Transcript. This oral history interview with Lee Coleman was conducted by Katrina Griffiths and Joshua Fackrell on February 17, 2011. Griffiths and Fackrell conducted the interview for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest as part of Professor Pat Young's senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University.

In this interview, Coleman discusses his involvement with the Log Cabin Republicans in California and Oregon. He discusses the political fight against Measure 9, an Oregon ballot measure against LGBTQ rights, in 1992. He also talks about the state of the Republican Party at the time of the interview in 2011. He discusses the reasons he became a Democrat in 2004; talks about recent gay rights legislation in Oregon; and speculates about the future of gay rights. He closes the interview by encouraging his interviewers to become more politically active.

Transcript. This oral history interview with Ellen Goldberg was conducted by Annica Eagle and Spencer Trueax on February 24, 2011. Eagle and Trueax conducted the interview for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest as part of Professor Pat Young's senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University.

In this interview, Goldberg discusses her involvement in the founding of the Mountain Moving Cafe, a collective-run coffeehouse, in Portland, Oregon; talks about how she and other people in the collective ran it as an "anti-profit" business; and speaks about events held at the cafe. She discusses the cafe's association with gay and women's groups and talks about life in the collective. She speaks about her activities since leaving the collective, particularly her involvement in gay and women's rights activism. She closes the interview by talking about the poem that inspired the cafe's name, "The Day the Mountains Move" by Yosano Akiko.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Ellen Goldberg was conducted by Annica Eagle and Spencer Trueax on February 24, 2011. Eagle and Trueax conducted the interview for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest as part of Professor Pat Young's senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University.

In this interview, Goldberg discusses her involvement in the founding of the Mountain Moving Cafe, a collective-run coffeehouse, in Portland, Oregon; talks about how she and other people in the collective ran it as an "anti-profit" business; and speaks about events held at the cafe. She discusses the cafe's association with gay and women's groups and talks about life in the collective. She speaks about her activities since leaving the collective, particularly her involvement in gay and women's rights activism. She closes the interview by talking about the poem that inspired the cafe's name, "The Day the Mountains Move" by Yosano Akiko.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Steve Suss was conducted by Danita Doun and Lachelle Ogden on February 15, 2011, as part of their Capstone course at Portland State University, under instructor Pat Young. Doun and Ogden conducted the interview for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest, which collects the histories of organizations and individuals active in lesbian and gay issues in the Portland area and throughout the Pacific Northwest. In addition to the audio, the collection includes a transcript of the interview and photographs of Suss. In the interview, Suss discusses his ownership of Embers, a gay bar in Portland, Oregon. He also talks about serving on the board for Esther's Pantry, which provides food and clothing for people with AIDS. He discusses his stance on marriage equality; talks about owning a bar and steam bath in Seattle, Washington, but leaving due to city government corruption; and talks about his reasons for relocating to Portland and some of his early business ventures. He discusses the early years of owning Embers, beginning in 1971, including his attempt to expand its original location, and moving to the location on Broadway in 1981. He also talks about his relationship with his partner and his family. He closes the interview by talking about a lawsuit against the Oregon Liquor Control Commission that he was involved in.

Transcript. This oral history interview with Steve Suss was conducted by Danita Doun and Lachelle Ogden on February 15, 2011, as part of their Capstone course at Portland State University, under instructor Pat Young. Doun and Ogden conducted the interview for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest, which collects the histories of organizations and individuals active in lesbian and gay issues in the Portland area and throughout the Pacific Northwest. In addition to the audio, the collection includes a transcript of the interview and photographs of Suss. In the interview, Suss discusses his ownership of Embers, a gay bar in Portland, Oregon. He also talks about serving on the board for Esther's Pantry, which provides food and clothing for people with AIDS. He discusses his stance on marriage equality; talks about owning a bar and steam bath in Seattle, Washington, but leaving due to city government corruption; and talks about his reasons for relocating to Portland and some of his early business ventures. He discusses the early years of owning Embers, beginning in 1971, including his attempt to expand its original location, and moving to the location on Broadway in 1981. He also talks about his relationship with his partner and his family. He closes the interview by talking about a lawsuit against the Oregon Liquor Control Commission that he was involved in.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Sally H. Cohn was conducted by Jade Davis and Erin Babcock Musick at Cohn's home in Portland, Oregon, on February 8, 2011. Davis and Musick conducted the interview for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest as part of Professor Pat Young's senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University.

In this interview, Cohn talks about teaching herself to hand whistle. She discusses her preference for short hair and talks about lesbian stereotypes. She talks about her involvement in gay and lesbian rights organizations, including the Lesbian Community Project and Old Lesbians Organizing for Change. She also shares the experience of coming out to her family in the 1970s. She talks about her volunteer work; about the fight against Measure 9, an initiative against LGBTQ rights, in 1992; and about her work for an alcohol and drug treatment center in Portland, which is now known as the Avel Gordly Healing Center. She closes the interview by talking about writing her book, "A Handwhistler: Memories of Creativity and Activism," and speaking about her 2010 appearance as a handwhistler on "America's Got Talent."

Transcript. This oral history interview with Sally H. Cohn was conducted by Jade Davis and Erin Babcock Musick at Cohn's home in Portland, Oregon, on February 8, 2011. Davis and Musick conducted the interview for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest as part of Professor Pat Young's senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University.

In this interview, Cohn talks about teaching herself to hand whistle. She discusses her preference for short hair and talks about lesbian stereotypes. She talks about her involvement in gay and lesbian rights organizations, including the Lesbian Community Project and Old Lesbians Organizing for Change. She also shares the experience of coming out to her family in the 1970s. She talks about her volunteer work; about the fight against Measure 9, an initiative against LGBTQ rights, in 1992; and about her work for an alcohol and drug treatment center in Portland, which is now known as the Avel Gordly Healing Center. She closes the interview by talking about writing her book, "A Handwhistler: Memories of Creativity and Activism," and speaking about her 2010 appearance as a handwhistler on "America's Got Talent."

Session 1. This oral history interview with Cindy Cumfer was conducted by Erik Funkhouser and Tim Aguirre on February 21, 2009, for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest. The interview was conducted as part of a senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University, with Instructor Pat Young. One name was redacted from the audio and transcript at Cumfer's request.

In this interview, Cumfer discusses her involvement in the gay community and gay liberation movement in Portland, Oregon, in the 1970s. She talks about bars, restaurants, and bookstores that were welcoming to gay people. She discusses her work as a lawyer for the Community Law Project in Portland, and talks about some of the cases she worked on, particularly custody cases involving lesbians, and cases involving adoptions by gay parents. She also talks about the judicial career of Katharine Nachtigal. She discusses the Oregon ballot measures against LGBTQ rights in the 1980s and 1990s, and talks about how the homophobic campaign rhetoric led to her involvement in the First Unitarian Church. She closes the interview by discussing a case regarding guardianship and same-sex couples that got national attention in the 1980s.

Transcript. This oral history interview with Cindy Cumfer was conducted by Erik Funkhouser and Tim Aguirre on February 21, 2009, for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest. The interview was conducted as part of a senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University, with Instructor Pat Young. One name was redacted from the audio and transcript at Cumfer's request.

In this interview, Cumfer discusses her involvement in the gay community and gay liberation movement in Portland, Oregon, in the 1970s. She talks about bars, restaurants, and bookstores that were welcoming to gay people. She discusses her work as a lawyer for the Community Law Project in Portland, and talks about some of the cases she worked on, particularly custody cases involving lesbians, and cases involving adoptions by gay parents. She also talks about the judicial career of Katharine Nachtigal. She discusses the Oregon ballot measures against LGBTQ rights in the 1980s and 1990s, and talks about how the homophobic campaign rhetoric led to her involvement in the First Unitarian Church. She closes the interview by discussing a case regarding guardianship and same-sex couples that got national attention in the 1980s.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Larry D. Smith was conducted by Tanesha Dawson and Halla Williams in Beaverton, Oregon, on February 12, 2009, for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest. The interview was conducted as part of a senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University, with instructor Pat Young. The interview took place at a hair salon where Smith was working, and customers often interrupted.

In this interview, Smith discusses his involvement with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, a national organization dedicated to making school safe for LGBTQ youth. He talks about working with LGBTQ youth; describes some of the issues facing them, including familial abandonment and bullying; and discusses the ways GLSEN tries to address those issues. He describes how his activism with GLSEN affected his career as a history teacher in the Beaverton School District. He talks about homophobia and rebuts some common justifications for anti-gay beliefs. He speaks about his work building an AIDS education curriculum and about the importance of comprehensive sex education. He also talks about his current relationship. He describes his work to expand the Oregon chapter of GLSEN, talks about events he organized, and speaks about his hopes for his legacy. He closes the interview by talking about traveling and making presentations for GLSEN during his retirement, and by reflecting on his teaching career.

Transcript. This oral history interview with Larry D. Smith was conducted by Tanesha Dawson and Halla Williams in Beaverton, Oregon, on February 12, 2009, for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest. The interview was conducted as part of a senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University, with instructor Pat Young. The interview took place at a hair salon where Smith was working, and customers often interrupted.

In this interview, Smith discusses his involvement with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, a national organization dedicated to making school safe for LGBTQ youth. He talks about working with LGBTQ youth; describes some of the issues facing them, including familial abandonment and bullying; and discusses the ways GLSEN tries to address those issues. He describes how his activism with GLSEN affected his career as a history teacher in the Beaverton School District. He talks about homophobia and rebuts some common justifications for anti-gay beliefs. He speaks about his work building an AIDS education curriculum and about the importance of comprehensive sex education. He also talks about his current relationship. He describes his work to expand the Oregon chapter of GLSEN, talks about events he organized, and speaks about his hopes for his legacy. He closes the interview by talking about traveling and making presentations for GLSEN during his retirement, and by reflecting on his teaching career.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Kimberlee Van Patten was conducted by Katie Horton and Amy Sherwood on February 12, 2009, for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest. The interview was conducted as part of a senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University, with instructor Pat Young.

In this interview, Van Patten discusses her early life in Portland, Oregon. She shares her experiences going to gay bars in Portland during the 1980s and describes how she became involved with the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court, Oregon's oldest LGBTQ organization, which holds annual drag-themed charity galas that award titles ranging from Mister and Miss Gay Oregon to Rose Empress and Emperor. She talks about participating in Imperial Sovereign Rose Court pageants, her marriage to Blayne Van Patten, a drag queen who performs under the name Patti O'Dora, and her later relationship with Maria Peters Lake, also known as Rose Empress XXXVI Maria. She discusses her relationship with Lady Elaine Peacock, and speaks at length about her management of Peacock Productions, Inc. and the Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund. She shares the reasons why she and Lake ended the annual free event Peacock in the Park after 2004, and describes the operations of the scholarship fund. She also talks about her break-up with Lake. She discusses her reign as Rose Emperor XXIII Kimberlee Van Patten of the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court in 1996. She closes the interview by describing the effects of the AIDS epidemic on the Portland gay community.

Transcript. This oral history interview with Kimberlee Van Patten was conducted by Katie Horton and Amy Sherwood on February 12, 2009, for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest. The interview was conducted as part of a senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University, with instructor Pat Young.

In this interview, Van Patten discusses her early life in Portland, Oregon. She shares her experiences going to gay bars in Portland during the 1980s and describes how she became involved with the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court, Oregon's oldest LGBTQ organization, which holds annual drag-themed charity galas that award titles ranging from Mister and Miss Gay Oregon to Rose Empress and Emperor. She talks about participating in Imperial Sovereign Rose Court pageants, her marriage to Blayne Van Patten, a drag queen who performs under the name Patti O'Dora, and her later relationship with Maria Peters Lake, also known as Rose Empress XXXVI Maria. She discusses her relationship with Lady Elaine Peacock, and speaks at length about her management of Peacock Productions, Inc. and the Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund. She shares the reasons why she and Lake ended the annual free event Peacock in the Park after 2004, and describes the operations of the scholarship fund. She also talks about her break-up with Lake. She discusses her reign as Rose Emperor XXIII Kimberlee Van Patten of the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court in 1996. She closes the interview by describing the effects of the AIDS epidemic on the Portland gay community.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Charles F. Hinkle was conducted by Michael Lamore and Michelle Brown on February 10, 2009, for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest. The interview was conducted as part of a senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University with instructor Pat Young. A transcript of the interview is available.

In this interview, Hinkle speaks at length about his work as a lawyer representing Peggy Burton, a teacher in Salem, Oregon, who was fired for being a lesbian. He also talks about his experience working with the Black community in Atlanta, Georgia, during the 1960s, as part of his education at Union Theological Seminary, and discusses how that experience led him to pursue a career as a civil rights lawyer. He discusses the change to the anti-discrimination policy of Portland Public Schools to include sexual orientation, and talks about attempts to lobby the Oregon State Legislature to make a similar change in the 1970s. He speaks about his involvement with the Portland Town Council, a gay rights organization; talks about appearing on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" in 2005; and discusses the failures of Democratic legislators to pass anti-discrimination legislation that includes sexual orientation. He talks about his service on Oregon Governor Bob Straub's task force on sexual preference, discusses his attempts to get law firms to adopt anti-discrimination policies, and describes the types of cases he prefers to work on. He speaks about how societal acceptance of LGBT people changed over the second half of the 20th century, and also about the rise of anti-gay groups such as the Oregon Citizens Alliance. He closes the interview by discussing the importance of continuing the fight for civil rights.

Transcript. This oral history interview with Charles F. Hinkle was conducted by Michael Lamore and Michelle Brown on February 10, 2009, for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest. The interview was conducted as part of a senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University with instructor Pat Young. A transcript of the interview is available.

In this interview, Hinkle speaks at length about his work as a lawyer representing Peggy Burton, a teacher in Salem, Oregon, who was fired for being a lesbian. He also talks about his experience working with the Black community in Atlanta, Georgia, during the 1960s, as part of his education at Union Theological Seminary, and discusses how that experience led him to pursue a career as a civil rights lawyer. He discusses the change to the anti-discrimination policy of Portland Public Schools to include sexual orientation, and talks about attempts to lobby the Oregon State Legislature to make a similar change in the 1970s. He speaks about his involvement with the Portland Town Council, a gay rights organization; talks about appearing on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" in 2005; and discusses the failures of Democratic legislators to pass anti-discrimination legislation that includes sexual orientation. He talks about his service on Oregon Governor Bob Straub's task force on sexual preference, discusses his attempts to get law firms to adopt anti-discrimination policies, and describes the types of cases he prefers to work on. He speaks about how societal acceptance of LGBT people changed over the second half of the 20th century, and also about the rise of anti-gay groups such as the Oregon Citizens Alliance. He closes the interview by discussing the importance of continuing the fight for civil rights.

Session 1, Part 1. This oral history interview with George Oberg was conducted by Heather Burmeister and Brian Aune on February 18, 2009, for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest. The interview was conducted as part of a senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University with instructor Pat Young. A transcript of the interview is available.

In this interview, Oberg discusses his early life on a farm in Hazel Dell, Washington, and talks about his involvement in the Portland gay community in the 1960s. He shares the origins of the Second Foundation, the first gay support organization in Oregon; talks about his work as president of the foundation; and speaks at length about the work of the organization. He also talks about working as a teacher to visually impaired young adults. He speaks about his life with his partner, Gary, talks about his partner's death from AIDS, and shares his memories of the effect of the AIDS epidemic on the gay community in Oregon and Washington. He closes the interview by speaking further about the work of the Second Foundation, including its newsletter, "The Fountain." He closes the interview by sharing a story about a company he worked for, in which the company discovered it had been polluting the Columbia River.

Session 1, Part 2. This oral history interview with George Oberg was conducted by Heather Burmeister and Brian Aune on February 18, 2009, for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest. The interview was conducted as part of a senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University with instructor Pat Young. A transcript of the interview is available.

In this interview, Oberg discusses his early life on a farm in Hazel Dell, Washington, and talks about his involvement in the Portland gay community in the 1960s. He shares the origins of the Second Foundation, the first gay support organization in Oregon; talks about his work as president of the foundation; and speaks at length about the work of the organization. He also talks about working as a teacher to visually impaired young adults. He speaks about his life with his partner, Gary, talks about his partner's death from AIDS, and shares his memories of the effect of the AIDS epidemic on the gay community in Oregon and Washington. He closes the interview by speaking further about the work of the Second Foundation, including its newsletter, "The Fountain." He closes the interview by sharing a story about a company he worked for, in which the company discovered it had been polluting the Columbia River.

Transcript. This oral history interview with George Oberg was conducted by Heather Burmeister and Brian Aune on February 18, 2009, for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest. The interview was conducted as part of a senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University with instructor Pat Young. A transcript of the interview is available.

In this interview, Oberg discusses his early life on a farm in Hazel Dell, Washington, and talks about his involvement in the Portland gay community in the 1960s. He shares the origins of the Second Foundation, the first gay support organization in Oregon; talks about his work as president of the foundation; and speaks at length about the work of the organization. He also talks about working as a teacher to visually impaired young adults. He speaks about his life with his partner, Gary, talks about his partner's death from AIDS, and shares his memories of the effect of the AIDS epidemic on the gay community in Oregon and Washington. He closes the interview by speaking further about the work of the Second Foundation, including its newsletter, "The Fountain." He closes the interview by sharing a story about a company he worked for, in which the company discovered it had been polluting the Columbia River.

Session 1. This oral history interview with Khalil Edwards was conducted by Natasha Lipai and Stephen Quirke at the offices of Basic Rights Oregon in Portland, Oregon, on February 27, 2013, for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest. The interview was conducted as part of a senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University with instructor Pat Young. A transcript of the interview is available.

In this interview, Edwards discusses his involvement with the Portland Black Chapter of PFLAG, talks about its origins, and describes the intersection of racism and homophobia that Black LGBTQ youth face. He also talks about his parents' social justice activism. He discusses his involvement with Basic Rights Oregon, including his work on the Our Families video project and as a Racial Justice Fellow. He speaks about some of the goals of Basic Rights Oregon, including marriage equality and trans-inclusive health care, and talks about issues that the organization may focus on after achieving its current goals. He also speaks about racial inequity in the U.S. justice system. He discusses his career as a high school English teacher in San Bernardino, California, and shares his reasons for returning to Portland and focusing on racial justice and LGBTQ advocacy work. He closes the interview by talking about his love for Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.