Lillian Faderman is a world renowned, award winning LGBTQ+ and lesbian historian, scholar, and author. Her books include Surpassing the Love of Men, Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers, Gay L.A., The Gay Revolution, Woman: The American History of an Idea, and many others. We've interviewed her once before, and we've quoted her in many of our other episodes. This extended interview was recorded in 2023 in Lillian's home, and includes some of Lillian's expertise on lesbian history and culture throughout the 20th century as well as stories from her own life.

This episode is a part of a series we’re calling Cruising the Archives. We’re featuring extended interviews with LGBTQ+ icons from our own archives, as well as from the collections of queer and lesbian archives throughout the country.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

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-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Logo is by Finley Martin.

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This week, we're sharing the story of Ms. Mabel Hampton, in partnership with The Lesbian Herstory Archives. Ms. Hampton (1902-1989) was an African-American lesbian, an activist, a dancer, a singer, and a domestic worker. She was also a dear friend and mentor of Joan Nestle, one of The Lesbian Herstory Archives' founders. Between 1976 and 1988, Joan Nestle sat down with Ms. Hampton numerous times to record a series of oral history interviews. We've pulled bits and pieces from these tapes to share some of Ms. Hampton's life story.

The Lesbian Herstory Archives is home to the world’s largest collection of materials by and about Lesbians and our communities.

This episode is a part of a series we’re calling Cruising the Archives. We’re featuring extended interviews with LGBTQ+ icons from our own archives, as well as from the collections of queer and lesbian archives throughout the country.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Logo is by Finley Martin.

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In 1963, white supremacist terrorists bombed the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four young black girls. Despite the FBI and local investigators identifying four key perpetrators, no one was charged. Until 1977, when Pete Smith, a trans man, worked with the FBI to testify against and convict his uncle, Robert Chambliss. In partnership with Invisible Histories, we are releasing this 1988 interview with Pete.

This episode is a part of a series we’re calling Cruising the Archives. We’re featuring extended interviews with LGBTQ+ icons from our own archives, as well as from the collections of queer and lesbian archives throughout the country.

Invisible Histories locates, collects, researches, and creates community-based, educational programming around LGBTQ history in the Deep South. Invisible Histories believes archiving is resistance to oppression and history leads to liberation.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Logo is by Finley Martin.

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Happy Pride Month!! Starting this month, we will be releasing a series of episodes that we’re calling Cruising the Archives. We’re featuring extended interviews with LGBTQ+ icons from our own archives, as well as from the collections of queer and lesbian archives throughout the country.

First up: Patricia McCombs. In December of 1974, Pat noticed that she and her Black and latinx friends were being discriminated against at CK’s, a North Side Chicago lesbian bar. In this interview, you’ll hear all about how she and the community successfully protested discrimination at CK’s and how Pat went on to establish “Executive Sweet” a roving lesbian party that catered to Black women.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Logo is by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Olivia Travel

-Discover Olivia at Olivia.com and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISING

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Redz is a little known former lesbian bar in East LA, which opened in the 1950s and catered primarily to Chicana lesbians. This is the story of one woman in particular who called this space a home: Nancy Valverde. Nancy is most known for her long fought battle with the LAPD over masquerading laws, spending dozens of nights in jail throughout the 1950s for her refusal to wear typical women’s clothing.

Nancy passed away in March of 2024 just six months after our interview with her. This episode is for her. Thank you to Nancy.

This episode features interviews with: Nancy Valverde (conducted by Sarah Gabrielli and Rachel Karp in 2023 and by Lillian Faderman in 2004, courtesy of the June L Mazer Archives) and Jacquie and Keith Evans.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Logo is by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Olivia Travel

-Discover Olivia at Olivia.com and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISING

Support the show

There's a new dyke bar in Bushwick, and it's called The Bush! These are the stories of humans that run it, and the humans that call it a home.

Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us for this episode!

This episode features interviews with: Nikke Alleyne, Justine LaViolette, Macon Reed, Loretta Andro Chung, and Sarah Hallonquist. Check out Macon's work here. Order Dyke Beer here.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover Art is by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Olivia Travel

-Discover Olivia at Olivia.com and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISING

Support the show

Our full interview with Summer, security at Doc Marie's.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover Art is by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Olivia Travel and Honda

-Discover Olivia at olivia.com/experience and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISING

Support the Show.

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In 2018, the Hershee Bar community showed up at a series of Norfolk City Council meetings to fight for their bar. This is the story of Hershee Bar, the humans that ran it, and the humans that called it a home.

Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us for this episode!

This episode features interviews with: Annette Stone, Jennifer Alomari, Andria McClellan, and Mamie B Johnson, as well as excerpts from 2018 Norfolk City Council meetings featuring various members of the local LGBTQ+ community.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover Art is by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Olivia Travel

-Discover Olivia at Olivia.com and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISING

Support the show