In this interview, Bill Kenealy discusses what it felt like to return to campus after forty years, the Gay Student Alliance in the late 1970s, summer resort jobs in New England, gay discos, Denim Day preparations, his time in the United States Navy and service during the first Gulf War, and his current work in local politics in the United Kingdom.
Abstract
An interview with Bill Kenealy about his life and his experiences as a gay man at Virginia Tech.
Permission to publish material from the Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection must adhere to the CC BY-NC 4.0 license and credit Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Oral History with Bill Kenealy, April 5, 2019 (Ms2019-001), Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
In this interview, Beth Benoit talks about computer science classes and the campus climate for gay men and lesbians at Virginia Tech in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She recounts how it felt to come out publicly in the school paper while having family in Blacksburg and the effect that coming out had on her career prospects regarding government computer science jobs. She then discusses how different things are today for her children, her observations of Denim Day in 1979, and the legal issues and societal acceptance of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.
Content Warning: Brief description of violence and homophobia.
Abstract
An interview with Beth Benoit about her life and her experiences as a lesbian at Virginia Tech.
Permission to publish material from the Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection must adhere to the CC BY-NC 4.0 license and credit Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Oral History with Beth Benoit, April 4, 2019 (Ms2019-001), Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
William Simpkins discusses his experience coming to Virginia Tech as a student from the local area in the late 1990s and coming out as gay while here. He talks about the history of gay student groups at Virginia Tech in the late 1990s and their programming, including Wear Jeans if You're Gay Day. He also shares his thoughts on the impact of the AIDS epidemic on the preservation of LGBTQ+ history and the experience of his generation of gay men.
Abstract
William Simpkins discusses his experiences as a gay man at Virginia Tech in the late 1990s, including what he knew about Virginia Tech LGBTQ+ history.
Permission to publish material from the Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection must adhere to the CC BY-NC 4.0 license and credit Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Oral History with William Simpkins, July 25, 2019 (Ms2019-001), Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Susan Manero talks about her time at Southern Seminary College (now Southern Virginia University) decision to transfer to Virginia Tech, surprise at the lack of denim on Denim Day in 1979, coming out, the gay and lesbian community in Blacksburg, the women's rugby team, returning to Massachusetts, her family's reaction to her brother contracting HIV and dying from AIDS, the Denim Day do-over in 2019, and observations on being a gay woman business owner.
Abstract
An interview with Susan Manero about Denim Day in 1979 and her life.
Permission to publish material from the Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection must adhere to the CC BY-NC 4.0 license and credit Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Oral History with Susan Manero, April 5, 2019 (Ms2019-001), Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
A staged reading of articles and letters to the editor about Denim Day from the 1979 Collegiate Times interspersed with clips from the Denim Day at Virginia Tech 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection.
Abstract
A staged reading of articles and letters to the editor about Denim Day from the 1979 Collegiate Times interspersed with clips from the Denim Day at Virginia Tech 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection.
Permission to publish material from the Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection must adhere to the CC BY-NC 4.0 license and credit Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Jeans Noticeably Absent: The Story of Denim Day 1979, April 5, 2019 (Ms2019-001) , Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Donaldson Brown Auditorium in the Graduate Life Center at Virginia Tech,
Duration
02:20:01
Compression
MPEG-4
Frame Rate
23.976
Display Resolution
1246 x 720
]]>https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/items/show/10135Collegiate Times in 1979 when the first Gay Awareness Week, and Denim Day, occurred. In this interview, she discusses the volume of letters to the editor received by the Collegiate Times in response to Denim Day and the paper's reaction to them. She also speaks about her connection to the LGBTQ+ community both in 1979 and in the decades since.]]>2019-08-26T13:32:10+00:00
Title
Oral History with Sherry Wood, February 26, 2019 (Ms2019-001)
Sherry Wood was the editor of the Collegiate Times in 1979 when the first Gay Awareness Week, and Denim Day, occurred. In this interview, she discusses the volume of letters to the editor received by the Collegiate Times in response to Denim Day and the paper's reaction to them. She also speaks about her connection to the LGBTQ+ community both in 1979 and in the decades since.
Abstract
In this interview, Sherry Wood discusses the volume of letters to the editor received by the Collegiate Times in response to Denim Day and the paper's reaction to them.
Permission to publish material from the Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection must adhere to the CC BY-NC 4.0 license and credit Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Oral History with Sherry Wood, February 26, 2019 (Ms2019-001), Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
In this interview, Sueann Brown talks about realizing her sexuality and becoming involved with the Gay Student Alliance at Virginia Tech, her experience of Denim Day in 1979, and her experience as an openly lesbian architect with the National Parks Service.
Abstract
An interview with Sueann Brown about Denim Day in 1979 and her life.
Permission to publish material from the Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection must adhere to the CC BY-NC 4.0 license and credit Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Oral History with Sueann Brown, March 4, 2019 (Ms2019-001), Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Scott Beadle was a member of the Gay Student Alliance during the first Gay Awareness Week and helped to plan Denim Day in 1979. During his time at Virginia Tech, he studied engineering and theater arts and served as president of the Gay Student Alliance. Beadle's interview covers the motivations behind Denim Day, the experience of gay students living on campus in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and how things have changed on campus and in our society in the last forty years.
Abstract
Scott Beadle's interview covers the motivations behind Denim Day, the experience of gay students living on campus in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and how things have changed on campus and in our society in the last forty years.
Permission to publish material from the Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection must adhere to the CC BY-NC 4.0 license and credit Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Oral History with Scott Beadle, February 27, 2019 (Ms2019-001), Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Permission to publish material from the Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection must adhere to the CC BY-NC 4.0 license and credit Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Oral History with Olga Acosta, Feburary 27, 2019 (Ms2019-001), Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Andrew Alvarez was a founding member of the Gay Student Alliance in the late 1970s. In his interview, he talks about living on campus at Virginia Tech, being a guest speaker for the Social Deviance class in the sociology department, planning and promoting Denim Day in 1979, and his experience of being a gay man in America.
Abstract
An interview with Andrew Alvarez about his time at Virginia Tech, Denim Day in 1979, and his experiences as a gay man in America.
Permission to publish material from the Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection must adhere to the CC BY-NC 4.0 license and credit Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Oral History with Andrew Alvarez, February 24, 2019 (Ms2019-001), Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Lisa Barroso arrived at Virginia Tech in the fall after Denim Day happened. She became an active member of the lesbian community and the Women's Space group. Her brother, Mark Barroso, was an editor at the Collegiate Times and is remembered by many in the LGBTQ+ community as one of the strong editorial voices against Denim Day. They discuss his editorials and her experience as part of the community. At the end, Mark remembers instances where the university administration attempted to censor reporting by the Collegiate Times.
Abstract
Lisa Barroso and Mark Barroso discuss his editorials for the newspaper and her experience as part of the LGBTQ+ community. At the end, Mark remembers instances where the university administration attempted to censor reporting by the Collegiate Times.
Permission to publish material from the Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection must adhere to the CC BY-NC 4.0 license and credit Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Oral History with Lisa Barroso and Mark Barroso, March 2, 2019 (Ms2019-001), Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
In this interview Steve Noll discusses accepting his sexuality as a young man, the unnamed gay student group before the Gay Student Alliance and the support it received from Cooper House, and reactions to Denim Day from the communities surrounding Virginia Tech.
Abstract
An interview with Steve Noll about his life and being gay in Blacksburg.
Permission to publish material from the Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection must adhere to the CC BY-NC 4.0 license and credit Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Oral History with Steve Noll, January 25, 2019 (Ms2019-001), Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
In this interview, Helene talks about realizing her sexuality in Catholic school in the early 1970s and her time as a lesbian at Virginia Tech in the late 1970s. She talks about the difficulty being out while keeping that part of her life separate from her studies and work in animal sciences and how important the Gay Student Alliance was for her. She goes on to talk about her experience of Denim Day in 1979 while living both out and closeted on the Virginia Tech campus.
Abstract
In this interview, Helene talks about realizing her sexuality in Catholic school in the early 1970s and her time as a lesbian at Virginia Tech in the late 1970s.
Permission to publish material from the Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection must adhere to the CC BY-NC 4.0 license and credit Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Oral History with Helene Vachon, February 9, 2019 (Ms2019-001), Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
In this interview, Nancy talks about her time as a lesbian at Virginia Tech in the late 1970s and her memories of the Denim Day event planned by the Gay Student Alliance as part of Gay Awareness Week in 1979.
Abstract
An interview with Nancy Kelly about Denim Day at Virginia Tech in January of 1979 and her experiences as a lesbian at Virginia Tech.
Permission to publish material from the Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection must adhere to the CC BY-NC 4.0 license and credit Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Oral History with Nancy Kelly, January 4, 2019 (Ms2019-001), Denim Day 40th Anniversary Oral History Collection, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.