Norfolk's Gay Information Hotline: Uncovering a Hidden Milestone in the LGBTQ+ Community
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
This presentation will explore the research methods used in examining the importance of Norfolk’s Gay Information Line, a hotline that operated throughout the 1980s and 90s, as part of The Queer Walking Tour of Norfolk, an academic/community effort to uncover and preserve local queer history. Much of the information gathered for this project was found through archival research of Our Own Community Press, Norfolk's gay newspaper from 1976 to 1998. The Gay Information Line was a direct and primary source of LGBTQ+ information during its time, and is a vital piece of local LGBT history. Very little information is available to the public about the hotline; therefore, there is a lack of knowledge about the subject or analysis of its role in the community. This presentation will discuss research methods and the process of uncovering information about the hotline and will explore the importance of archival research, personal interviews and testimonies, and the role that research plays in recognizing marginalized histories.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Cathleen Rhodes
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Disciplines
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies | Women's Studies
Session Title
LGBTQA
Location
Learning Commons @ Perry Library Conference Room 1311
Start Date
2-2-2019 11:30 AM
End Date
2-2-2019 12:30 PM
Norfolk's Gay Information Hotline: Uncovering a Hidden Milestone in the LGBTQ+ Community
Learning Commons @ Perry Library Conference Room 1311
This presentation will explore the research methods used in examining the importance of Norfolk’s Gay Information Line, a hotline that operated throughout the 1980s and 90s, as part of The Queer Walking Tour of Norfolk, an academic/community effort to uncover and preserve local queer history. Much of the information gathered for this project was found through archival research of Our Own Community Press, Norfolk's gay newspaper from 1976 to 1998. The Gay Information Line was a direct and primary source of LGBTQ+ information during its time, and is a vital piece of local LGBT history. Very little information is available to the public about the hotline; therefore, there is a lack of knowledge about the subject or analysis of its role in the community. This presentation will discuss research methods and the process of uncovering information about the hotline and will explore the importance of archival research, personal interviews and testimonies, and the role that research plays in recognizing marginalized histories.