Writer, musician, and film maker Bob Ostertag presents oral histories of the characters and contributions that have made queer life in the Bay Area so beautiful.
In this second episode, Joey begins with more reminiscences of Marsha P. Johnson, and then tells of his move from New York to San Francisco in 1976, the gay life he found in the city by the bay at that time, the founding of the Radical Faeries, and his lifelong friendship with Harry Hay.
16 Apr 2026
Joey Cain Part 1
Joey Cain regales us with tales of his fascinating life. In this Part 1, we hear of him hitchhiking to New York City in 1972 at age 16 and walking from the George Washington Bridge to Christopher Street where Marsha P. Johnson took him on a tour of the piers and the trucks. Stay tuned for Part 2, when Joey will move to San Francisco and join the Radical Faeries in their early days, form a lifelong friendship with Harry Hay, and much more.
19 Aug 2024
Larry Byes
Larry Byes tells of the extreme racism he experienced growing up as a poor black sissy kid in Ohio, the incredible story of his arrival in San Francisco in 1975, his experience in Black and White Men Together and at Glide church, the worst of the AIDS epidemic, and more.
19 Aug 2024
JD Wade
JD Wade arrived in San Francisco in 1965, making him the earliest arrival of all our guests thus far. Among other things, he discusses the role of gay hippies, both within the wider hippie scene and also in the development of what would become the gay world of San Francisco.
9 May 2023
Brian Freeman Episode 1
First of a two-part episode with actor, writer, director, and public intellectual Brian Freeman. In this episode Brian talks about arriving in San Francisco in 1977, negotiating the race landscape of 1970s San Francisco as a black gay man, his work in the San Francisco Mime Troupe, meeting his future collaborator Marlon Riggs, and the early years of the AIDS pandemic. Be sure to check out episode 2, in which Brian tells the story of the making of the landmark film Tongues Untied, ...
9 May 2023
Brian Freeman Episode 2
In this second episode, Brian Freeman talks about the creation of not ine but TWO iconic works by black gay men, the movie Tongues Untied and the theater company PomoAfroHomos.
26 Jan 2023
Timmy Spence
One day after his 70th birthday, we interview none other than Timmy Spence - actor, musician, drag queen, provocateur par excellence. From growing up in Philly to landing in San Francisco at age 19 with nothing but $35; to doing drag when drag wasn't popular all the way through TrannyShack, to beating AIDS and 8 episodes of cancer to finding himself happy and wise at an age no one including Timmy ever thought he would see.
14 Jul 2022
Gerry Kirby Episode 4
As fate would have it, Gerry Kirby passed away peacefully during the night just hours before this fourth and final episode of his oral history was published. RIP Gerry. We will miss you, dear friend. We are so happy were were able to, as you said, tell your truth.
1 Jul 2022
Danny Nicoletta
Danny Nicoletta remembers arriving in San Francisco's Castro district in the mid-1970s, becoming Harvey Milk's employee and occasional sex partner, the journey through drugs for both him and his community, and Harvey's legacy. He concludes with some profound observations comparing the ethical and political questions confronting the queer community back then and today.
5 May 2022
Gerry Kirby Part 3
In this third of four episodes, Gerry talks us through his adventures in Europe with aTom of Finland's principal model, touring Europe with Donna Summers, returning to NYC to work in a male bordello, moving to San Francisco and becoming Sylvester's room mate and back up singer, becoming the lead singer in Messiah, walking the streets in drag and bringing home a member of the 49ers, his experiences with meth, and more.
16 Mar 2022
Gerry Kirby, Part 2
Part 2 of Gerry Kirby. In this episode, Gerry goes into detail about his extraordinary experiences arriving in NYC in 1969 at age 18, opening for Bette Midler at the Continental Baths, performing on Broadway with Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway, Greenwich Village the night the Stonewall riots erupted, and much more.
7 Feb 2022
Heklina
Drag icon Heklina talks about arriving in San Francisco at the peak of AIDS, joining the Sick and Twisted Players, creating the legendary drag club Trannyshack and running it for 12 years, and co-founding San Francisco's flagship cabaret club Oasis.
27 Jan 2022
Gerry Kirby Part 1
Gerry Kirby talks about performing on Broadway in Pearl Bailey's all-black production of Hello Dolly!, opening for Bette Midler at a gay bathhouse, touring Europe with Donna Summer, his collaborations with Sylvester, and much much more.
29 Nov 2021
Andrew Brown
Andrew Brown talks about growing up in Philadelphia, coming out as gay when then Black Panthers welcomed gays, black gay music and black gay bars in San Francisco, and making THE WORD IS OUT, the first documentary film in which gay people talked about their lives.
30 Sept 2021
The House of More! Episode 1
The first episode of the story of Mr. David Glamamore and Juanita More, the grandmother and mother of the House of More. Forty years of drag, fashion, revelry, and an unparalleled level of drag philanthropy. The current Emperor and Empress of the Imperial Court of San Francisco.
11 Jun 2021
Joan Jett Blakk
Special guestTerence Alan Smith aka Joan Jett Blakk. First drag queen to run for US President. On the Queer Nation ticket. Beautiful soul.
3 May 2021
Lynn Breedlove - Punk Rock Stand Up Write Up Get Down
Featured guest is Lynn Breedlove, punk rocker, writer, poet, comedian, and queer entrepreneur.
9 Apr 2021
Tom Ammiano - Kiss My Gay Ass
Featured guest is Tom Ammiano: teacher, comedian, activist, political leader. Tom discusses his new memoir, "Kiss My Gay Ass; My Trip Down the Yellow Brick Road Through Activism, Stand-up, and Politics.
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