NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Sol Sanchez

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 22:35:49 +0000

Interview of Sol Sanchez for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Rad Pereira

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:43:43 +0000

Interview of Rad Pereira for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Archie Lewallen

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:38:05 +0000

Interview of Archie Lewallen for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Galle

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 17:26:14 +0000

Interview of Galle for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Irina Groushevaia

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Wed, 14 May 2025 16:12:59 +0000

Interview of Irina Groushevaia for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Marc Chen

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 22:49:29 +0000

Interview of Marc Chen for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Lina Bradford

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Wed, 9 Oct 2024 19:24:34 +0000

Interview of Lina Bradford for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Gavilán Rayna Russom

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 21:59:54 +0000

Interview of Gavilán Rayna Russom for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Aristilde Kirby

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 23:28:41 +0000

Interview of Aristilde Kirby for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Honey Pluton

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 20:44:53 +0000

Interview of Honey Pluton for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Davey Davis

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Wed, 29 May 2024 16:59:32 +0000

Interview of Davey Davis for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Eliot Duncan

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Mon, 1 Apr 2024 20:14:10 +0000

Interview of Eliot Duncan for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Alexandra Burris and Emmy Pritykin

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Wed, 7 Feb 2024 16:24:42 +0000

Interview of Alexandra Burris and Emmy Pritykin for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Dee Holtsclaw

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (TOHP) — Thu, 1 Feb 2024 17:39:22 +0000

Interview of Dee Holtsclaw for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Callan Molinari

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:25:23 +0000

Interview of Callan Molinari for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Saoirse Sawyer Eason

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:22:19 +0000

Interview of Saoirse Sawyer Eason for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Julieta Salgado

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:22:10 +0000

Interview of Julia Salgado for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Cristy Road Carrera

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 15:59:45 +0000

Interview of Cristy Road Carrera for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Bernie Wagenblast

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 20:14:15 +0000

Interview of Bernie Wagenblast for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Nathan Levitt

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Wed, 6 Dec 2023 17:04:38 +0000

Interview of Nathan Levitt for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of K. Kerimian

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Fri, 4 Aug 2023 00:19:05 +0000

Interview of K. Kerimian for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Simo

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 23:59:22 +0000

Interview of Simo for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Siobhan Meow

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Thu, 3 Aug 2023 04:06:27 +0000

Interview of Siobhan Meow for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Sean Ebony Coleman

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 04:00:22 +0000

Sean Ebony Coleman is the founder of Destination Tomorrow, a LGBTQ+ center in the Bronx that provides services like job readiness, HIV testing, and emergency housing. In this interview, he describes growing up in Brooklyn with his grandmother and brother. At a young age, he became involved in the ballroom scene, a community which still provides most of his close relationships. Sean also discusses his spiritual identity, the changing landscape of hormone access, erasure of Black trans masculinity, and his start with grassroots organizing for the Bronx trans community in the early 2000s.

Interview of Image Object

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:59:53 +0000

Image Object was raised in an inclusive and accepting environment. Object underwent many queer expressions, each expanding his identity politics and teaching him more about who Object is. The nightlife scene in NYC gave Object room to grow and play and push through the boundaries of gender. Object discusses NYC nightlife centers, parties and bars, including Merrie Cherry's, Sugarland, DAGnet, and Starr Bar.

Interview of Lix Z

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:59:38 +0000

Interview of Lix Z for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Macy Rodman

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:59:30 +0000

Macy Rodman was born in Juneau, Alaska. During her early life she describes visits to the local sex shop where she learned about gay life, including NYC’s glam scene which featured images of modified and expansive versions of femininity including Amanda Lepore. She explored making music with her sister which grew into her own project with her move to NYC. She also helps produce the podcast Nymphowars which was first imagined as a place to speak about dating as a trans woman, but morphed into fully developed radio plays of absurdist comedy. Since living in Brooklyn for the last 11 years, Macy gravitated towards groups invested in working for their communities, admiring projects like Discwoman, Decolonize this Place, and Boiling Point NYC. Since quarantine she’s returned to the sounds of Basement Jaxx, Fatboy Slim and Chemical Brothers reminding her of a time before the club scene where dance music was listened to at home.

Interview of ChiChi

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:59:20 +0000

(Entrevista en español/Interview in Spanish) En esta entrevista, ChiChi describe su niñez como joven gay en Lima, Perú y su inmigración a Nueva York sola a los veinte años mientras experimentaba la homofobia y ocultaba quién era. Habla de la comunidad de mujeres trans que encontraba en Nueva York y sus experiencias con la transición, las inyecciones, el trabajo sexual y la policía. Además, habla de su lucha larga por obtener sus papeles y cómo ha cambiado la relación con su familia. Termina con el trabajo comunitario y activista de la organización Make the Road. In this interview, ChiChi describes growing up gay in Lima, Perú, before immigrating to New York alone at twenty years old while experiencing homophobia and hiding who she was. She talks about the community of trans women she found in New York and their experiences with transition, injections, sex work, and the police, as well as her relationship with her family and her years-long struggle to get her papers. She ends with the community and activist work of the organization Make the Road. (Summary by Steven Saada.)

Interview of Josephine Perez

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:59:10 +0000

Josephine Perez is a trans* advocate who emphasizes a need for better law enforcement protections for transgender women. Josephine experienced sexual violence on multiple occasions and became a sex worker at an early age. She hopes that her work advocating for the trans* community will help to prevent others from similar experiences in the future.

Interview of Angal Field

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:58:59 +0000

Angal Field shares his experience of being a writer, filmmaker and photographer in today’s media landscape and discusses the trappings of trans visibility. Using the medium of film to “speak back” he personally explores queer family stories and complex subject hoods. Angal speaks of the highs and lows of medically transitioning and the experience of dating in a new body and new gender. Born in Portland Oregon, he describes the limitations of his liberal upbringing and what it means to understand systemic issues that affect marginalized communities in which trans-potential will always be linked to abolition.

Interview of Ric Tennenbaum

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:58:30 +0000

Ric explores the complexity of language in the trans community, and her experiences interviewing trans elders for the NYC Trans Oral History Project. Ric also reflects on drug use and how it is not necessarily a form of escapism, but a way to view things differently.

Interview of Eli Erlick

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 03:32:40 +0000

Born in rural California, Eli Erlick recounts her experiences as one of the only trans kids in her area, which led her, at age 15, to co-found Trans Student Educational Resources, an organization that works to implement trans-inclusive policy models in school systems across the country. Erlick also discusses her time studying Gender Studies at Pitzer and UC Santa Cruz, as well as formative political encounters with trans literature like Dean Spade’s Normal Life and Eric Stanley and Nat Smith's Captive Genders. Erlick shares her thoughts on cancel culture, disrespectability politics, and trans identity in academia. Having signed several book deals, Erlick is currently working on rewriting the timeline of trans history in adult and young adult formats using recently digitized primary sources.

Interview of Tanya Asapansa-Johnson Walker

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 16:53:11 +0000

Tanya Asapansa-Johnson Walker is a co-founder of the New York Trans-gender Advocacy Group (NYTAG). Here, she shares her history of LGB and trans activism in New York City. Born on Staten Island, Miss Tanya describes her childhood confronting racism, homophobia, and transphobia along the east coast of the United States before joining the military and relocating to Germany. Upon her return, she moved to New York City, attending college on Staten Island, where she notably led a protest against Staten Island borough president, Guy Molinari, for which she was run off of campus. She also recounts the development of a distinct trans identity, surviving in New York City during the AIDS crisis, the community among homeless, queer and trans people of color in New York City in the 1980s and 90s, and her work as a social service provider and activist. (Summary by Micah Katz.)

Interview of Erica Dawn Lyle

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:52:17 +0000

Interview of Erica Dawn Lyle for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Daphne Banks

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 05:28:41 +0000

Interview of Daphne Banks for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Ayelet Hashachar Adelman

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 05:11:52 +0000

Born in Long Island, Ayelet Hashachar Adelaman recounts growing up in Jerusalem, participating in an anarchist drum line group called Kasamba, and discovering a positive relationship between her anti-Zionism and transness. Since moving back to North America, Adelman has worked as a Hebrew teacher and an herbalist, recently teaching about plants with affinity for sex hormones in the context of Jewish textual lineage. Adelman also discusses formative experiences with trans femme elders in NYC and navigating collaborative relationships with healthcare providers around hormones and medication.

Interview of Qais Kamran

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Qais Kamran describes his experiences growing up as a first generation Iranian Jew in Los Angeles, attending Jewish day school and discovering the importance of oral history to his family’s community. After attending UC Davis, Kamran moved to Tel Aviv, where he forged intergenerational relationships that allowed him to get in touch with his own transmaculinity. In Palestine, Kamran became involved in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Movement as well as the clubbing scene. Since moving back to NYC in 2019, Kamran is looking to open a trans- and worker-owned nightlife venue.

Interview of Yves Bess Golden

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Wed, 8 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Interview of Yves Bess Golden for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Ita Segev

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Sun, 5 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Interview of Ita Segev for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Iman Le Caire

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (TOHP) — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Interview of Sawyer DeVuyst

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Interview of Sawyer DeVuyst for the NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Ari Brostoff

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 3 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Ari Brostoff is an author and editor at Jewish Currents magazine. In this interview, they recount reading Jewish historical fiction as a child growing up in California. After attending college on the East Coast, where they spent time engaging with queer theory texts from the 1990s, Ari moved to New York and quickly became embedded in organizing work. They were involved with Beyond the Pale, an anti-Zionist radio program, and, during the pandemic, started working as a tenant organizer. Ari also discusses the shifting landscape of work on the overlap between Judaism and transness, as well as their own experiences with politics and transitioning.

Interview of Mikail Khan

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Interview of Dr. T.J.

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Interview of Gage Spex

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (TOHP) — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Gage Spex discusses growing up in Western Massachusetts, where, at a young age, they fell in love with fashion through older movies, like those of Judy Garland. Gage later moved to San Francisco to attend art school, eventually settling in NYC. Gage became heavily involved with the nightlife scene, opening venues like Dreamhouse and Spectrum. Gage also describes coming to terms with the fluidity of her gender, dealing with safety in the queer party scene, and his move away from venue-centered parties.

Interview Of Dean Spade

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:21:18 +0000

Dean Spade relates his journey and politicization first through the support of his mother in conservative Virginia, his first tastes of feminism and increasingly his work to provide support and resources through the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, advocating for transgender, intersex and gender non-conforming low income communites and people of color. Spade's story spans from Virginia and back and forth between New York and California. Working at a LGBTQ bookstore by day, promoting queer nightlife and involving himself in New York's community activism, Dean pursued law while developing a sharp sense of the limitations of institutional change. He shares both his personal experiences as well as grounding insights regarding the nature of social change, ending with a reflection on the current political climate. (Summary by Kirsten Adorian.)

Interview Of Cecilia Gentili

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:21:12 +0000

Cecilia Gentili is the Director of Policy at Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC). In this wide-ranging interview, she reflects on the relationships and experiences that inform her story of struggle, resilience, and joy. Cecilia recounts her childhood and adolescence in Gálvez, Argentina, describing complex family dynamics and early experiences with gender nonconformity and transphobia. She also shares her memories of the military dictatorship, and the effects of this legacy of violence, trauma and fear on her own family and Argentine society. She chronicles later life in the city of Rosario, where she discovered a trans community as a student, sex worker and performer. Cecilia’s journey also includes years in Miami and New York City facing addiction, homelessness, incarceration, and life under threat of deportation as an undocumented immigrant. Finally, she considers her professional success today as an organizer and advocate for the trans community and beyond. Summary by Justine Ambrose. Photo by Leah James.

Interview Of Jay Toole

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:21:05 +0000

Jay Toole describes her experiences of queer homelessness in New York City. Born in the South Bronx, she became homeless as a child due to the circumstances of her family and identity as a stone butch. She describes her chosen queer family in Washington Square Park in the 1960-70s and their means of survival. She recalls stealing a NYC Taxi Cab and driving it to Texas, which led to her 18 month stay in a Texas jail. Later, she reflects on her experiences in the New York City shelter system which led her to form the organization Queers for Economic Justice. (Photo credit: Syd London; Summary by Micah Katz, summarizing two of four part interview.)

Interview Of Bianey Garcia

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:20:59 +0000

Bianey Garcia is a community organizer at Make the Road New York, a non-profit organization providing services and advocacy for Latinx and working class communities. Born in Veracruz, Mexico and raised in Veracruz and Chiapas, Bianey describes the transphobic violence that forced her to relocate to Tijuana at 14 and subsequently New York City. Bianey recounts her initial experiences as an undocumented, trans woman of color in New York including finding trans community and the transphobic and racist policing that resulted in her incarceration at Rikers Island. Later, she describes her involvement with the Trans Immigrant Project and the first Trans Latina March, obtaining a green card, and her plans to revisit her family in Mexico for the first time in 12 years. (Summary by Micah Katz.)

Interview Of Chelsea Goodwin

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:20:53 +0000

After purchasing a house in Park Slope in the 1980's to be closer to her kids, Dr. Rusty Mae Moore and Chelsea Goodwin opened their home to homeless trans folk. Transy House, as it was called, aimed to be a place where trans people could feel safe from the objectification and harassment. To this day, the continue to live with other trans folks on Long Island, where they've discovered and forged new community affinities. In this interview Chelsea Goodwin speaks passionately of Goth and Pagan culture's relationship to Trans Community as being like "peanut butter and jelly". A seasoned activist, having worked with Act Up, Queer Nation and Dyke Action Machine, her piss-and-vinegar vibrancy emphasizes social change from the ground up, rather than legislative reform. Dr. Rusty Mae Moore came out in her 50's and through parenting, her career and travel to Brazil navigated the particularities of her own transition. Together they share their intimate understanding of Trans Liberation.

Interview Of Julian Talamantez

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:20:47 +0000

Julian Talamantez Brolaski uses language and xirs' own pronoun paradigm to come closer to words that best express xir identity; at one time utilizing "it" as xir pronoun and appreciating the leveling impact of recognizing a unity with all things. Seeking what would feel closer to "home" both conceptually and geographically, xe sought community in Santa Cruz, San Francisco, New Mexico and New York; pursuing poetry, Indigenous two-spirit communities, and country music along the way. (Summary by Kirsten Adorian.)

Interview Of Rene Imperato

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:20:41 +0000

Born in NYC, Reneé Imperato, is a proud anti racist, pro union trans woman who has lived her life fighting for the rights of others. In this interview she shares her memories of growing up in New York including her childhood spent in Times Square, her friendship with Leslie Feinberg, and her memories of the legendary 220 club in New York City’s West Village. Throughout the interview Reneé weaves in the struggle for trans rights with the Black Lives Matter movement and union organizing. (Summary by Ted Kerr.)

Interview Of Paris Milane

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:20:36 +0000

Paris shares her experience of growing up in Atlanta and starting to “live her truth” at a young age. She recalls finding reassurance in a community of other Black trans women for the first time and getting involved with parts of the Atlanta Black Queer and Trans scene. Professionally, Paris has spoken on panels about LGBT issues, worked as a music librarian at Morehouse College, and engaged in sex work. She currently works as a case manager at Housing Works in New York City. Paris weaves connections and highlights differences between her experiences and communities in Atlanta and in New York City. Throughout her accounts of journey and place, Paris shares about her own values regarding work ethics, relationships, gender roles, and activism. (Summary by EJ Coolidge.)

Interview Of Phoenix Danger

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:20:30 +0000

Phoenix Danger was active in the successful unionization campaign at Babeland, a NYC sex toy shop. In this interview, they recount their early life in suburban New York as the child of Filipino immigrants, facing social rejection in school and discovering an affirming online queer community. They relate their struggles in an abusive relationship during college, and their journey from estrangement to re-connection with their parents. Phoenix also chronicles the evolution of their non-binary trans identity, influenced by their relationships with various queer and trans communities as well as their own political engagement. They trace the steps of this political development, from their initial exposure to organizing as a college student through their participation in the campaign to establish a union at Babeland in New York City. They describe the worker grievances at Babeland, the process of building support for a union, the personal and community relationships.

Interview Of Genevieve Tatum

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:20:23 +0000

Genevieve Tatum, a transgender woman, retells her experiences as an adolescent in The Village in New York City. She describes the aftermath of the Stonewall riot, the Civil Rights movement, and the Women's movement. Genevieve also reveals her journey in accepting her trans-identity; first as a cross-dresser, and eventually coming out as a non-operative transgender woman. She describes the pain, confusion, and denial she felt, but also the relief upon accepting her truth and sharing it with her loved ones. After coming out, Genevieve lent her experiences to the SAGE Transgenerational Theater Project, where is hoping to solidify the transgender community's place in LGBT history. (Summary by Ariana Blondo.)

Interview Of Pauline Park

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:20:17 +0000

Pauline Park is a long-time transgender activist based in New York City who led the campaign for the 2004 New York City transgender rights law. Born in Korea but adopted into a Christian evangelical family in Milwaukee, Park has dedicated decades of her life to LGBTQ, Asian-American, and Palestinian solidarity activism, viewing all human rights' struggles as distinct yet interconnected. Her life and work are the subject of two documentary films by Larry Tung and she has founded and participated in numerous LGBTQ organizations, including Iban/Queer Koreans of New York, NYAGRA, and Queens Pride House, an LGBT community center based in Queens near her home. (Summary by Boyda Johnstone.)

Interview of Naomi Clark

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:20:11 +0000

Naomi Clark describes her work with the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, the on-line trans and queer community Strap-On.org, and her career in video game design. She begins her oral history with her childhood. Topics of her childhood include her first memories of Seattle, parents' marital tensions, family move to Japan, return to the United States during high school and racial justice activism there. She then discusses her career as a coder for Lego and her process of coming out during that time. In the end of the oral history, Clark tells about her life after coming out, the community support she found in the forum Strap-On, and the growing presence of trans women in video game design. (Summary by Murielle O'Brien.)

Interview Of Octavia Kohner

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:20:04 +0000

Octavia Leona Kohner was active in the successful unionization campaign at Babeland, a NYC sex toy shop. Here, she recounts her upbringing in a working-class family in Staten Island, and describes social isolation, friendships, and sexual encounters during adolescence. She relates her experience coming out as a trans woman while attending Hunter College, and her struggle with depression. She also discusses her own political journey, participating in advocacy and activism during high school and college, listening and learning at Occupy Wall Street, and her affiliation with anarchism. She shares stories of organizing at Babeland, recounting workplace grievances, anti-union efforts by management, the bargaining process, and details of their first contract. She places the victory by Babeland workers in the context of the broader labor movement. (Summary by Justine Ambrose.)

Interview Of Jamie Bauer

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:19:57 +0000

Jamie Bauer recounts their childhood and adolescence growing up in New York City’s Stuyvesant Town, resisting family pressure to conform to normative gender expressions and discovering butch femme culture in the Village. They discuss finding political and social community as a college student in Boston engaged in gay rights organizing, and, later, as part of Women’s Pentagon Action in New York City. They chronicle their involvement in ACT UP, describing the group’s culture and interpersonal dynamics, memorable direct actions, and shifts in its strategies and goals, as well as the broader political climate of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Jamie also details the evolution of their own non-binary transmasculine identity alongside the increased visibility of the transgender movement, and the complexities of negotiating their relationship with their longtime partner, choices related to their transition, and their queer identity. (Summary by Justine Ambrose.)

Interview of Melissa Sklarz

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:19:51 +0000

Melissa Sklarz was the first transgender elected official in New York, having been a judicial delegate since the 1990s. She has served on many trans rights legislative committees, including the Stonewall Democrats and Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats, and was a delegate for the DNC in 2016. Yet her life before politics was marred by homelessness and substance abuse while struggling through life in New York in the 1970s and 1980s, and slowly coming to terms with her gender identity. Here she discusses her troubled past as well as her vision for a more just, trans-inclusive future. (Summary by Boyda Johnstone.)

Interview of J Soto

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:19:45 +0000

J. Soto recounts his evolving understanding of gender and identity along his eastward migration across the United States. Born and raised in the Bay Area, J. attended graduate school in Chicago, IL before moving to Brooklyn where he currently works as an artist who produces both written and performed works. J. describes the nuanced relationship he shares with his family, informed by their experience as working class, Catholic, Mormon and of Mexican descent. He also discusses the production of art work, the nature of community and family, and the role of language in understanding and describing identity. (Summary by Micah Katz.)

Interview of Rafaela Anshel

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:19:39 +0000

Rafaela Anshel is a Jewish trans woman, affiliated with the Congregation Beth Simchat Torah. This interview is a reflection of Anshel’s transition. She details accounts from youth up until present day, focusing on her struggles with self-acceptance as well as societal perceptions of trans people. The main topics discussed include rape and violence, trans safety, PTSD, gender nonconformity, queerness, sexual reassignment surgery, the AIDS epidemic, socially constructed stereotypes, and Anshel’s time spent at the LGBT Synagogue. She is a singer, feminist, and advocate on transgender issues (Summary by Courtney Arban.)

Interview Of JD Davids

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:19:32 +0000

JD Davids, a writer, health activist, and communication strategist, recounts his experiences as a member of the Philadelphia HIV/AIDS activist movement and subsequent move to New York City. A Philadelphia resident until 2002, JD talks about how his time spent in anarchist collective housing led him to ACT UP Philadelphia and other direct action organizing for HIV/AIDS services. JD expands on the evolution of his gender identity and the scope of his activism as he organized and networked to found Project TEACH and Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP). He concludes by discussing his move to New York City and how his gender expression developed through illness, pregnancy, and parenthood and which communities he is active in today. (Summary by Micah Katz.)

Interview Of Ei Meeker

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:19:26 +0000

Ei Meeker came to New York in the mid 1980's and got involved with ACT Up at the height of the AIDS crisis. He got involved with resource access for homeless LGBTQ and HIV+ people. He talks about his early brushes with feminism, activism in New York and San Francisco, the family support around gender he received growing up and his decision to become an educator. (Summary by Kirsten Adorian.)

Interview of El Roy Red

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:18:21 +0000

El Roy Red is a poet who has lived in New York City for three years. Red begins the interview by discussing her self-expression through a unique sense of style and how she found her voice as a writer. They recount their global upbringing, including their earliest moments of trans awareness and their experiences living in Europe and small towns in the United States as a trans person of color. She also discusses the importance of healing, how she has learned to find the “microjoys” in life, and finding community in New York City. Red shares their creativity, their attention to nuance and human complexity, and their visions for brown, black, trans, and queer liberation. (Summary by Izzy Levy.)

Interview Of Shannon Harrington

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:18:15 +0000

Shannon Harrington is a wig master, hair chaser, and make-up artist who has been living in New York City for over 30 years. In this interview Miss Shannon provides meaningful and nuanced insight into the 1980s and 1990s world of drag in New York City, gained from years of being involved in nightlife, theater and moving image communities as performer and behind the scenes talent. Miss Shannon speaks about experiences with performer International Chrysis, working at Edelweiss and having a friendship and working relationship with Lee Brewster of Lee’s Mardi Gras. (Summary by Ted Kerr.)

Interview Of Suneela Mubayi

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:17:56 +0000

In this interview, Suneela Mubayi discusses their experiences as a genderqueer person who has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East while studying for their PhD in Arabic through Columbia University. They recount being raised by their grandmother in New Delhi, India, discovering their interest in languages and in Arabic, navigating airport travel while trans, and the interplay of language with gender and sexuality. (Summary by Jamie Magyar.)

Interview Of Topher Gross

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:17:50 +0000

Photo credit: Meredith Zinner Photography. // Topher Gross is a hairstylist and former nightlife personality, performer, and poet. A lifelong New Yorker, he describes his quiet upbringing in Canarsie and early feelings of masculinity. Beginning with his time at the College of Staten Island, he discovered lesbian and trans communities through the internet and, later, through Manhattan's lesbian nightlife scene in the late 90's and early 2000's. He describes his shifting relationships to (and the unstable nature of) these communities and spaces, as well as his experiences coming out and undergoing top surgery during a time of scarce medical and financial resources for trans people. (Summary by Jamie Magyar.)

Interview Of Kyle Lukoff

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:17:44 +0000

Librarian and author Kyle Lukoff details a life lived with and around books. He recounts his bookish childhood in Seattle, moving to New York City, coming out as a gay trans man, his struggles with anorexia, and becoming a school librarian. Much of the interview is dedicated to Kyle's thoughts and experiences surrounding books, from teaching them to children, to the state of trans children's literature, to his work on the committee for the Stonewall Book Awards. In particular, he discusses the love of picture books, which has culminated in his authorship of three forthcoming books, to be published in 2018 and 2019. (Summary by Jamie Magyar.)

Interview of Lenni Yesner

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:17:38 +0000

In this short conversation, Lenni discusses their long, ongoing journey in exploring non-binary and "genderfucker" identity. They recount coming out as non-binary after many years in a "straight-passing" marriage, the importance of individuality and self-expression, and their experiences as co-founder of the TransGenerational Theatre Project. (Summary by Jamie Magyar.)

Interview of Zave Martoharojono

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:17:33 +0000

Zavé Martohardjono recounts growing up as a mixed race queer New Yorker. Having seen New York change over the past couple of decades, Zavé tells us about living in globally diverse neighborhoods, navigating New York City's competitive education system, finding solace and community in queer POC party scenes, working through racial and gender identity, the benefits of a queer workplace, and seeking out hormone treatment. (Summary by Evan Zavidow.)

Interview of Nala Simone

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:17:26 +0000

Nala Simone is an activist who was born and raised in Brooklyn. Nala begins with her childhood in Bushwick, her time as a fashion design student at the Fashion Institute of Design, and her process of coming out twice. She discusses her experiences with retail work and workplace discrimination, as well as her involvement with Retail Action Project and the TransWomen of Color Collective, which she co-founded. She also explores her experiences with Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, both as a patient and an employee. Nala emphasizes the importance of creating trans home spaces and trans siblinghood. (Summary by Izzy Levy.)

Interview of Yanyi by Michelle

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:17:20 +0000

Yanyi, a poet and software engineer, reflects on his experiences being part of and building many forms of community, including Asian American community, queer/trans community, and neighborhood communities. Born in China, he immigrated with his family to Canada (and then to the US) as a small child, and has lived in New York City for six years. Here, he talks through the many ways that, throughout his life, he has valued finding and creating communities and systems of support while developing his own sense of identity and dealing with the legacy of intergenerational trauma. (Summary by Jamie Magyar.)

Memory Circle Remembering Bryn Kelly

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:17:14 +0000

Story sharers include: Katie Liederman, Diana Cage, Maxe Crandall, Chris Parker, Naomi Clark, Buffalo Trace, AJ Lewis, Zachary Scholl, Rebecca Novack, Joss Barton, Sarah Schulman / / Friends of prolific writer and performer Bryn Kelly come together to reflect on the legacy and lineage she left behind. Hear her editors and professors explain what it was like to work with somebody so insecure despite being more intelligent than themselves; her friends share memories over her love and talent for cooking, reading tarot, doing hair, and going out to Hey Queen! and other spots in Brooklyn; her loved ones recall supporting her through a particularly challenging hospitalization at Interfaith; and her peers at the Lambda Literary Retreat explore how the work she produced as The Hussy and Party Bottom will live on as some of the most important and validating literature surrounding life as an HIV-affected person. (Summary by Evan Zavidow.)

Interview of Spree

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:17:08 +0000

erformer, and activist Spree shares her experiences as a Radical Faerie; a member of ACT UP, The Emma Goldman Gypsy Players and The Eggplant Players; and a resident of numerous places around the world including IDA (Idyll Dandy Arts) and her current home of Sassafras. She recounts various AIDS actions she took part of in NYC with her friend activist Ortez Alderman; and touring Europe and the US with fellow performer and friend Maxine. The interview begins with her recalling her family, including her gay brother and unaccepting parents, and living in Georgia. (Summary by Theodore (ted) Kerr.)

Interview of Sabelo Narasimhan

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:17:02 +0000

In this interview, Sabelo Narasimhan--a South Asian youth activist, organizer, photographer, and immigrant of color--discusses his penchant for collecting and sharing stories. Hear him talk about what it was like moving from India to California and then New York, experiences with the NYPD, his childhood, travel, and supportive and loving family. (Summary by Evan Zavidow.)

Interview of Stella Dance

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:16:56 +0000

Stella Dance is an educator, tarot-card reader, and professional dungeon monitor who currently works at the recently unionized Babeland sex toy boutique in New York City. In this interview they describe their experience dealing with bullying, physical disability, and mental illness while growing up in a working-class family around Park Slope in Brooklyn, and later attending college in the south. Their experience spans such topics as physical disability, schizophrenia, hospitalization, the play party scene in New York, relationships, economic and class struggles, and finding a community of support while grappling with a continually fluctuating gender identity. (Summary by Boyda Johnstone.)

Interview of Max Zev Reynolds

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:16:51 +0000

Max Zev Reynolds is Jewish leader and participant in New York queer life. Beginning with their membership in United Methodist Church in Spokane, Washington, Reynolds has explored their faith and gender identity simultaneously. Queer two-step dancing at Apple Ranch and Karen's Queer Country Events; Sylvia Rivera Law Project; and queer bars including Wild Rose, The Gutter, and Twin Peaks have also facilitated their exploration of gender identity. Reynolds advocates for the integration of class issues into the NYC trans community.

Interview of Christian Appel

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:16:41 +0000

Christian Appel grew up in New Rochelle, escaping to find community in New York's party scene (particularly the Motherfucker parties) and at IDA, a queer gardening farmstead in Tennessee. She draws strength and liberation from her partners and seeks healing for herself and her community through secular spiritualism, her job at SAGE and her recent work creating the TransGenerational Theatre Project. Appel's anarchism and community work informs her sense of both community empowerment and the particular ways she experiences her gender identity. Through her whimsy and critical perspectives, Christian and her interviewer Dinnick conclude that "Trans is magic!" (Summary by Kirsten Adorian.)

Interview of Eve Elle

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:16:33 +0000

Eve Elle describes the development of her identity and experiences as a trans woman over time, from realizing her identity at a very young age, to dating before and after transitioning, to her thoughts about her future and the possibility of parenthood. Throughout, she touches on her family, her relationship with the arts community, and shifting attitudes towards trans people and trans representation. (Summary by Jamie Magyar.)

Interview of Anna Keyes

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:16:27 +0000

Anna Keyes discusses the textured and representational aspects of her films, her process of self realization and the embodiment of her womanhood through online community, her family and being out in the world; owning her process as well as recognizing the tension of "passing" as an ideal. Identifying puberty as a "process of coming into one's own humanity", Anna examines the experience of her second puberty as girlhood into womanhood. (Summary by Kirsten Adorian.)

Interview of Brycen Gaines

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:16:20 +0000

In this brief interview, Brycen Gaines touches on a variety of topics, beginning with his first moment of awareness of his gender identity. He discusses discrimination, healthcare, family, and trans friends. He shares his frustration with the lack of LGBT community and resources in New Jersey outside of college campuses. Finally, Brycen talks about the importance of therapy to LGBT people and about his plans to become a therapist working primarily with the LGBT community. (Summary by Izzy Levy.)

Interview of Gykyira Shoy

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:16:09 +0000

Gykyira Shoy is the Program Director of New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG). Here, she describes her experience as a trans person of color and her work as an activist, engaged in justice struggles for all people. Beginning with her life in the South, she shares her experiences in the foster care and shelter system, her struggles with sickness, and the journey that brought her to New York City. This interview addresses many topics: female entertainers, the house scene, economic justice issues in the trans community, HIV prevention, youth work, advocacy, empowerment, and others. Gykyira gives a detailed look in to the work of NYTAG. Using her personal journey with activism as a lens, we learn about the many organizations and people working for trans justice today. (Summary by Rachel Parsons.)

Interview of Sylvar Guadalupe

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:16:02 +0000

In this interview, Sylver describes a childhood growing up in the Bronx and a period of awakening that began after they were kicked-out of their mother’s home at 15. Sylver, having at times struggled with depression and alcohol dependence, describes the impact of finding their trans family and discovering activism through organizations such as Sylvia’s Place, WRRQ, an artist collective, and an inter-generational theatre group. The arts and self-expression have also been central for Sylver, who connected with the New York ballroom and drag scenes early on and who now works with youth at a camp called Arts In the Woods. (Summary by Wendy Knight.)

Interview of Abigail B Thomas

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:15:57 +0000

Abigail Thomas, who identifies as non-binary trans-feminine, reflects upon their experiences of as growing up as a disabled child in New York City. Xie explores the circumstances that shaped their journal to transition, including sexual abuse. Now playing “catch up,” and finding a source of confidence and pride in their non-binary trans-feminine disabled identity, Abigail discusses the road to transition, disability pride and how to enjoy little successes such as figuring out how to apply makeup and laying in the sauna of the women’s locker-room of LA Fitness.

Interview Of Marty

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:15:51 +0000

Marty Hernandez Avedon discusses growing up in the foster care system only to be adopted by a family who rejected him at the age of 10, reconnecting with his biological parents, and what the name Hernandez Avedon means to him. A gender non-conforming tech worker, Marty explains the lack of diversity in programming and the steps he is taking—such as working with Access Code—to change that. (Summary by Evan Zavidow.)

Interview of Kyle Katz

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:15:44 +0000

In this interview Kyle Katz speaks about their childhood, growing up in Boston, coming to New York, and the role that timing, books and community have played in how they identify, and understand themselves. (Summary by Ted Kerr.)

Interview of Kiara St. James

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:15:39 +0000

Kiara St. James is the CEO and a co-founder of New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG). Here, she recalls the experiences throughout her life that inform her activism and advocacy today as a trans woman of color. She recounts her early upbringing in an evangelical Christian community in Beaumont, Texas and her adolescence spent with a foster family in Heidelberg, Germany. She details many of the scenes and spaces she inhabited as a femme queen in nineties-era New York City, and reflects on both care and conflict within the trans community during that time. She describes her evolution as a community activist, and considers the opportunities and challenges of trans-led advocacy to secure civil and political rights, economic empowerment, and personal dignity. (Summary by Justine Ambrose.)

Interview of Aiden Simon

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:15:33 +0000

Aiden Simon, a Brooklyn-based visual artist, details a life spent moving among different spaces both geographically and in terms of community. He discusses his experiences living in various cities in the US, seeing changes in queer and trans narratives over time, and the evolution of his artistic practice. Throughout, he expresses appreciation for the varied systems of support in his life, and for the increasing acceptance of gender variance in queer spaces, while also criticizing the rapid gentrification of New York City. (Summary by Jamie Magyar.)

Interview of Santos Arce

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:15:28 +0000

Santos, a bassist and sex educator, shares the story of his life in New York City, from his strict upbringing in East New York in the 80's, to his introduction to the punk and hardcore scene in the 90's, and his experiences with manhood and trans community in the 2000's and beyond. He emphasizes the importance of pleasure, vulnerability, and respect in his relationships with others. In particular, he discusses navigating and discovering gay sexuality, his long-term romantic relationships, and seeking supportive community and acceptance. (Summary by Jamie Magyar.)

Interview of Tiffany Miles

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:15:16 +0000

Tiffany Miles describes growing up in conservative, religious small-town Alabama, where she lived for the first thirty-two years of her life. She discusses her complicated relationships with family, the slow process of coming out to herself, and her deep love of science fiction, particularly Star Trek. After coming out as trans, she moved to New York City, where she has continued her transition, navigated unemployment and the shelter system as a trans woman, and begun to meet other trans people. (Summary by Jamie Magyar.)

Interview of Yana Calou

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:15:10 +0000

Yana Calou spent much of their youth traveling around the world and eventually found a community in Utah, where they began advocating for LGBTQ rights. Later, Calou moved to NYC, where they worked on campaigns for the labor rights of retail workers, where many queer and trans people are employed. They talk much about hormones, gender reconstructive surgery, and the health insurance disparities. Calou discusses their work with Retail Action Project, and the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union. (Summary by Courtney Arban.)

Interview of Major Griffin-Gracy

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:15:04 +0000

In this interview, Miss Major talks about the culture of transwomen sex workers in New York City and Chicago during the 1960's through 1980's as well as her care-work and advocacy during the rise of the AIDs epidemic, particularly in California. She illustrates her experiences in navigating bathhouse culture, sex work in 1960's New York City and rudimentary hormone and surgery access. Becoming a parent and mentor, Miss Major found ways to maintain herself and family through truck driving and as a community resource through organizations like Tenderloin AIDs Resource Project, Angels for Care, Trans Gender, Gender Variant and Intersex Justice Project and her most recent creation; Griffin Gracy Historical Retreat and Resource Center. (Summary by Kirsten Adorian.)

Interview of Allison Charde

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:14:58 +0000

Allison Charde shares her experience "under the trans umbrella" while growing up on Long Island attending Purchase University and presently in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Allison speaks about her relationship to the internet, queerness, whiteness and how they interact with her idea of community and identity. (Summary by Christine Buckley.)

Interview of Kai Pelton

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:14:52 +0000

Kai Pelton is a co-facilitator of the Trans-Generational Theatre Project, a community initiative in NYC for trans-folk. Here, the 21 y.o. New York City native describes their journey as a trans person of color from the perspective of a lifelong fine and performing artist who emphasizes natural expression. This interview takes you through Kai’s coming-of-age transformation from an "awkward caterpillar" who is unsure of who they were to a "beautiful butterfly" who realizes their authentic self through emotional and energetic expression and gender fluidity. (Summary by Sydnee Novack.)

Interview of Nico Fuentes

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:14:44 +0000

Nico Fuentes is a member leader in a current unionization campaign at the Pleasure Chest, a sex toy shop. Beginning with an account of growing up in a Mexican family in West Texas and Oklahoma, she goes on to describe her move to New York City to become involved with fashion. Eventually she found work in sex toy retail, where she came out as trans, politicized informed by Black Feminism, and eventually helped start the union drive at the Pleasure Chest in collaboration with the Retail, Warehouse, and Department Store Union (RWDSU). Nico reflects on how racist mistreatment spurred the campaign, and the role of queer and trans identities in retail.

Interview of Rye Young

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:14:37 +0000

Rye Young is the executive director of Third Wave Fund, a grantor engaging in “radical philanthropy” focused on funding organizing initiatives by young women and trans people of color. In this interview, Rye goes into depth on non-profit organizing, the contradictions of philanthropy as an industry, the evolution and difficulties faced by Third Wave. Rye also details their own personal history radicalizing and coming out as trans while a recovering Republican during the Bush administration. (Summary by Sydnee Novack.)

Interview of Dylan Kapit

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:14:31 +0000

Dylan Kapit reflects on their experiences going to an all women high school, Barnard at Columbia University, in New York City, and coming out as a trans masculine person. They also discuss their life post-college as a special education teacher, and being trans among other straight teachers. Dylan discusses their work with All Sex and Ni Queer. (Summary by Kiah Brem-Frame.)

Interview of Cayenne Doroshow

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:14:25 +0000

Ceyenne Doroshow shares her experience developing a supportive relationship with her family, enduring ignorance and discrimination, first meeting another transwoman, learning about hormones, and discovering Miss Major and others who she now calls her moms. Having grown up in a time there were so few out and proud transwomen in her life, Doroshow explains how she has seen the trans movement progress without neglecting the fact that her community is pushed out of housing, portrayed inaccurately in the media, and offered short term solutions if anything rather than sustainable employment opportunities and a chance to age with dignity. A longtime transadvocate and New Yorker, Doroshow offers a crucial account of her history in New York City. (Summary by Evan Zavidow.)

Interview of Amaree Jael

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:14:19 +0000

Amaree Jael recounts their life growing up in New York City as a transmasculine person of color. Beginning on 125th Street between 5th and Lennox, Amaree describes their early life in a changing neighborhood and an emotionally withholding biological family. They discuss school as a time of social discomfort and intellectual growth, learning the nuances of moving through the world as Black, queer, and trans. They spend time describing their needs from and contributions to community, whether it be in physical space or on social media, and how the various communities they have been involved in have fulfilled those needs or left them wanting. Touching on issues of representation, visibility, community, activism, and education, Amaree provides a young, Black, queer, trans voice born and raised in New York City. (Summary by Micah Katz.)

Interview of Donna Cartwright

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:14:12 +0000

Donna Cartwright discusses her long history in the labor movement, as a socialist militant, in leading roles in trans rights organizing and LGBTQ organizations. She recounts her 30 years spent as a New York Times copy editor, active in the left caucus within the union of employees at the New York Times, and her leadership work with Pride at Work, the LGBTQ constituency group of the labor movement's AFL-CIO. She also describes controversy in the national trans organization GenderPAC, the her leading roles in the formation of New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA), Gender Right Advocacy Association of New Jersey (GRAANJ), and the National Committee for Transgender Equality (NCTE). (Summary by Michelle Esther O'Brien.)

Interview of Lauren Simkin

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:13:58 +0000

Lauren Simkin Berke describes their work as an illustrator, animator, artist, and zine creator based in Brooklyn, NY. They walk us through growing up in an unconventional primary school setting, finding community in an anti-oppression college drama troupe at Cornell University and the Art Students' League of New York, as well as their artistic inspirations and hobbies, reflecting on changes in trans and nonbinary identity and terminology over the last ten years. (Summary by Boyda Johnstone.)

Interview of Evan

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:13:52 +0000

Evan is a Brooklyn-based photographer whose photo-work primarily touches upon issues of gender and identity, and in this interview he describes his perception of his own intersectional identity. Originally coming to New York from Chicago to attend Pratt while identifying as a lesbian woman - Evan details his journey of coming the the realization he was a man, transitioning and his relationship with passing while having the desire to “fit in”. (Summary by Sydnee Novack.)

Interview of Ky Platt

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:13:46 +0000

Ky Platt is a mixed-race, transgender comedian and author. Originally from Hamilton, Ohio, Ky has been active in the NYC LGBTQ+ community since the 1990s. In this interview, Ky recounts his experiences of being raised in Southwestern Ohio as a mixed-race person who had identified as being queer since childhood, being a part of the LGBTQ+ community in the 1990s, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, his popular and acclaimed blog in the mid-2000s called “AskThisBlackWoman,” and being an active co-parent in a queer family. (Summary by Sydnee Novack.)

Interview of Grace Detrevarah

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:13:39 +0000

Grace Detrevarah was born in Detroit, Michigan to an automobile industry family and moved to New York City as a teenager. In this interview, she discusses running away and the drag queens and trans women who protected her, religion and spirituality, incarceration, attending NYU Tisch School of the Arts, "revolutionary girls" like herself, and transgender healthcare. She has written a book Grace: Transitions and Other Views, a Memoir. (Summery by Evie Zavidow.)

Elsie Hupp

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:13:34 +0000

Elsie grew up middle class in the Midwest where the church was a big presence in her life. Though she encountered a progressiveness in various ways within the religious communities she was part of her in childhood, the fact that she was gender-questioning ultimately alienated her from the church. An important part of her socialization took place online, in the Myspace, DeviantArt, Twitch websites where she felt she had more control over interactions than IRL, especially if they became abusive due to her being a trans woman. Elsie speaks frankly about struggles that she has had both in school and her romantic history, as a sexual assault took its toll on both of those spheres in her life. She also talks briefly about her medical transition as a process that lead to her feeling more herself on estrogen than testosterone. Toward the end of the interview, Elsie connects her own empowerment and political development both to instances of police brutality that Black Lives Matter.

Interview of Simon Chartrand

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:13:27 +0000

Simon Chartrand describes his experience growing up in upstate New York, being outed to family, living with chronic pain and navigating healthcare as a trans person. Simon discusses the long process of embracing his trans identity through college and graduate school. He found community and a network of friends through groups offered by the LGBT Center, as well as through trans events such as the Trans Day of Action and Trans Day of Visibility. Throughout his interview Simon describes navigating the culture and power dynamics of online dating as a trans man, interactions with cis people, and racism today. (Summary by Kaity Lloyd-Styles.)

Interview of Eli Oberman

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:13:21 +0000

Eli Oberman—one of, if not the first, trans-identified students at Eugene Lang— talks about coming out as one of two very different trans children to a family of feminists, misogyny in transmasculine communities, the power of music and its ability to influence social change, and his spiritual connection to nature. As a breast cancer survivor living with depression, Eli explains the need for increased access to gender-affirming healthcare, not just in terms of trans-specific treatment, but overall. (Summary by Evan Zavidow.)

Interview of Alyssa Pariah

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:13:14 +0000

Alyssa Pariah recounts her difficult childhood in New Jersey, her involvement in trans women of color and sex worker communities in New York, and her radicalization as a revolutionary socialist. She became involved in Occupy Wall Street, then later joining the Black Lives Matter movement and a socialist organization in Portland Oregon. She shares her critique of nonprofit activists unwilling to engage in militant direct action, her passionate hatred of capitalism, and her yearning for a more radical, trans-inclusive mass poor people's movement. (Summary by Michelle Esther O'Brien.)

Interview of Hannah Simpson

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:13:08 +0000

Hannah E. Simpson is an activist who draws on her education and harassment during medical school to inspire her advocacy work. She was one of the first trans individuals to speak in front of officials from the U.S. Army and was instrumental in promoting trans affirming Board of Education policies at her former high school in an affluent section of New Jersey. Hannah reflects upon how multiple identities, particularly being a secular Jewish woman and Star Trek lover, provided her with a framework to embrace her gender identity and teach others about the human experience of being a trans person. (Summary by Kaity Lloyd-Styles.)

Interview of Naz

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:13:01 +0000

Naz is a gender non-conforming queer artist who works around in between spaces. They were born in Iran into a middle class muslim family, and followed their parents to the United States as a child in 1977. Naz recounts their experience of being an outsider in this country. They describe growing up as an immigrant and attending white Italian Irish catholic school in a polarized, racially divided city where they experienced hatred from their classmates and teachers, as well as working as a camera assistant in a misogynistic anti-muslim film industry in New York during the years leading up to 9/11. Naz questions the definition of community, and wants to bring an honest collaboration into this world. (Summary by Eunjong Choi.)

Interview of Margaret Berg

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:12:53 +0000

Margaret Berg discusses growing up in rural Ohio—generational trauma, farm life, high school support networks, and suicide attempts—until moving to New York at the age of 30. Margaret is candid about her experience transitioning later in life, dating, recovering from an alcohol addiction, the election of Donald Trump, and the joys of growing comfortable in her own skin and finding her own voice. (Summary by Evie Zavidow.)

Interview of Cerah Rowley

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:12:41 +0000

Cerah Rowley shares her love for Star Wars and Star Trek, an addiction to prescription medications, and growing up in a conservative Christian household and coming to identify as a non-binary trans femme queer.

Interview of Brenda Holder

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:12:34 +0000

Brenda Holder relives her glorious younger days in the “ball room scene.” Ms. Holder was born in Georgetown, Guyana before moving to the US, serving in the US military. She describes her first hormone shot, and later her medical transition. She discusses people who have inspired her in drag queen scenes, and her appearance in films, television and FX’s Pose.

Interview of Amanda Hurtado

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:12:28 +0000

(Entrevista en Español/Interview in Spanish.) Amanda Hurtado habla con Tamara Oyola Santiago sobre su vida en Ecuador y el cambio que ella vivió al venir a los Estados Unidos. En esta linda conversación, Amanda comparte su historia, hablándonos de las barreras personales, familiares y culturales que encontró y superó en su camino de aceptarse y cómo lo logró con la ayuda de varias comunidades y organizaciones en Queens, Nueva York. La entrevista termina con Amanda contándonos sobre las personas que la inspiran, sus metas personales y su dedicación a ayudar a la comunidad LGBT. (Resumo por Julie Olson y Daniel Villena.) Amanda Hurtado speaks with Tamara Oyola Santiago about her life in Ecuador and the change she experienced upon coming to the United States. In this intimate conversation, Amanda shares her history, telling us about the personal, family, and cultural barriers that she faced and overcame in her journey of acceptance and how she succeeded with the help of various comm... Read more

Interview of T. Mike Altamar

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:12:14 +0000

Mike Altamar is a community health educator, referral specialist and parent engagement specialist who's work has drawn on his own experience accessing resources and navigating hirs coming out and family relationships. Mike's life growing up in New York City colors the background of hirs story as ze develops a role mentoring and supporting other trans folks. Ze talks about homelessness, distance from hirs brother and finding community through feminist bookstores, college groups and community spaces. (Summary by Kirsten Adorian.)

Interview of Robin Scott

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:12:08 +0000

Robin discusses growing up in the Upper East Side of New York, how her neighborhood has evolved over time, and her favorite areas in the city. She recalls mental issues preventing her from attending classes in high school and college troubles which led her to go into art. She reflects on the significance of her tarot deck as well as her journey as an artist. Elaborating on her understanding of gender and feeling of being seen she discusses gender euphoria, being an exhibitionist, and her thoughts on and involvement in the trans community. (Summary by Perry Flores.)

Interview of Carla Roldos

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:12:00 +0000

Carla Roldos was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in New York City. After being placed into a psych ward as a young child, she became the first nurse and transwoman to work at Callen Lorde. She shares the ways in which NYC has changed as transwomen have lost many of the spaces they used to frequent—GG Barnum Room, Sally's, Gilded Grape—meanwhile young trans people have increased access to resources, the importance of trans visibility, recovery from substance abuse, hormones and healthcare, and the people and organizations—like her mentor Jackie and Compass House—that have supported her. (Summary by Evie Zavidow.)

Interview of Morgan Gus

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:11:48 +0000

Gus is a native New Yorker, punk rock drummer, and dog trainer. In this interview, Gus talks about the ways in which New York City, and its punk community, have changed over the years. Gus discusses growing up on a tour bus, transitioning, youth, and religion. (Summary by Evie Zavidow.)

Interview of Dan Rosensweet

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:11:42 +0000

Dan Rosensweet was born and raised in Brooklyn. In this interview, Dan discusses their high school experience, performing drag for the first time, struggling with an eating disorder, and seeking out television depictions of trans youth. Dan goes on to talk about the media and pop culture influences—Powerpuff Girls, Sailor Moon, RuPaul's Drag Race—that have played a key role in their life. Dan further discusses the queer-friendly atmosphere at SUNY Purchase, their academic work, and the importance of community support and visibility. (Summary by Evie Zavidow.)

Interview of Sonia Martinez

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:11:36 +0000

Sonia Martinez moved from Puerto Rico to Brooklyn at the age of 9, and has been living in New York City for the past 60+ years. In this interview, she talks about her romantic relationships, introduction to hormones, family ties, and her experience with depression. She shares vivid memories of nights out at the Gilded Grape, La Escuelita, Sally's and more; interactions with the Black Panther Party; and working with her grandmother in the factory. (Summary by Evie Zavidow.)

Interview of Ilian N

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:11:23 +0000

Ilan N. talks about a variety of struggles and challenges in his transition, despite being very privileged by having access to insurance and a good support network from his family. He speaks about stigma and animosity against phalloplasty within the transman community as well as the side effects of therapies that are often not talked about. He reflects on the recovery post-surgery and the burden on his caregivers and how humor helps to get through difficult conversations and decisions making scary topics easier by making jokes. Concluding that one should not be impacted by the fear of never being good enough or the general perception of a “real” man or woman.

Interview of Saje Liese

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:11:15 +0000

Saje Liese was born on Long Island and moved to NYC after 10 years of living in the country. She is a “true blue New Yorker” and tech engineer. In this interview, Saje discusses Dungeons & Dragons, the many “worlds" of New York City (burners, gamers, queer people, etc.), dating, coming out, healthcare, and the workplace. (Summary by Evie Zavidow.)

Interview of Moira Airington-White and Nicole White

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:11:02 +0000

Moira Airington and Nicole White are a married couple who both identify as trans women. They discuss their experience with family, education, and the working world, as well as the story of how they first met, dated, and eventually married. Moira shares her experiences with gender identity and presentation, and working as an EMT while dealing with unstable access to housing. Nicole elaborates on her experiences with coming out as trans to her conservative, Catholic family, and talks about moving around the United States (and Puerto Rico) as a young person and finding her identity in a changing environment. (Summary by Garrett Wood)

Interview of Zephyr

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:10:55 +0000

Zephyr D Merkur Herrera describes their early years in the greater NYC area, Argentina and California. Zephyr recounts their involvement in the Brooklyn queer punk scene and working with Taking Back Queens, and dives into tattoos, injuries, chosen family and the foibles of being polyamorous while queer. (Summary by Robert Schofield.)

Interview of Julian Honkasalo

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:10:50 +0000

Julian Honkasalo describes growing up in Finland, living in Sweden and New York City and his gradual discovery of and engagement with queerness and masculinity. He describes his research work concerning such topics as gender studies, political science, philosophy, and trans history. Julian also describes the LGBTQ party scene in New York City in the 2010’s. (Summary by Garrett Wood.)

Interview of Dezi

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:10:43 +0000

Dezi reflects on experiences at festivals such as Burning Man that helped to bring them out of their shell, coming to their non-binary identity. While struggling with little support from their conservative family, finding a companion has helped Dezi coming to her current experience of liberating self-acceptance.

Interview of Nogga Schwartz

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:10:37 +0000

Nogga Schwartz discusses his experience navigating masculinity and sexuality, surviving being homeless in Manhattan, the ideology of the gay and queer leather subculture. He also explores his family’s Israeli roots and his time exploring orthodox Judaism, and the struggle to find and create community. (Summary by Garrett Wood.)

Interview of Francois

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:10:30 +0000

Interview of Francois by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Eli Bodian

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:10:15 +0000

Interview of Eli Bodian by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Carolyn Connolly

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:10:09 +0000

Carolyn Connolly begins with her difficult childhood in a blue-collar Irish-Italian family in Flatlands, Brooklyn, her entry into metal scenes of NYC, and her radicalization into the Love and Rage Anarchist Federation. Later Carolyn is hired as the first trans woman employee at Babeland, a NYC feminist sex toy show featured in other interviews about their later unionization, and becomes active in a national scene of radical trans writers. Carolyn also considers her sobriety, and leaving NYC through moving to New Paltz in the Hudson Valley of New York State.

Interview of Mountain

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:10:02 +0000

Mountain is a self described non-binary, gender queer, gender agnostic. They discuss learning of their hypospadias in their adulthood and the ensuing difficulties of deciding if they could claim an intersex identity. While in Philadelphia Mountain was a member of the Radical Faeries and attended traditional art school though now they engage with less rigid social groups, and their art has become more personal and experimental. Mountain shares struggles with integration into the world and sense of self, they talk about tattooing as a form of intimacy and a way to feel more at home in their body.

Interview of Vivian Lopez Ponce

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:09:54 +0000

Vivian Lopez Ponce discusses her close friendships with iconic trans women of the 1980s, including Sylvia Ray Rivera, Octavia Saint Laurent, and her work at Cat’s Bar and Sally’s Hideaway. Vivian also begins recounting growing up in Spanish Harlem and the Bronx, her unsupportive father, and her grandmother and mother’s support in returning to school for her diploma.

Interview of Quito Ziegler

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:09:45 +0000

From Long Island, New York, Quito Ziegler was shaped by their childhood experiences in a Jewish family and community, becoming interested in non-violence. They went to college in Minnesota to pursue a career in photography, but ended up working for the Open Society Foundation as a Community Organizer. Quito discusses their work in sex-worker organizing, trans rights, and immigrant workers movements. They continued an art practice, including photography and gallery shows. Quito is still a hands-on activist who wants to see our communities build together. (Summary by Megan Aschenbrenner.)

Interview of Kamryn Wolf

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:09:39 +0000

Kamryn Wolf was one of the union members and supporters who helped win a union contract at Babeland, a NYC sex toy store. In this interview, Kamryn discusses their suburban growing up and alienation at an elite prep school, their time at college, followed by moving to New York. They spent two years working for Third Root Health Center, a trans and queer inclusive holistic healing collective in Brooklyn, followed with their work at Babeland. In discussing their organizing at Babeland, they reflect on the role of queer and trans identity in workplace solidarity. Following Babeland, Kamryn entered a Masters of Divinity Program at Union Theological Seminary, where they are thinking through their long-standing commitment to spiritual health work with trans people

Interview of Andrea Long Chu

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:09:33 +0000

Andrea Long Chu is an emerging trans intellectual, writing on the politics of gender and desire. In this interview she recounts her growing up to a devoted Christian family in North Carolina, attending religious school, being a 'geek' and lover of theater, and radicalizing as a feminist, before discovering 'Theory' in her final year at Duke University. There she dived into critical feminist thought, philosophy, and phenomenology, before beginning a PhD program in Comparative Literature at NYU. Chu spends a substantial portion of the interview ruminating on the stifled state of trans studies, the contributions of feminist militant Valerie Solanas, Chu's forthcoming book published by Verso, and the possibilities of theoretical and critical thought on gender. Along the way, she discusses sissy porn, Twitter and much else.

Interview of Sindell

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:09:26 +0000

Sindell was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and grew up as a child performer who got to travel the world as part of the Philadelphia Boys’ Choir. She attended the Philadelphia High School of Performing Arts, Academy for Music and even performed in the Nutcracker several times. After her grandmother passed away, Sindell left home before the age of 18. She worked as an escort in many different states before eventually finding her way back to New York. She worked as a makeup artist for Warner Brothers Studio and Christian Dior before pursing her current career as a singer. In this interview, Sindell discusses her personal experience with transitioning from an early age, puberty, physical abuse, different types of work, mentors and mentor-ship, youth centers as well as problems with healthcare. (Summary by Sindell.)

Interview of Sophie Cadle

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:09:18 +0000

Sophie Cadle was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Washington Heights. In this interview, she talks about growing up "fast" in New York City, where she explored the underground LGBT community and left home at a young age. Sophie shares her experiences with homelessness, the criminal justice system/Rikers, mental health, and suicidal ideation. As she has gotten older, Sophie has developed a practice of self care and is now an advocate for LGBT youth experiencing homelessness. She is involved with Point Source Youth and the NYC Continuum of Care Youth Action Board. (Summary by Evie Zavidow.)

Interview of Akasha Barker

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:09:11 +0000

Interview of Akasha Barker by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Aelita Parizek

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:09:05 +0000

Aelita Parizek was born in Kansas, and grew up in Hawai’i. At age 18, they moved to New York and went to college at Parsons, and later Rhode Island School of Designs. Aelita currently runs a “self made” business and shows their art pieces, inspired by Dr. Pimple Popper and tyrpophobia, in NYC. Aelita also works as a cam girl, and creates their own hardware jewelry along with making her large artworks.

Interview of Son Kit

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:08:30 +0000

Son Kit is a Brooklyn-based artist and curator who currently holds degrees in both Visual Art and Literary Arts from Brown University. They reflect on their experience growing up in Koreatown, Los Angeles, as well as their experiences as a queer trans person of color. Kit expands on the ways in which they have dealt with gender policing, self-identification, and their art. (Summary by Vanessa Belford)

Interview of Lorenzo

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:08:20 +0000

Interview of Lorenzo by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Jarrett Key

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:08:10 +0000

Interview of Jarrett Key by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Gia Love

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:08:02 +0000

Gia Love reflects on her life in the kiki ball scene, an underground queer and trans dance community in New York City. In kiki, particularly the House of Juicy, Gia found deep friendships and a supportive family that she was not able to find in her family of origin. Gia excelled as a kiki performer, winning many balls in the category of Realness. Gia also describes how becoming involved with competitive debate helped her get out of special education classes, and her violent rebelliousness as a child developed as a defense against bullying.

Interview of Ash Stephens

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:07:45 +0000

Ash recounts growing up in a southern Bible Belt community. He details his journey from Georgia to Chicago where he completed his higher-level education and met his “chosen family.” Ash is currently the Manager of Bail Operations at Brooklyn Bail Fund in New York, an organization that fights for people of color against the criminal justice system. He shares of his plans to acquire a PhD in Criminology and hopes to specialize in public surveillance of queer and trans people in society. (Summary by David U. Ibeneme)

Interview of Capri Kasai

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:07:37 +0000

Capri recounts their childhood in a military family and the resulting relocations that their family underwent. They address family dynamics that continue to affect their inner monologue and relationships. Capri discusses reluctance to come out as non-binary at both school and work due to feelings of insecurity stemming from being the only person addressing pronouns. They are pursuing a career in public health, currently working towards their masters, and becoming more involved in an array of art forms and creative expressions including poetry, video production, music and modeling.

Interview of Chanel Lopez

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:07:27 +0000

Interview of Chanel Lopez by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Iele Paloumpis

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:07:20 +0000

Interview of Iele Paloumpis by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Imani Henry

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:07:08 +0000

Interview of Imani Henry by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Jules Skloot

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:06:45 +0000

Jules Skloot is a dancer, performer, and teacher from the midwest living in New York. He discusses the nuances of the It Gets Better Project, discovering binding, and the slow acceptance he received from his parents. Skloot also discusses his experiences growing up in a creative and unique household while navigating his Jewish culture. He describes the buzzing excitement of being recognized as a “young man” and speaks on his journey through his gender identity and the dance world. We hear about him picking up Leslie Feinberg from the airport, Dan Savage paying for top surgery, confronting an abusive ex, capitalism and creativity. (Summary by Gabriella Losada)

Interview of Amanda Armstrong

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:06:34 +0000

Amanda Armstrong recounts her organizing as a graduate student militant in the 2009-2012 protest wave in Berkley and Oakland. She joined occupations and building take-overs organized by students and campus workers fighting budget cuts, joined Occupy and Black Lives Matter protests, and helped found a left caucus that came to power in the graduate workers local of the University of California system. Through that caucus and union, Armstrong came to lead a campaign that successfully won access to all-gender bathrooms for UC students and workers. Armstrong also discusses her growing up in Pennsylvania, her intellectual development as a historian, and her inducing lactation as a trans woman and parent.

Interview of Juliana Moraes

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:06:27 +0000

Interview of Juliana Moraes by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Kristen Lovell

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:06:18 +0000

Kristen Lovell discusses her time working "the stroll," in the West Village in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She recounts the community, conflict and challenges faced by fellow sex workers, including access to street hormones, discrimination from local businesses, and strategies for avoiding police arrest. She discusses the changes in police policy following the September 11 terrorist attacks, and the gentrification of the area. Lovell reflects on the role of various community organizing and social service agencies that worked with the area's young trans sex workers, including the Covenant House Rites of Passage, New Neutral Zone, and Sylvia's Place. In recent years, Lovell has been living in a collective home and working as an actor.

Interview of Mx Enigma

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:06:08 +0000

Interview of Mx Enigma by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Raffi Marmaba

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:06:01 +0000

Interview of Raffi Marmaba by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Sandra Mesics

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:05:55 +0000

Interview of Sandra Mesics by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of B Hawk Snipes

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:05:48 +0000

B. Hawk Snipes discusses their growing in the Bronx, their time at the La Guardia High School of the Performing Arts and the Fashion Institute of Technology, and eventually becoming an entertainer in television. They share on being a black non-binary person with both male and female energies, and their draw throughout their life to being free and expressive. B. Hawk appeared in the hit television program 'Pose' on FX, and discusses the experience of being on a set with many black people of transgender experience.

Interview of Kei Williams

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:05:35 +0000

Interview of Kei Williams by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Hannah Soldner

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:05:21 +0000

Interview of Hazel Katz

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:05:12 +0000

Hazel Katz is video artist. She works with the Parole Preparation Project, an organization that supports people who are incarcerated.

Interview of Tashan Lovemore

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:04:45 +0000

Tashan Lovemore shares his path to his "limitless" gender, pushing against narrow expectations of masculinity and manhood while finding contentment and confidence in his own gender. He grew up in the suburbs of New York City on Long Island to a Jamaican and American family. Later Lovemore met Sir Knight, and they founded BlackTransTV and BLK RYL PRODUCTIONS, through which they release regular videos. Lovemore shares about important trans-inclusive spaces that shaped his community: the Lab, Bklyn Boihood, and the Door. He shares on working for trans-acceptance in black communities, finding confidence in navigating potentially hostile institutions, and the importance of not unnecessarily disclosing other people's trans experience.

Interview Of Tei Okamoto

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:04:13 +0000

Interview Of Tei Okamoto by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Rose Wood

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:04:06 +0000

Rose Wood has worked with the ONE foundation, the Health Education Aids Liaison (HEAL), a violence project, the Maple Thorp Residence, and the Bailey House which were all associated with helping individuals living with AIDS. In addition, she was a performance artist who worked in venues such as Esquelita, The Box, Cutting Room, Slip Room, Flamingo East, Silver Swan, and Piano’s. In her interview, Rose shares her passion for religion and spirituality, and her struggles to receive adequate healthcare services.

Interview of Geleni Fontaine

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:03:55 +0000

Geleni Fontaine is an acupuncturist, RN and healer based on Brooklyn. In this interview, they share on their growing up in a working class Cuban family in Park Slope, Brooklyn, prior to the neighborhood's gentrification. Geleni politicized as a feminist through Brooklyn Women's Martial Arts, which later became the Center for Anti-violence Education. Through organizing there, Geleni became involved in the early NYC trans group the Metropolitan Gender Network, where they were inspired by Les Feinberg, Sylvia Rivera and Imani Henry. The interview emphasizes the spiritual dimension of their upbringing, healing work, and trans community.

Interview of Alejandra Rodriguez

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:03:24 +0000

(Entrevista en Español/Interview in Spanish) Esta entrevista de Alejandra Rodriguez por Tamar Oyola Santiago, trata sobre las dificultades de Alejandra, no solo en su transición, pero también como immigrant de Mexico a Estados Unidos. Alejandra habla de la falta de aceptación a su verdadera identidad como mujer por parte de su familia, no solo en Mexico pero también en Los Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, ademas de lo malo, Alejandra habla de todo lo bueno que ha surgido en su vida y como no solo ha encontrando un compañero que la apoya, pero también una comunidad que la respalda. Alejandra Rodriguez discusses her struggles of not only transitioning, but as well as being an immigrant from Mexico in the Unites States. Alejandra speaks about the lack of acceptance of her true identity as a woman, from her family in Mexico and the U.S. In addition to the bad, however, she speaks about the good that has come into her life, and how she has found a supporting companion and a supporting community. (Summary by Claudia Tagliavia.)

Interview of Sage

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:03:17 +0000

Sage discusses their growing up in a conservative evangelical Christian family in the Appalachia Mountains of Virginia, breaking from their family's religion through encountering children's and young adult fantasy novels, and becoming a non-binary librarian today. Sage reflects extensively on their religious trajectory, leading to their polytheistic and goddess-centered paganism today. Sage also discusses their politicization through early 2000s Tumblr social justice communities.

Interview of Lorena Borjas

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:03:11 +0000

(Entrevista en Español) Lorena Borjas habla con Lorenzo Van Ness sobre su vida como activista de los derechos de las mujeres trans inmigrantes indocumentadas y trabajadoras sexuales en Jackson Heights, Queens, Nueva York. En esta amena conversación, Borjas comparte de su vida antes de venir a Estados Unidos, su llegada a Nueva York, el inicio de su trabajo comunitario y lo que tal trabajo conlleva. También narra la importancia de recibir reconocimientos por su trabajo y como está aprendiendo a cuidar su salud un poco mejor. (Resumen por Cynthia Citlallin Delgado.) / (Interview in Spanish) Lorena Borjas speaks to Lorenzo Van Ness about her life as an activist for the rights of undocumented migrant trans women sex workers in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York. In this convivial conversation, Borjas shares stories about her life prior to coming to the United States, her arrival in New York City, the beginning of her community work and what such work entails.

Interview of Kate Doyle Griffiths

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:03:04 +0000

Kate Doyle Griffiths discusses their politicization as a socialist, bringing an anthropological lens to their political, personal and sexual life. Griffiths reflects on growing up in Housten, Texas in desegregated schools, the peculiarity of their step family arrangements, their activism at New York University and Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), and later work with the socialist organization Solidarity. They also discuss their three years in South Africa, becoming a parent, and non-binary gender identity. Griffiths reflects on the tension, interrelationship and parallels between being queer and trans with being a socialist radical, and the rapid shifts in both in recent years with the renewal of class struggle and the emergence of an explicitly trans communist politics.

Interview of Imara Jones

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:02:58 +0000

Imara Jones reflects on the challenges and rewards of producing independent media for diverse millennial audiences, including her talk show The Last Sip and her docuseries Translash. She addresses the high level of visibility for trans people that marks our current moment, pointing out the limits of this visibility, including tokenization and the pressure to monetize trans identity. Reflecting on early experiences in New York in clubs, on the piers, and at balls, Imara charts how social spaces and networks lay a groundwork for political mobilization.

Interview of Hannah Baer

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:02:43 +0000

Interview of Hannah Baer by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Che Gossett

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:02:17 +0000

Che Gossett shares on the left political history of their parents, their time spent in multiple abolitionist, black and queer organizing groups, and their becoming a critical scholar of trans studies, art criticism and race. Specifically, Che discusses their time in Critical Resistance, Hearts on a Wire (a Philly-based trans prisoner zine), and the Barnard Center for Research on Women. Study plays a reoccurring and central role in Che's narrative, serving as an abolitionist political practice, and means of building transformative community. Che reflects on the dynamics of trans feminine people in black communities and institutions and the interrelationship of racism and transmisogyny.

Interview of Barms

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:02:11 +0000

Barms is a construction worker apprentice and a communist. In this interview, they discuss the role of philosophy and abstract thinking for themselves and many trans people as a strategy of managing powerlessness and dysphoria. Barms discusses their political organization Red Bloom, where many members are queer and trans, and the dynamics of sexual assault and gender abuse that have torn apart other socialist groups. Barms reflect on the homophobic and transphobic psychology driving their cishet male coworkers in construction, the factors leading many trans people towards radical politics and critical theory, and the meaning of communism.

Interview of Brigitte Jamilet Hernandez Martinez

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:01:55 +0000

(Entrevista en español) Lorenzo Van Ness entrevista a Brigitte Jamilet Hernández Martínez sobre su vida, quien comparte detalles de su niñez y adolescencia que recalcan la importancia que tiene su familia, sobre todo sus padres, en su vida, a pesar de que viven en México. En esta conversación, Hernández Martínez habla de algunas dificultades que ha enfrentado a lo largo de su vida, los cambios que experimentó cuando emigró a Estados Unidos, mencionando su relación con Lorena Borjas. También comparte sus experiencias como estilista y sus planes de obtener su certificación de cosmetología, para así poder ayudar desde sus posibilidades. Ella vive entre Dover, NJ y la ciudad de Nueva York, y en esta linda plática enfatiza su propia filosofía de vida: que nadie es diferente, y todxs valemos igual. / / (Interview in Spanish) Lorenzo Van Ness interviews Brigitte Jamilet Hernández Martínez about her life, who shares details about her childhood and adolescence that highlight the importance that her family has on her life, particularly her parents, in spite of the fact that they live in Mexico. In this conversation, Hernández Martínez sepals about some of the difficulties she has encountered throughout her life, the changes that she experiences when she emigrated to the United States, mentioning her relationship to Lorena Borjas. She also speaks of her experience as a stylist and her plans for obtaining her cosmetology certification. Living between Dover, NJ and New York City, in this nice conversation she emphasizes her life philosophy: that nobody is different, and everyone is valuable.

Interview of Armani (ArmaniDae)

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:59:16 +0000

Interview of Armani (ArmaniDae) by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Gogo Graham

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:58:55 +0000

Interview of Gogo Graham by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Jeaux Henry

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:58:22 +0000

Jeaux narrates their coming into black trans boihood, from their childhood in Atlanta to their life in New York City today. As the creator of Black Boi Complex, a virtual community for masculine-of-center black LGBTQI+ people, they have worked to foster interpersonal networks of support and care within black queer communities. They also discuss self-care, finding moments for joy and self-love, and navigating mental health and the healthcare system. (Summary by Jamie Magyar.)

Interview of Shelby Chestnut

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:58:14 +0000

Shelby Chestnut describes their childhood and adolescence between Montana and Minnesota, discussing friendships and family, bullying and acceptance, mixed-race (Native American and white) identity, queer identity, and learning disabilities. After two sudden deaths of loved ones, Shelby left for college in Ohio, spent a year in Seattle, moved back to live with her family in Montana, checked into rehab, and moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico before eventually moving to Crown Heights in New York City and beginning anti-violence organizing with the LGBT community. Their narrative includes discussions of small towns and big cities, addiction and recovery, race and intergenerational trauma, arts, and finding and building community. (Summary by Jourdan Sayers.)

Interview of Luce Lincoln

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:57:25 +0000

Luce Lincoln discusses the identity clashes of his white and Philippine lineages. Learning more about his Philippine culture, and Philippine gender expression, expanded his self-understanding and marked the beginning of identifying as a man. Using his personal experiences and knowledge of race and sexuality, he involves himself in queer activism for/with the youth with groups like the Global Action Project. (Summary by Noelia Bautista.)

Interview of Simone Kolysh

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:56:00 +0000

Simone Kolysh describes their non-binary gender identity, growing up in a Russian immigrant family, becoming a parent, and their academic work on trans studies.

Interview of Ryann Holmes

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:55:49 +0000

In this dialogue, Ryann Holmes discusses their life with Sir Knight of BlackTransTV. Ryann co-founded bklyn boihood, an organization for transmasculine people of color. Ryann discusses being a tomboy and lesbian in a supportive black family in Maryland, their religious development out of self-shame they faced in Christianity, and coming to a non-binary understanding of their gender. Ryann describes bklyn boihood's commitment to storytelling, making a calendar of members, self-celebration, and the power of self-representation. Sir and Ryann share on their love of black culture, black trans life, and resisting internalized white culture.

Interview of Violet

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:55:43 +0000

Violet shares her experience of being a musician and DJ in New York’s rave scene while navigating the political landscape of gentrification. Having grown up nomadically with immigrant parents, she feels connected to NYC’s trans and queer community and specific sub cultures that explore identities beyond gender through play, non-human kinship, and body modification. Violet elaborates on her political ideas ranging from accelerationism, to campaign finanacing to civil rights for A.I. (Summary by Aviva Silverman.)

Interview of Zeno Peterson

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:55:36 +0000

Zeno is a wordsmith, performer and educator. He discusses his experience of traumatic narcissism, the difficulty with affirmations, and limitations pronouns have on encompassing an expansive relationship to one’s gender. He speaks about growing up rich and how he used his class as a defense against racism in the suburbs of New Jersey.

Interview of Milan Garcon

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:55:14 +0000

Milan Garcon is a Cleveland, Ohio native and current social influencer, media personality, producer, Emcee, and model. They reflect on the experience of attending a Historically Black College as a queer person and openly claiming their identities in this environment. Discussing their work, including with SlayTV, a Queer, Trans, GNC, people of color media agency, Milan shares the origins of their hussle mentality. Additionally they speak on danger they have experienced while being femme and non-binary, also Milan shares the difficulty of navigating both grief and success in relation to social media.

Interview of Jackson Reddy

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:55:08 +0000

Jackson Reddy reflects on their family dynamics and how these relationships shaped their growth. They also touch upon the role of trauma and the process of healing, especially in terms of self-care and aftercare. Reddy more broadly discusses queerness, visibility, and community as unifying factors. They speak of “feeling alive and joyful” because of art and creation, and how that desire for creativity intersects with their education and future. Overall, Reddy shares an optimistic outlook that is best summed up through his hopes for others -- “so much joy. Joy and healing.” The interview was conducted by Tashan Lovemore as a collaboration with BlackTransTV. (Summary by Daniela Valdovinos.)

Interview of Mylo Mendez

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:54:57 +0000

In this interview Mylo Mendez shares hir ongoing work with creating queer and trans self-defense. Ze discusses hir evolution as an artist, currently working in zines, as well as hir involvement with punk scenes and DIY venues such as Silent Barn.

Interview of Cayden Betzig

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:54:42 +0000

Cayden discusses his work as an untenured and trans educator. He reflects on his involvement in the NYC’s teacher’s union the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and the UFT’s social justice caucus, the Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE). While a student at NYU, Cayden engaged multiple activist campaigns including advocating for higher minimum wage for campus workers and for the prioritization of financial aid. He also discusses the role his Hindu upbringing has played throughout his life.

Interview Kim Watson

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:54:20 +0000

Kim Watson is co-founder of CKLife, author of The Modern Day Woman, and trans advocate and leader. In this interview, she discusses growing up in Barbados as an intersexed woman, her years of homelessness in New York and time in the West Village drag scene, overcoming drug addiction and turn towards her work in trans advocacy. She also discusses being a parent, and the conflict between trans leaders.

Interview of Anaïs Duplan

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:53:54 +0000

Interview of Anaïs Duplan by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of McKenzie Wark

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:53:17 +0000

McKenzie Wark discusses their career as a cultural critic, journalist, academic, and author. They came of age as a radical and writer in underground counterculture scenes in Australia, moving to New York to pursue love, and becoming a professor at the New School. Wark also discusses their relationship with Kathy Acker, their recent coming out as trans, and rethinking their sexual history through trans identity.

Interview of Kiyan Williams

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:53:10 +0000

Interview of Kiyan Williams by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Paisley Currah

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:53:04 +0000

Interview of Paisley Currah by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Rona Love

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:52:26 +0000

Rona Love discusses her early childhood hardships, three decade long incarceration and experiences in psychiatric hospitals. She details abuse, violence and the extreme isolation of being a trans-femme person in the prison system. Prior to being in-prisoned, Rona describes going to Limelight and other nostalgic clubs, visits to Riis beach and the general aura of the 70’s in downtown NYC. She is an advocate today with Black and Pink and is committed to helping girls on the inside with the love and support she has from friends who were there for her and from “the younger generation” of prison abolitionists that are committed to standing up for injustices within the LGBT community.

Interview of Erica Connerney

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:52:06 +0000

Erica Connerney is a philosophy/trans literature professor and author living in Tribeca, NY. She discusses her past and present in terms of her identity as a transsexual woman, as well as her hopes for the future. Main topics include her personal involvement with both Catholicism and Dianic Wicca, the importance of community for LBGT people concerning psychological health and survival, and the perceived loss of gay spaces such as bookstores, beaches, and bars due to the wider acceptance of LGBT identities from the straight majority. (Summary by Peri Wait.)

Interview of Hayden Gibson

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:51:38 +0000

Hayden Gibson was born in Calhoun Falls, South Carolina. In this interview, Hayden shares their experiences about growing up in an adopted evangelical family, making the courageous move to New York alone, being a marshal at the NYC Dyke March, and spontaneously joining a queer band. Hayden also goes on and talks about his love for queer literature and how authors such as Walt Whitman, Alison Bechdel and Jeanette Winterson has greatly impacted their upbringing. (Summary by Trina Ngo.)

Interview of Morgan Hunlen

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:51:19 +0000

Interview of Morgan Hunlen by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Tourmaline

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:50:50 +0000

Interview of Tourmaline by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Robbi Ann Mecus

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:50:31 +0000

In this interview, Robbi Ann Mecus describes her journey from growing up with her family, experiencing gender dysphoria in a working-class neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City, to living as her authentic female self in rural Upstate New York with her daughter, where she works as a forest ranger. She also goes into detail about personal experiences along the way, including her searches for love and a place to belong, as well as her initial forays into presenting as female before she had come out to anyone she knew. She elaborates on the unique challenges she has faced and faces with regards to trans healthcare access as a person who lives in a rural area, as well as her experience as a member of rural law enforcement, as well as the personal relationship she maintains with New York City itself. (Summary by Garrett Wood.)

Interview of Tuesday Smilie

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:50:12 +0000

(Photo of Tuesday and interviewer Michelle). Tuesday Smillie is a visual artist whose work grapples with power and violence. In this interview, Tuesday recounts her coming out in a radical queer youth scene in Portland, Oregon, moving to NYC to pursue her art practice, and the growth of attention on her work since her work's appearance in the 2016 show Triggered at the New Museum. She discusses her art practice at some length, reflecting on it both being embedded in the legacy of radical trans movement, and its gesture away from trans identity and Tuesday's own personal experience as a trans woman.

Interview of Susan Stryker

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:49:49 +0000

Interview of Susan Stryker by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Kate Bornstein

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:49:38 +0000

Kate Bornstein discusses her life as a writer and actor. Moving between growing up in a Jewish family on the New Jersey shore, studying acting in school, joining the Church of Scientology, finding community in a dyke BDSM community in San Francisco and last twenty years living in NYC, Bornstein consistently emphasizes her grappling with gender, eventual revelation she is neither a man nor a woman, and understanding of the oppressive nature of gender dualisms. Bornstein is among the best-known trans authors since the mid-1990s, influencing a generation in her fusion of personal memoir and postmodern gender theory. (Photo is self-portrait by Bornstein.)

Interview of Luca Lee

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:49:13 +0000

[Bilingual interview in English and Spanish/Entrevista bilingüe en Español y Inglés]

Luca Lee, a Brooklyn-based new media artist and journalist, reflects on living outside his home country of Chile. He speaks of intergenerational trauma through the dictatorship, isolation in watching the Chilean revolution from afar, and his early dreams that guided his move to NYC. Through both Spanish and English, Luca employs the senses as well as colors and feelings to contour his experience of gender. He discusses alternative realities made through virtual and audio landscapes that provide spaces of empathy. More broadly, he explores what self determination looks like living under Capitalism and where he goes to connect to himself and his community.

Luca Lee, artista medial y periodista residente en Brooklyn, reflexiona sobre la experiencia de vivir fuera de su país, Chile, y nos habla sobre el trauma intergeneracional de la dictadura.

Interview of Dioganhdih

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:48:53 +0000

Dioganhdih was born on sovereign Haudenosaunee territory of Onondaga Nation. They are a two-spirit, queer, hip-hop artist, public speaker and producer. In this interview, they speak about their complicated relationship to New York State and its historical violence as well as their early education both on the reservation and in non-native schools. They elaborate on how their queerness and indigeneity felt held in Oaklands’ black, brown, and indigenous communities. Dio raps Pussy Vortex and Puff Puff Passion, and recount hip hop’s ability to story tell and explore all aspects of their identity.

Interview of Patty Gone

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:48:40 +0000

Patty Gone is a performance artist, writer and the author of Love Life (Mount Analogue, 2019). In this interview, they discuss attending Catholic school in Harrisburg, PA. They describe early exposure to soap operas at their grandmother’s house, MTV music videos, Danielle Steel books and their collections of plastic figurines. They discuss years spent in New York and Western Massachusetts, with a focus on performance, art and poetry communities.

Interview of Thomas Page Mcbee

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:48:34 +0000

Thomas Page Mcbee is a writer, journalist and is the author of two books: Man Alive (City Lights, 2014) and Amateur (Scribner, 2018). In this interview, he discusses growing up in Pittsburgh, PA, queer community in high school, literary community in San Francisco in the early 2000s, and working in journalism through moments of technological change in news media. He describes his writing practice through the years and ongoing reporting on the masculinity crisis.

Interview of oni lem

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:48:06 +0000

Interview of oni lem by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Felicita 'Felli' Maynard

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:47:49 +0000

Interview of Felicita 'Felli' Maynard by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Ethan Roberts

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:47:33 +0000

Ethan Roberts attends Union Seminary where he is a chaplain intern for incarcerated transgender folks at Rosie’s on Rikers Island. He discusses his early religious trauma being apart of a cultic group in Buffalo NY. He speaks about power and class manipulation as well as the greater culture of ‘toxic theology’ within his Mennonite and Baptist upbringing. At college his first encounter seeing a Drag King enabled him to explore his gender and sexuality. More recently, he describes the complications passing as a cis white man and co-raising a child with his partner while navigating his internal and external relationships to trans-embodiment.

Interview of Bethany Hine

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:47:15 +0000

Interview of Bethany Hine by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Harron Walker

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:46:56 +0000

Interview of Harron Walker by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Chaya/Zoe Belinsky

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:46:38 +0000

Interview of Chaya/Zoe Belinsky by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Jaheed Hines

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:45:56 +0000

Jaheed Hines (he/him) is a black trans masculine man who was raised in Brooklyn, NYC. He begins detailing his childhood and how he found himself uncomfortable with societal expectations set upon him based upon his sex assigned at birth. He recounts attending his first pride in 2016 and feeling at home like he could fly. It was in that moment that he realized it was time for him to live fully in his truth. Jaheed opens up about his close relationship with his mom and how she's been super supportive and understanding navigating this process with him. This provides proof that parents aren't always at odds with their children especially when in the black community. He also speaks a lot about the importance of community, visibility and representation in helping him to live his best life. Jaheed means the one who strives and we're so happy he's alive and thriving in his brilliance.

Interview of Noah Foster

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:45:38 +0000

Noah Foster (they/them) is a black and white trans nonbinary human who was born and raised in New Orleans, LA. Today Noah is a graphic artist who resides in Brooklyn, NY. Noah's early years were very structured, so it didn't allow them much room to be different and live authentically. They never saw a reflection of anyone like themselves while growing up and today make it a point to document themselves via their social media. Noah talks about their happiness in finding themselves and community when they went to college at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah, GA. It was there that they met a friend who was of trans experience and she was the first person to truly see Noah as who they are. In that moment Noah felt seen and loved. They shine bright like the sun when in the presence of folks who don't question their identity. Noah is continuing to flourish in their truth, creating art while becoming more active at sharing information on their social media.

Interview of Mojo Disco

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:45:21 +0000

Mojo Disco is a multi-talented personality, youth educator, art teacher, fitness instructor, curator, designer, poet, model and artist from NYC. She is the creator of the popular underground event Paint And Poetry that created space for six years as a prominent place for all folks of all experiences to come together and share their brilliance in NYC. Her focus in life is to showcase the brilliance of all black folks through the arts to push for more love and equality. In this interview Mojo discusses being born and raised here in NYC navigating her identity as a black child being raised by black parents deeply rooted in the hip hop culture. She graces us with her poetry piece "TIRED" that she wrote and first shared at a Trans Day of Remembrance celebration in 2019. In this poetry piece she details advice for other women when it comes to love, dating and friendship, remembers Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and reminds people that women of trans experience are humans who deserves respect.

Interview of Denne Michele Norris

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:45:02 +0000

Interview of Nia Lomazzo

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:44:42 +0000

Interview of Nia Lomazzo by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Sydney Baloue

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:44:07 +0000

Interview of Sydney Baloue by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Leopoldo Bloom

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:43:23 +0000

Interview of Leopoldo Bloom by NYC Trans Oral History Project

Interview of Yva Las Vegass

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:43:10 +0000

Yva Las Vegass was born in Venezuela in 1963. They recount their early childhood memories of playing folk music on the cuatro and singing boleros with their mother. Yva moved to the US as a teenager to attend boarding school but never finished and eventually found their way to Seattle where they created a music project called Sweet 75 with Nirvana’s Chris Novoselic. Moving to NYC felt like home with the cacophony of street music, people of color, feminist punk houses, and open mic nights to experiment and play music. Yva speaks about gender violence by saying, “I can’t with the gender binary, it’s so constrictive and it’s not working anymore in the world that we live in. It gets in the way of everything, in the way of equality, it’s horrible for men, and lethal for women”

Interview of Aoife

nyctransoralhistoryproject@gmail.com (NYC Trans Oral History Project) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:12:44 +0000

Tourmaline is a writer, activist, and filmmaker, involved in projects like Happy Birthday, Marsha and Atlantic is a Sea of Bones. In this interview, she recounts her childhood in Boston, where she attended a Black Nationalist church and formed intergenerational relationships with the queer and trans individuals in her neighborhood. After moving to New York for school, Tourmaline became heavily involved with organizations such as Queers for Economic Justice, Curb Resistance, and the Sylvia Rivera Law Project. She also discusses the power of subject-driven grammar, the pitfalls of trans visibility, and the potential of film to function as memory.