Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
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Work provided by University of Oregon

Oral History Interview with Susi Thelen: Transcript, Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project

Interviewee
Interviewer
Date
  • 2019-08-27
Description
  • The Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project collection consists of interviews of 83 people for the Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project, conducted by Professor Judith Raiskin and Curator Linda Long at the University of Oregon starting in the summer of 2018.
Abstract
  • Susi was born in 1961, a third-generation Oregonian. She grew up in Beaverton. She was successful in high school; she was an athlete and was involved in student government. In 1969, her parents had a spiritual experience and turned to an Indian guru, “Guru Maharaja” of the Divine Light Mission. Despite the publicity of her family in this cult, Susi was secretive in school about her family’s participation. The fear and secrecy she experienced in the Divine Light taught her how to be closeted as a lesbian. She attended the University of Oregon and majored in journalism and advertising. She also joined a sorority. But she was unhappy and lonely and thought about suicide. She had a girlfriend but they were both very closeted. Susi occasionally went to Portland, where she found it easier to be gay. Susi is critical of Eugene’s reputation as a liberal city. Susi discusses working for University of Oregon student recruiting. She talks about her wedding in 1993. She concludes her interview by discussing contemporary use of non-binary pronouns and her frustration with LGBTQ identification.
Subject
Keyword
  • Abuse
  • Ballot Measure 8
  • Marriage equality
  • Soromundi Lesbian Chorus of Eugene
  • Rajneeshees
  • White flight
Location
Rights Holder
  • University of Oregon Libraries
Identifier
  • Coll520_do072
Repository
Local Collection Name
Local Collection ID
  • Coll 520
Finding Aid
Related URL
Institution
Submission Date
  • 07/01/2024
Modified
  • 07/02/2024
Collections

APA

Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project, University of Oregon. (05 Dec 2024). Oral History Interview with Susi Thelen: Transcript, Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project Retrieved from https://prod.oregondigital.org/concern/documents/df73c337m

MLA

Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project, University of Oregon. "Oral History Interview with Susi Thelen: Transcript, Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project" Oregon Digital. 05 Dec 2024. https://prod.oregondigital.org/concern/documents/df73c337m

Chicago

Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project, University of Oregon. "Oral History Interview with Susi Thelen: Transcript, Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project" Oregon Digital. Accessed 2024-12-05. https://prod.oregondigital.org/concern/documents/df73c337m

Wiki

{{cite web | url= https://prod.oregondigital.org/concern/documents/df73c337m | title= Oral History Interview with Susi Thelen: Transcript, Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project |author= |accessdate= 2024-12-05 |publisher= }}
Data Sources
Footer Number Term External URI
1 Thelen, Susi http://opaquenamespace.org/ns/creator/ThelenSusi
2 Raiskin, Judith L. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n95069466
3 Long, Linda, 1956- http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2001035121
Rajneeshpuram (Or.) http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n85829999
Bars (Drinking establishments) http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh93000452
Closeted gays http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh93006732
Social isolation http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85123967
Communities http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85029195
Self-esteem http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85119793
Oregon--Eugene http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79084636-781
Lesbians http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85076160
Internalized homophobia http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2005020575
Lesbianism http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85076157
University of Oregon. School of Journalism and Communication http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no97043436
Drug utilization http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85039716
Rape http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85111402
17 University of Oregon >> Lane County >> Oregon >> United States https://sws.geonames.org/5758196/
8 University of Oregon. Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2003116678
Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project http://opaquenamespace.org/ns/localCollectionName/EugeneLesbianOralHistoryProject
11 University of Oregon http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n80126183

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Is Part Of

Oral History Interview with Susi Thelen show page link

Oral History Interview with Susi Thelen

2019

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