Interviews - I See My Light Shining

Interviews

836 Hours

Oral history interviews are firsthand testimonies of people’s experiences of history. These interviews invite narrators (interviewees) to talk about their own histories, giving unparalleled insights into life decisions, actions, and experiences that may not already be part of the public record.

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    Ellery Bakaitis

    Brooklyn-raised graffiti artist advocating for queer communities of color

    Brooklyn, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Ellery Bakaitis

    Bakaitis delves into their journey from Brooklyn graffiti artist to New Orleans drag wrestler, their queer identity, the impact of waterfront graffiti, and navigating life's changes amid familial and societal challenges.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    Brooklyn, NY

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    Rafaela Billini

    Public health activist, real estate professional, and arts enthusiast

    New York City, NY

    Denice Frohman
    Collection

    Rafaela Billini

    Billini reflects on her AIDS activism and housing advocacy, airline work, law school dreams, and facing pandemics. She shares her Puerto Rican roots, storytelling passion, real estate career, and finding love with Nitza.

    Denice Frohman collection

    New York City, NY

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    Ruth Boirie

    Brooklyn barber shop owner and LGBTQ+ advocate

    Brooklyn, NY

    Denice Frohman
    Collection

    Ruth Boirie

    Drawing from her life experiences in Brooklyn, Boirie shares her journey as a pioneering gay barber, reflecting on opening her own shop, creating sanctuary, and the importance of community, mentorship, and staying true to oneself.

    Denice Frohman collection

    Brooklyn, NY

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    Kai Davis

    Fire Department Chief, community director, and queer space preservationist

    New York, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Kai Davis

    Davis delves into the vibrant history and evolution of Cherry Grove, Fire Island, sharing their insights into intergenerational queer support, community, systemic racism, and their personal journey with gender affirmation.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York, NY

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    Alexis De Veaux

    Multigenre writer and activist

    New York City, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Alexis De Veaux

    De Veaux retraces her life from childhood struggles in Harlem to becoming a queer artist and writer. She recounts forming a Black queer artists collective, navigating the publishing world, and liberating experiences at Riis Beach.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York City, NY

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    Ceyenne Doroshow

    Trans rights activist, author, and founder of G.L.I.T.S.

    New York City, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Ceyenne Doroshow

    Doroshaw reflects on her survival journey from homelessness and sex work to becoming a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, as well as her transformative experiences at Riis Beach, community organizing, and visions for the future.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York City, NY

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    # HIV/AIDS

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    Julian Dorcelien

    Brooklyn-born, Connecticut-raised owner of a historic guesthouse

    New York, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Julian Dorcelien

    Dorcelien discusses his evolving connection to Fire Island, the Pines, and Cherry Grove, touching on their significance for queer and Black communities and his commitment to maintaining safe spaces for queer people.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York, NY

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    Lola Flash

    Photographer, ACT UP activist, and Fire Island chronicler

    New York City, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Lola Flash

    Flash details her journey from Montclair to Manhattan, delving into her childhood, passion for photography, experiences in LGBTQ+ communities, her transformative years in London, activism, relationships, and art practice.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York City, NY

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    Jewelle Gomez

    Writer and television pioneer

    New York City, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Jewelle Gomez

    Gomez paints a vibrant picture of New York in the '70s and '80s using her experiences, including her first ventures to Riis Beach, navigating queer spaces, building community, and her engagements with theater and philanthropy.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York City, NY

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    Lyle Harris

    Multimedia artist

    New York, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Lyle Harris

    Harris reflects on his upbringing in the Bronx, transformative years in Tanzania, his family and their involvement in anti-apartheid activism, experiences in Provincetown and Martha's Vineyard, and evolution as a photographer.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York, NY

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    Pamelya Herndon

    New Mexico representative, attorney, and advocate

    New York, NY

    Ellery Washington
    Collection

    Pamelya Herndon

    Herndon reflects on her family history, the importance of fighting for social justice, her college experience, and her work as a New Mexico State Representative focused on gun safety, Indigenous rights, and children's welfare.

    Ellery Washington collection

    New York, NY

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    Ralph Hopkins

    Lindy hop champion and beach party organizer

    New York City, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Ralph Hopkins

    From Newark to the dance floors and beaches of New York, Hopkins shares stories of his childhood, his passion for cooking, his achievements as an award-winning lindy hop dancer, and bringing people together at Riis Beach.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York City, NY

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    Afua Kafi-Akua

    Professor and multimedia artist

    New York City, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Afua Kafi-Akua

    Kafi-Akua discusses her journey from music and media to activism and education, involvement in New York's art and LGBTQ+ communities, connection with Fire Island, and commitment to celebrating diversity through her work.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York City, NY

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    Egyptt LaBeija

    Trans rights activist, Godmother of LaBeija, and filmmaker

    New York, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Egyptt LaBeija

    LaBeija discusses her life, including her childhood, surviving on the piers of NYC, familial acceptance, embracing her trans identity, and finding love and stability amidst chaos, forging a path of resilience and self-awareness.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York, NY

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    # Texas

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    Sabelo Narasimhan

    NYC-based photographer and organizer

    New York City, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Sabelo Narasimhan

    Narasimhan shares insights from their experiences as a queer, trans, and South Asian immigrant navigating New York's diverse scenes—recalling cultural shifts, Riis Beach, and reflections on identity, community, and belonging.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York City, NY

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    Meshell Ndegeocello

    Accomplished musician and Grammy Award winner

    New York, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Meshell Ndegeocello

    Ndegeocello discusses her experiences with identity, the significance of water in her life, her work in music, her thoughts on nonbinary representation, and the connections between her personal history and her creative work.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York, NY

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    Esther Newton

    Anthropologist, historian, and author

    New York, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Esther Newton

    Newton discusses her early upbringing in New York City surrounded by communists, her family history, navigating homophobia in the '50s, therapy, her academic journey, and the evolution of queer spaces and identities.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York, NY

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    Cryille Phipps
    Maria-Elena Grant

    Long-time partners and visitors of Cherry Grove

    Fire Island, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Cryille Phipps
    Maria-Elena Grant

    Phipps and Grant share their evolution as a couple, reflections on gentrification in New York, cherished summers in Cherry Grove, and their pursuit of community, joy, and solace amidst changing landscapes and social dynamics.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    Fire Island, NY

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    Lydia Polgreen
    Candace Feit

    Beach lovers and Provincetown enthusiasts

    Brooklyn, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Lydia Polgreen
    Candace Feit

    Polgreen and Feit explore their connection to Provincetown, from their first visit to the impacts of gentrification to their personal reflections on water as a symbol of freedom and restoration in their lives.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    Brooklyn, NY

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    Mellanique Robicheaux
    Tei Okamoto

    Roomates, healthcare advocates, DJs, and community organizers

    Fire Island, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Mellanique Robicheaux
    Tei Okamoto

    Robicheaux and Okamoto share tales of building a vibrant underground queer community in San Francisco, navigating love and loss, overcoming addiction, creating party spaces, and the evolution of their identities over decades.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    Fire Island, NY

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    Sheree Ross

    Financial wealth literacy coach, author, and screenwriter

    New York City, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Sheree Ross

    Journeying from Ohio to New York, Ross' story reflects on experiences in the LGBTQ+ club scene, the importance of community spaces, financial literacy work, creative pursuits, and personally significant queer spaces.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York City, NY

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    Jah Sayers

    PhD candidate, researcher, Riis Beach historian

    New York, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Jah Sayers

    Sayers shares their path to Riis Beach and environmental psychology, discussing the importance of physical spaces for queer communities, challenges in academia, evolving language on gender, and envisioning a future for Riis Beach.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York, NY

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    # Oregon

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    Nitza Tufiño

    Muralist, activist, and founder of El Museo del Barrio

    New York City, NY

    Denice Frohman
    Collection

    Nitza Tufiño

    Tufiño shares her life journey as a visual artist, educator, and activist. She reflects on her Puerto Rican and Mexican heritage, her transformative love story with her wife, and the career challenges and triumphs she has faced.

    Denice Frohman collection

    New York City, NY

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    Linda Villarosa

    Author and journalist spotlighting healthcare inequalities

    New York City, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Linda Villarosa

    Villarosa reflects on growing roots in Chicago, facing racial hostility in Denver, evolving as a Black lesbian in New York, her journalism career with a focus on health, and fighting against the invisibility of Black narratives.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York City, NY

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    Quito Ziegler

    Activist, photographer, and advocate for trans rights

    Brooklyn, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Quito Ziegler

    Ziegler discusses their experiences as a nonbinary individual, deep connection to Riis Beach, and efforts towards community safety and land stewardship, highlighting the importance of queer sanctuary and preservation.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    Brooklyn, NY

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    ‘These are little victories that are worth celebrating.’
    Nancy Rosado & Myrna Villalobos
    curtain