Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
210
Items
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- 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
- Socialism4
- Amateur theater5
- Merrick, Harriet6
- Oregon--Eugene7
- Lesbians8
- Mobility International USA (Organization)9
- California10
- Kibbutzim11
- Hippies12
- Sygall, Susan13
- Cheese14
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements--United States15
- Drug use16
- Judaism17
- Family violence18
- Women's health services19
- Improvisation (Acting)20
- Natural foods21
- Communities22
- Ordinances, Municipal23
- Women--Abuse of24
- Abortion25
- Keyword
- Ballot Measure 8
- White flight
- Abuse
- Marriage equality
- Soromundi Lesbian Chorus of Eugene
- Location
- Rights
- Rights Holder
- University of Oregon Libraries
- Identifier
- Coll520_do072
- Repository
- Local Collection Name
- Local Collection ID
- Coll 520
- Related URL
- Media
- Institution
- Submission Date
- 07/01/2024
- Modified
- 07/22/2024
- Collections
APA
Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project, University of Oregon. (12 Dec 2024). Oral History Interview with Susi Thelen Retrieved from https://prod.oregondigital.org/concern/generics/df73c4048
MLA
Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project, University of Oregon. "Oral History Interview with Susi Thelen" Oregon Digital. 12 Dec 2024. https://prod.oregondigital.org/concern/generics/df73c4048
Chicago
Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project, University of Oregon. "Oral History Interview with Susi Thelen" Oregon Digital. Accessed 2024-12-12. https://prod.oregondigital.org/concern/generics/df73c4048
Wiki
{{cite web | url= https://prod.oregondigital.org/concern/generics/df73c4048 | title= Oral History Interview with Susi Thelen |author= |accessdate= 2024-12-12 |publisher= }}
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