Southwest Virginia LGBTQ+ History Project

What was Rockbridge County, Virginia like twenty years ago for LGBTQ+ students? From the Southwest Virginia LGBTQ+ History Project, we proudly present Episode 8 on LGBTQ life in Rockbridge County from the early 2000s to today. Thank you to Asher Simcoe, Kelly Jo Larsen, and the Queer W&L Oral History initiative, and Dr. Carrie Hart and the RCHS LGBTQ alum network for sharing your stories with...

Queer and trans youth have always been here. From the Southwest Virginia LGBTQ+ History Project, we proudly present Episode 7 on the history of queer youth in Southwest Virginia.  All of the archival audio interviews in this episode are drawn from oral histories in the  ⁠LGBTQ History Collection⁠  at the Virginia Room, Roanoke Public Libraries, located in Roanoke, Virginia. The oral history narrat...

Housing is an LGBTQ issue with an interesting history. From the Southwest Virginia LGBTQ+ History Project, we proudly present Episode 6 on the history of queer housing and homelessness in Southwest Virginia. All of the archival audio interviews in this episode are drawn from oral histories in the LGBTQ History Collection at the Virginia Room, Roanoke Public Libraries, located in Roanoke, Virginia....

From the Southwest Virginia LGBTQ+ History Project, we proudly present Episode 5 on the topic of the history of drag in Roanoke, Virginia.   All of the audio interviews in this podcast are drawn from oral histories in the LGBTQ+ History Collection at the Virginia Room, in the Roanoke Public Libraries, located in Roanoke, Virginia. The oral history narrators featured in today’s program in...

From the Southwest Virginia LGBTQ+ History Project, we proudly present Episode 4 on the topic of Black Queer History, Community, and Joy in Roanoke, Virginia.  All of the audio interviews in this episode are drawn from oral histories in the LGBTQ History Collection at the Virginia Room, Roanoke Public Libraries, located in Roanoke, Virginia--plus an additional interview (just for this episode...

From the Southwest Virginia LGBTQ+ History Project, we proudly present this podcast episode on the topic of Lesbian Feminism in Southwest Virginia. The episode includes an interview with Dr. Emma Heaney, readings by Grace Fowler and Caroline Painter, and audio interviews drawn from oral histories in the LGBTQ+ History Collection at the Virginia Room, in the Roanoke Public Library, located in Roano...

There is a long history of interactions between LGBTQ communities and the police in Roanoke, Virginia. From the Southwest Virginia LGBTQ+ History Project, we proudly present this podcast episode on the history of LGBTQ people and the police in Roanoke, Virginia. All of the audio interviews in this episode are drawn from oral histories in the LGBTQ History Collection at the Virginia Room, Roanoke P...

In the 1980s and 1990s, the HIV/AIDS crisis had a major impact on LGBTQ communities in Southwest Virginia. From the Southwest Virginia LGBTQ+ History Project, we proudly present this podcast on the history of HIV and AIDS in Southwest Virginia. All of the audio interviews in this podcast are drawn from oral histories in the LGBTQ History Collection at the Virginia Room, Roanoke Public Libraries, l...