confused and anxious about her sexuality. She married and had a child with a man she remained friends with, but the marriage didn't last long. It wasn't until she was in Rome that she came out and had her first open relationship with a woman. Apple discusses the constant worry and secrecy required in the 1970s and 80s, especially as a lesbian raising a male child. She shares memories of her activism, her all woman rock band "Mother's Pride," the support group she helped found "The Radical Lesbians," and the Michigan Women's Festival. She concludes her interview by describing how being a "weird art type" kept her safe, and her belief in the importance of protecting rights.

Steve Wilson (July 2, 2007)

Steve Wilson was born in 1961 and grew up around Springfield, Ohio. He is one of the original founders of Columbus's Stonewall Union, Central Ohio’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Community Organization. In 1981, he along with Craig Covey, Craig Huffman, Keith McKnight, Rick Rommele, Val Thogmartin, and Dennis Valot took the first steps to organizing Stonewall.

In his interview, Wilson talks about growing up in Springfield, the experience of being an "out" teenager in rural Ohio, and his family's response to him being gay. He discusses attending The Ohio State University, becoming active in the Gay Activist Alliance, and starting Stonewall in response to Jerry Falwell's moral majority. Wilson describes what being gay in Columbus in the 1980s was like, finding his community, and the bigotry he experience. He shares the early work to get Stonewall founded, the start of the Gay Pride Parade, and setting up Columbus's first television show focused on the LGBTQ+ community, The Gay Pride Report. He concludes his interview by talking about the importance of the bars to the gay community, fundraising, and Stonewall's political work over the years.

This oral history was recorded by Rob Berger as part of his mission to collect and share stories from the LGBT community of Central Ohio.

William "Bill" Brownson (May 12, 2007)

Bill Brownson was born in Montpelier, Ohio in 1963 to Bill and Myrtle (Burrell) Brownson. His father was a school superintendent and his mother worked to help the elderly. This oral history was organized by Rob Berger as part of his mission to collect and share oral histories from the LGBT community of Central Ohio.

In his interview Brownson talks about growing up on a farm, when he first realized he was "different," and his awareness of the LGBTQ community when he was young. He discusses his first conversation about being gay, coming out, and the LGBTQ community in Columbus, Ohio in the early 90s. Brownson has worked with Equality Ohio and with the Log Cabin Republicans since the mid-90s.

He served as the President of the Log Cabin Republicans of Ohio from 1995-98, and served as the National Chair in 2006 when this interview was done. He describes his work with the Log Cabin Republicans, the strides they've made, withholding support from Bush in 2004, and why he's a Republican. Brownson has worked in the banking industry for many years and shares his mostly positive experiences working in Columbus. He goes on to share his first experience of being publicly out, coming out to his family, and discrimination. Brownson concludes by talking about the changes in acceptance of the LGBTQ community, his work with King Avenue United Methodist Church, and acknowledges the support of his partner, Myron Phillips.

Suzie Simpson (October 31, 2006)

Suzie Simpson was born in southeastern Ohio in September of 1949. She moved to Columbus, Ohio to attend The Ohio State University where she became very involved in the burgeoning Women's Liberation movement. Simpson was a member of the musical group "Lotta Crabtree," was involved with the Indochina Peace campaign, the National Organization for Women, and the Columbus Women's Music Union. She has been active in Stonewall Columbus coordinating the entertainment for Pride and producing both "Rockin' in the Streets" and "Dancin in the Streets" since 1998. She created the "Girlz Rhythm and Rock Camp" to give young girls a chance to learn to create original music and to build self esteem.

In her interview Simpson talks about her childhood, her awareness of her sexual orientation, and of the gay community. She discusses her schooling, work in the Women's Liberation movement, and her coming out experience. Simpson describes many of the activist groups in which she was involved, the LGBTQ+ social scene in Columbus, and many of the women who were important in that scene. She concludes by discussing harassment, the inclusivity of certain groups at the time, and the beginning of her work with Stonewall.

This oral history was recorded by Rob Berger as part of his mission to collect and share stories from the LGBT community of Central Ohio.

William "Bill" Lenkey (September 16, 2006)

William "Bill" Lenkey was born in 1930 on the south-side of Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from South High Class of 1949 and from St. Charles Borromeo College in Columbus in 1953. Lenkey was a founding member of the German Village Society and volunteered with the Friends of Schiller Park. He was a member of St. Mary's Mother of God Church German Village and headed the St. Mary's High School Alumni Archives. Bill volunteered with The Children's Hunger Alliance. Lenkey and his partner David Earley owned one of the houses featured on the first House and Garten Tour in 1960.

In his interview Lenkey talks about growing up "different," realizing he was gay, and his first sexual encounter. He discusses his time in the seminary and realizing that being a priest wasn't for him. Lenkey describes how he became involved in the gay community, meeting his partner David, and some of the bars, like the Sweet Sixteen, 5-5, and the Silver Dollar he visited. He concludes his interview by talking about how he and David ended up in German Village, the first home tour, and his work with the German Village Historical Society. * The recording cuts off abruptly. If further recordings are found they will be added to this interview.

Kenneth Garver & Marvin Pate, Jr. (September 5, 2006)

Researchers/viewers should note that this video includes topics such as: violence against LGBTQ+ people, specific discussions of sex, and possible discussions of race and racism.

Keni Garver was born in St. Paris, Ohio in 1941 and Marvin Pate was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1939. They met in the Preview Lounge in the 1960s and were together since then. Garver graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and apprenticed at Kuenning's Restaurant. He became the Executive Chef of the Christopher Inn and was the Owner and Chef of Ilonka's Party House. Along with serving with many restaurant associations Garver was a member of Vaud-Villities. Pate joined the military directly from OSU and was active into the 1960s. His knowledge of the people and places in Columbus's gay community is impressive.

In their interview Garver and Pate discuss how and when they realized they were gay, their awareness of the gay community growing up, and how they met. Garver talks about his culinary career, working as an Arthur Murray dance instructor, and opening the Christopher Inn. Pate shares his decision to enter the military and the racism present in the gay community. They both talk about many of the gay clubs and hangout spots from the 1960s to the early 2000s, these include: the Preview Lounge, the Kismet (old/new), the Kiri, the Pyramid (I/II), Club 20, Herby's, and the Tradewinds. They describe police harassment, events in the gay community, and stories from the gay community over the years. Pate and Garver conclude their interview by discussing Black and White Men Together, the formation of Stonewall, and the interaction of gay men and women in Columbus.

Rupert "Twink" Starr & Allan Wingfield (August 28, 2006)

Rupert “Twink” Starr was born in Mt. Sterling, Ohio in 1923. His father was a dentist and his his mother was a teacher. Twink Attended Ohio University to study where he joined the ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps). In January of 1945, Twink decided to enlisted into active duty with the Army. He completed Infantry School at Ft. Benning and was assigned to 101st Infantry Division as a 2nd Lt. When the 106th was surrounded by enemy forces he was sent out with a message requesting backup from 422nd. He dodged bullets and eventually joined up with the 7th Armored, but was captured a short time later before reaching his goal. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge for these actions. (See Starr's other oral history for more details on his military experience)

After he got home Twink finished his degree and got into real estate where he worked under a fellow Mount Sterling native, John Galbreath. In the 1950s a psychiatrist gave him some very good advice. He told Twink to accept who he was and go out and enjoy his life, and he did just that. Twink met interior designer Thomas Allan Wingfield, who can also be heard in this video, and they spent over 50 years together before Allan passed in 2007. Though it wasn't until the early 90s that Twink began coming out to those outside of the LGBT community. Since then he has tried to live as an inspiration to the younger generation. In 2009 he was honored as the Grande Marshall of Stonewall Columbus's Pride Parade. He was also part of a documentary “Courage Under Fire” that advocated for the end of the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

In his interview Starr talks about his early life, his awareness of his own sexuality, and his professional life. He discusses the struggle to accept being gay, working with a therapist, and how he met Allan. Starr described some of the gay bars around Columbus, how gay men met each other in the 1950s, and how he and Allan started living together. He shares the experience of coming out to his family and what he would have done had he been outed early in his career. In conclusion he talks about his work against the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and the strides the LGBTQ+ community has made over the years.

"Courage Under Fire" by Patrick Sammon will play after the oral history. In 2004, Starr met the filmmaker, a member of Log Cabin Republicans, who persuaded Starr to make a promotional video, "Courage Under Fire," to be used in the effort to repeal "don't ask, don't tell."

This oral history was recorded by Rob Berger as part of his mission to collect and share stories from the LGBT community of Central Ohio.

Deb Adler (August 21, 2006)

Val Thogmartin (August 19, 2006)

Val Thogmartin was born in Richwood, Ohio in 1953. He is credited amongst the small group of activists who founded Columbus's Stonewall Union, Central Ohio’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Community Organization. Having worked as a bartender in his younger years he is a wealth of knowledge on the gay bars of Columbus throughout the 1970s through the 1990s.

In his interview Thogmartin discusses his early life, when he knew he was gay, and his coming out story. He shares his memories of gay bars in Columbus including: The Cat's Meow, Imaginations, Herby's, Twilight, and his own bar The Attic. Thogmartin talks about becoming involved with the Gay Activist Alliance on OSU campus, some of the early activists, and the founding of Stonewall. Besides being one of the founders of Stonewall he also helped organize the first Gay Pride March and organized fundraising parties. To conclude his interview Thogmartin describes some of the protests in which he was involved, the Old Timer Club, and how Columbus has become an increasingly LGBTQ+ friendly city.

This oral history was recorded by Rob Berger as part of his mission to collect and share stories from the LGBT community of Central Ohio.

J. Eric Peters (August 10, 2006)

J. Eric Peters was born in 1962 and grew up in Belpre, Ohio. He served in the U.S. Army as a legal specialist. He had to fight for his honorable discharge and on his certificate it reads: “characterization of service: honorable” and “reason(s) for separation: engaged in homosexual act(s).” Peters served as a staff writer at Outlook News, contributes regularly to the Columbus Dispatch, and write for various other papers.

In his interview Peters discusses growing up in Belpre, when he knew he was different, and the path which lead him to serve in the Army. In the Army he found an LGBT community for the first time, but serving during "don't ask, don't tell" was difficult. Peters got caught up in an investigation into the sexual orientations with a group of his friends. He fought for and received his honorable discharge, which also involved him "coming out." He went back to school and got his degree in pre-law sociology before getting a job with the State of Ohio. Peters discusses his struggles with depression, his disability, and how he got involved in LGBTQ+ activism.

This oral history was recorded by Rob Berger as part of his mission to collect and share stories from the LGBT community of Central Ohio.

Manny Flowers (August 1, 2006)

Darla Luebbe (July 25, 2006)

Rhonda Rivera (June 20, 2006)

Rhonda Rivera was born in 1938 and grew up in Roosevelt, New Jersey. She is a pioneer working for LGBTQ+ rights and equality as a lawyer and activist. In 1979 she wrote an article about the legal treatment of lesbians and gays called "Our Straight-Laced Judges: The Legal Position of Homosexual Persons in the United States." Rivera served as a member of the OSU President’s Task Force on AIDS, held a seat on the Affirmative Action Council, and was president of Stonewall Union. She helped pass an Ohio executive order banning discrimination in state employment based on sexual orientation, as well as a similar ordinance for the city of Columbus. She was a professor at the Moritz College of Law where she crafted equality policies for OSU. Rivera received the University’s Distinguished Affirmative Action Award in 1991.

In her interview Rivera talks about her childhood, learning she was "different," and her experience coming out as a lesbian. She discusses her professional history, how she became an LGBTQ+ activist, and the academic discriminations she endured. Rivera describes her work in local politics, her OSU radio program, and her time as President of Stonewall Union. She notes the difference between male and female LGBT rights goals throughout the 80s and 90s in Columbus. Rivera shares her memories of the early gay pride parades, the AIDS crisis, and the social scene in central Ohio.

This oral history was recorded by Rob Berger as part of his mission to collect and share stories from the LGBT community of Central Ohio.

Frederick J. Holdridge (January 24, 2006)

Fred Holdridge was born in 1924 in Lima, Ohio. He entered the armed services in 1943 and served in the Army in France during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. He attended Kenyon College from 1948 to 1950 and graduated with a degree in history economics. Holdridge lived in Chicago and New York until he returned to Columbus in 1959 with his partner, Howard Burns. They purchased, and lived in, an apartment building on Campus. Holdridge and Burns moved to Sunbury Road before settling in German Village where they opened Hausfrau Haven, a general store and Village institution. With Burns's unique talent for finding new products Hausfrau Haven flourished and became the hub for the German Village Fun Committee. They kept German Village interesting with dinners in their store window, lawn ornament rental, and starting the annual Pet Parade and Casseroles and Carols. Holdridge was active with the German Village Society, the Contemporary American Theatre Company (CATCO), wrote columns for many local papers, and had a regular spot in Bob Connor's radio show. He helped bring Oktoberfest back to German Village in 1986.

In his interview Holdridge talks about growing up in Lima, his awareness of gay people when he was young, and when he realized he was gay. He discusses his time at Kenyon College, living in New York and Chicago, and how he met Howard. He describes the LGBTQ scene in Columbus, how he and Howard socialized with other couples, and his worries about being "outed." Holdridge didn't "come out" until the mid-1970s. By that time he and Howard were a German Village institution sponsoring many events, had columns in local newspapers, and regular radio spots on WTVN-FM. Holdridge shares memories of opening Hausfrau Haven, many of the events they sponsored, and Howard's knack for finding unique products for their store. He concludes by talking about the differences in the LGBTQ community from the 1950s to today and concerns for the future.

Elliot Fishman (October 5, 2005)

Elliot Fishman was born in 1959 in Columbus, Ohio. He attended Miami University before getting his law degree from the Ohio State University. Studying at the Moritz College of Law in the 1980s put him in the orbits of professors Rhonda Rivera and Douglas Whaley, two of the strongest gay-right advocates in the State of Ohio. Between their influence and an importance of community service fostered by his family; Fishman took leadership roles in the newly forming gay-rights organizations, Stonewall Union and the Human Rights Campaign. He was also essential in the fight against AIDs in the 1980s, serving on the AIDs Taskforce.

In his interview Fishman talks about his family and their views on being gay, first realizing he was "different," and his awareness of other gay-people when he was young. He shares his experience coming out, how and where he found his community, and how he became involved in gay-rights activism. Fishman discusses the founding of Stonewall Union, his roles in the organization in the early years (fundraising), and some people who were supporters of the organization. He describes the Gay Pride Parade and accompanying protests before moving on to talk about the 1984 fight at the Columbus City Council meeting to determine job protections based on sexual orientation. He speaks on the response to the AIDs epidemic in Columbus in the 1980s, his work with city and state leaders, and the gay-rights leaders who worked for change in the 1980s and 90s. Fishman helped form an LGBTQ focused law association and was the 2nd president of the Human Rights Campaign. He discusses parties and gay clubs in Columbus inclduing the Kismet, Tradewinds, The Garage, Imaginations, Corbett Reynolds's Rudely Elegant, and the history of the Berwick Ball. He concludes his interview by talking about, discrimination, the changes in Columbus's gay community, and his hopes for its future.

Steven Shallabarger (September 06, 2005)

Steven M. Shellabarger was born in 1945 and grew up in Dayton, Ohio. He came to Columbus to study first architecture, and then history at OSU. He became an American History teacher for 17 years at Whitehall-Yearling. Shellabarger's gay activism began in 1983 when he and some friends raised money for AIDS awareness, which brought his name to the attention of Human Rights Campaign Fund. Vic Basile asked him to start a local chapter of HRC in Columbus, which he did. Shellabarger didn't stop with the Human Rights Campaign he also worked with the Legacy Fund, the Columbus AIDS Task Force, and Stonewall Columbus. He was also an early settler in German Village's gay community, and served on the board of the German Village Society and was co-chair of the Village Candlelight Tour.

In his interview Shellabarger talks about growing up in Dayton, his awareness of his sexuality, and his understanding of what it meant to be gay. He discusses coming to Columbus, the gay community in the city, and coming out in 1967. He describes many of the gay bars in Columbus at the time including: The Kismet, The Tradewinds, and Rosemary's Peppermint Lounge. Shellabarger shares the story of how he became involved with HRC, the German Village Community, and gay politics in Columbus. He concludes his interview with the Aids Crisis, starting the Gay Democrats organization, and the importance of activism.

This oral history was recorded by Rob Berger as part of his mission to collect and share stories from the LGBT community of Central Ohio.

Orn Huntington (June 29, 2005)

Orn Huntington was born in Columbus, Ohio in May, 1919. He was the youngest of five children with two sisters and two brothers. In 1942, he enlisted in the Army, and served for 12 months before coming out as gay and being honorable discharged. Huntington moved to Hollywood, California where he spent 10 years acting in such movies as "The Harvey's Girls," "A Walk in the Sun," and as an extra in numerous war movies. In 1952 he returned to Columbus and worked in local theatre, radio, and TV. Eventually Huntington became a bank examiner for the State of Ohio, and remained there for 25 years

In 1954, with the encouragement of friends, Huntington started a Halloween costume party that became the Berwick Ball. At this time, any gay party known to the police would be raided. So they held the first party at the American Legion Hall on north High Street. Tickets were $2 but didn't give the location of the party. Instead there was a phone number. The night of the party, attendees would call and learn where the party was being held. With the support of the Susi family later balls were held at the Berwick House, now called The Berwick Banquet & Catering.

In his interview Huntington talks about growing up in Columbus, his military service, and working in Hollywood. He discusses the gay social scene in Columbus, the discrimination by police, and starting the Berwick Ball. Huntington describes how he met David Zimmer (aka Dolly Divine), the Rathbone Ranch, and how secrecy molded gay life.

Doug Whaley (May 14, 2005)

Douglas Whaley was born in Huntingburg, Indiana in 1944. He came to Columbus in 1976 to teach at the Ohio State Law School until his retirement in 2004. Whaley has won nine awards for outstanding teaching, including the Ohio State University’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 1978. He was one of the second-wave of supporters of Columbus's Stonewall Union, Central Ohio’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Community Organization. Whaley's support, along with that of fellow law professor Rhonda Rivera, was key to getting the fledgling organization established. He served as the President of Stonewall Union in 1984.

In his interview Whaley talks about his early life including his awareness of his sexual orientation, his marriage, and teaching at law school. In 1976 he came out to his wife and decided to explore his sexuality, at the same time he excepted a job teaching law at The Ohio State University. He describes the gay community/scene in Columbus in the 1970s, his first long-term relationship with a man, and becoming involved with the Gay Activist Alliance. Whaley discusses the impact of Rhonda Rivera's bravery being an "out" woman in the legal profession in the 1970s and her work in "queer law." After several years in Columbus Whaley begins to live as an openly gay man and describes the awkwardness of that transition. He shares the early history of Stonewall Union, the difficulties in getting established, the organizational missteps, and its great success. He concludes his interview by discussing the changes in the gay community from the 1970s and the 20th anniversary of Stonewall.

This oral history was recorded by Rob Berger as part of his mission to collect and share stories from the LGBT community of Central Ohio.

Harold Sylvester (January 25, 1986)

Harold Sylvester was born in 1903 in Granger, Ohio. He was interviewed January 25, 1986 by Bryan Knedler an active member in OSU’s Gay Activist Alliance. Sylvester was interviewed in a nursing home in Medina, Ohio.

In his interview Sylvester talks about growing up on the farm, being the youngest of 5 siblings, and the loss of his mother at an early age. He was able to teach himself to play the piano by watching the keys move on a player-piano, and even wrote a music book, "Chord Progress in Popular Music." He moved to Cleveland where he attended the Cleveland Institute of Music shortly before dropping out to play in bands and give music lessons. Sylvester talks about the difficulties of making money and loneliness while living in Cleveland. He returned to Medina where he opened a nursery specializing in flowers.

He talks about learning the nursery business from working at a family greenhouse, Hammerschmidt and Clark, when he was young. Sylvester shares how he felt about being gay when he was younger, his family's reaction, and going to see a psychiatrist. He became involved in the organization Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, and found the camaraderie comforting. He and Bryan end the interview by taking about mutual acquaintances, and the current state of the gay community in Cleveland and Columbus.

Francis Darrell Reed (January 27, 1985)

Francis Reed grew up in Ashland, Ohio and moved to Columbus in the mid-1940s. He was interviewed January 27, 1985 by Bryan Knedler and Robert Howle, active members in OSU’s Gay Activist Alliance. Reed was a friend and contemporary of Howle's who could speak to gay culture of Columbus in the 1940s and 50s. The tapes of this interview are of varying quality with background sounds throughout. They were sharing a meal of pot pies.

Reed was known as and refers to himself at times as the "Black Widow." This is because a lover of his had died and for several years Reed wore nothing but black. Throughout his interview he talks about the clubs he frequented, not all of the clubs he mentions would be considered gay clubs. The clubs he talks about include: the Speedway, Coppa Club, Blue Feather, Oasis, Sweet Sixteen, 55 Bar, 119 Bar (these are the same bar, the name changed based on its address on Long Street), Rosemary's, The Circle Bar, the Ionian, Turk Club, and the Kismet. Several of the bars he mentioned had early drag shows these include the Silver Slipper, 55/119 Bar, and possibly the Blue Feather. Reed was a frequent customer at the Speedway, which he referred to as a Black and Tan club. He was well known to the clubs owner Willie West, who helped him avoid police raids on several occasions. He also describes an interesting story about Hap and Billy, owners of the 55/119 Bar.

Reed and Howle share a common background which they discuss at some length. They were both residents of 42/153 Governor's Place, the only unofficial gay boarding house in the 1950s in Columbus. Together they speak about Albert, the owner of the house, some of the other residents, and life on Governor's Place.

Towards the end of the interview Howle, who has his own oral history, shares some more of his experiences from nursing and the gay community in Columbus. Reed talks about changes in the gay community in the 1970s and 80s. He talks about how he related with the straight community both in the 1950s and in the 80s. Reed also shares details about basic living in Columbus, including a story of how he found some bones from the Ming Dynasty.

Robert P. Howle (November 5 & 8, 1984)

Robert P. Howle was born in 1924 in Columbus, Ohio. He was interviewed in 1984 by Bryan Knedler an active member in OSU’s Gay Activist Alliance and Howle's roommate. At the time Howle was a student at OSU. The interview was conducted on November 5th and 8th at 299 W. 5th Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. On the second date he and Bryan are in the kitchen making cookies during the interview. A note of caution, Howle's interview contains discussions of a sexually explicit nature and drug use.

Howle's father was Raymond D. Howle, a manager at the Ohio Malleable Iron Company. His mother was Anna M. Jacobs, she died when he was young and his father remarried. Howle's father also passed several years later and he grew up living at times with his grandmother, sister, and uncle. In his interview he talks about growing up "different," his early sexual experiences, and joining the military. Shortly after graduating high school Howle went into an office training course. During a trip to Canada to visit a friend he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. At this point he is introduced to gay-culture and begins to explore his sexuality. During this time he visits Columbus and Detroit often and discusses the gay bars and nightlife in each city. He describes the words the gay men used to talk about themselves, each other, and sex in the 1940s, early on he was still unaware of the word "gay." He talks about his circle of friends and the kinds of parties and entertainment they enjoyed, including the drag scene.

Howle goes back and fills in more of his early life growing up in various locations around the Northeastern United States, primarily Ohio. After this, he continues chronologically returning to the United States and leaving the Canadian Air Force. This left him open to the draft and he was conscripted into the United States Army. Throughout his time in both the Canadian Air Force and the United States Army he was in sexual relationships with men, and describes how to pick up military men. He had basic training at Camp Joseph Robinson in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Howle transferred to Fort Benning in Georgia for paratrooper training, but was unable to complete the course due to high blood pressure. On leave to Columbus Howle got married as a cover, there was no real relationship, and they divorced several years later. He was transferred to Fort George G. Meade in Maryland. While there he admitted to the Priest that he was gay, the priest sent him to the captain, and the captain had him dismissed from the Army.

Howle returns to Columbus and begins to work for a private psychiatric hospital. In 1948, he begins nurses training in Chattahoochee, Florida. He talks about his life, sexual experiences there, and the gay bars in Tallahassee. As part of his training he moved to New York City where he worked at Bellevue Hospital. At Bellevue, Howle was in charge of the Male insulin and electric shock therapy patients. He returned to Florida to complete his training before heading back to Columbus to work for St. Francis Hospital. Howle worked for a year at Battey State Hospital in Georgia before returning to St. Francis where he was busted on drug charges. He was convicted and sentence to two years at Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. He talks about what life in prison was like as a gay man. Ultimately he was moved to the psychiatric wing where he served as the secretary for the director.

After being released from prison he moved back to New York City to train as a medical and dental assistant. A nun who had formerly worked with him at St. Francis recruited him to work at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Cincinnati where he managed the personnel department. In 1959 he had an affair with a married man and decided that his religious beliefs were incompatible with his sexual orientation so he decided to give up sex. In 1963 Howle moved to Batesville, Indiana where he ended up managing three departments at Margaret Mary Hospital. While there he describes living the "straight life." The pressures there were taxing and he vacationed in New Orleans often where he could live openly, while still abstaining from sex. from 1968 to 1974 he went to work with Benedictine Monks at former Indian missions in Pierre, South Dakota and St. Paul, Minneapolis. There Howle lived a life of "poverty and chastity." In 1975 he spent a short time with the "People of Praise" charismatic community in South Bend, Indiana. Being open about his sexuality he was forced to leave the community and returned to Columbus in 1976. He worked for the state for several years before returning to take classes full-time at OSU in 1979. It was at this point he became involved with the Gay Alliance. Howle and his roommate Elmer won the Gay Hotel of the Year award for hosting Gay Alliance parties. He and Bryan conclude the interview by discussing the history of the Gay Alliance and its work on campus.

Stefan “Victoria” Luebkemann (August 1, 1983)

Stefan Luebkemann grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He was interviewed August 1, 1983 by Bryan Knedler, an active member in OSU’s Gay Activist Alliance. Luebkemann was in his mid to late-twenties and a former student at The Ohio State University. The tapes of this interview are of varying quality with music or animal sounds throughout.

In his interview Luebkemann focuses on gay culture and social groups on and around OSU campus in the 1970s and 80s. He talks about how he met Anthony. He and Anthony had a longterm relationship, until Anthony tragically died in a car accident. Luebkemann shares stories from when he was a child and some family history from both his family and Anthony's. He describes his first experiences at some of the gay bars and clubs in Columbus and the experience of coming out to his friends and family. Luebkemann began attending and participating in Drag performances in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He talks about the drag scene in Columbus where he was officially recognized by another performer, his "Aunt" Beatrice. He describes the organization, or hierarchy, of the gay community in Columbus, and why he is a central figure in it. He discusses some of the rivalries between groups, what aspects give people value, and butchness vs. femness.

Luebkemann details a typical day in his life while he was attending OSU which was a balance of classes and social functions. He talks about the the start of his persona, Victoria, and the establishment of gay families, including the rules and expectations of bring in a family. His family was themed around Victorian royalty while other groups such as the Blondettes were celebrity themed, and one was themed around "old church ladies." Luebkemann discusses the tension between the "hustlers" and the "queens", the fights with straights, and even the popularity of stealing potted plants. He ends by talking about some of the characters in the gay community, the organization of families, and the weekly family meeting called the "Our Ladies of Prague Guild."

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