Oral History

Hearing the voices and memories of early leaders and activists.

This Oral History collection provides in-depth interviews with a diverse group of early LGBT religious leaders. By selecting a person you can listen to that interview, read the transcript, view photographs and peruse biographical notes.

Daayiee Abdullah

imam in progressive Islam

Rebecca Alpert

rabbi, author

Ruth Barrett

high priestess in
Z Budapest tradition

Allen Bennett

first openly gay rabbi
in the U.S.

Mari Castellanos

Latina leader in Dignity and the UCC

Robert Clement

archbishop, American
Catholic Church

Michael Cole

pastor, founder of
Christ Chapel Church

Charlotte Doclar

nun, teacher

Karen Doherty

co-founder of Conference
for Catholic Lesbians

Ibrahim Farajajé

mystic activist and scholar

Yvette Flunder

pastor, City of Refuge
& bishop of
The Fellowship

Darlene Garner

Metropolitan Community Church pastor & elder

Cedric Harmon

pastor, activist

George Hyde

priest, led gay
congregation in 1946

Malcolm Johnson

Anglican priest, initiator
of LGBT organizations

Zachary Jones

senior bishop, Unity Fellowship Church

Lynn Jordan

founding member & historian,
MCC San Francisco

Patrick McArron

Dignity USA leader

Virginia Mollenkott

evangelical feminist
theologian

John V. Moore

United Methodist pastor
& ally in California

Phil Porter

leader in UCC Coalition
for LGBT Concerns

Sylvia Rhue

writer, activist

Falcon River

guardian priestess

Jade River

founder of Reformed Congregation of the
Goddess-International

Freda Smith

elder, feminist

Randi Solberg

Norwegian writer & leader of European Forum

Bernd Wangerin

pastor, leader in
Homosexuelle und Kirche
& the European Forum

Marnie Warner

led adoption of the Open and Affirming Program
in the UCC

Mel Wheatley

United Methodist
bishop & ally

LGBT-RAN's Oral History project serves as a model for any individual or any group in LGBT religious movements interested in using oral histories to preserve their history. LGBT-RAN will foster such oral histories by providing training and resources to groups and individuals. In particular, LGBT-RAN will:

support LGBT groups and individuals engaged in oral history projects,
offer technical support and advice,
display these oral histories on our website, and
seek ongoing funding to underwrite the costs of these interviews.

LGBT-RAN invites you to:

Send us the names of LGBT religious leaders whose unique stories risk being entirely lost;
Begin interviewing and recording oral histories with your group's early leaders--LGBT-RAN staff will be glad to provide consultation as needed;
Notify LGBT-RAN of existing recordings of oral history interviews with early LGBT religious leaders. Our website would list them, link to them, or digitize and include them for wider visibility;
Suggest sources of possible funding for ongoing oral history efforts.

For more information about LGBT-RAN's ongoing oral history project, e-mail oralhistory@lgbtran.org.

Excellent online tutorials and workshops in all aspects of oral history are available; we recommend the following: