Interview Gay Liberation/Sexuality Movement
My apologies for not posting a days... been focused on an interview that happened last night that went really well which has
Tentative Gay Liberation/Sexuality Movement Activist Interview Questions
Interviewee: Lucky S. Michaels, Director of MCCNY Homeless Youth Services
General Topics:
Personal Background
Sylvia’s (History, Involvement)
Photography, Shelter
Beliefs/aims regarding past, current and future Gay Liberation Movement, Sexuality
Movement in US
How LGTBQ homeless youth has/has not been a part of mainstream movements, past,
current and future
Specific Questions:
Q: Growing up, were you aware of or have access to any political or social movements
that were going on?
Q: In The Advocate’s “Forty under 40: Arts” Piece that you were featured in, you
mentioned your concern for the lack of services and representation for the LGTBQ
homeless youth population, saying that they are essentially invisible because people
would rather talk about marriage equality and more attractive issues. Are you aiming to make this epidemic of homeless LGTBQ youth part of the more mainstream Gay
Liberation Movement Is this possible? If so, how?
Q: Sylvia’s is a part of MCCNY. Can you talk a bit about MCCNY? Do you consider
yourself a member of The Church? How do you believe having a church geared towards
the LGTBQ community impacts the Sexuality and Gay Liberation Movement?
Q: Some consider MCCNY, Sylvia’s place and the work you and individuals such as
Reverend Pat Bumgardner do a continuation of Sylvia Rivera’s involvement in the
movement. What would you say to this? Do you think the objective and work has
changed?
Q: You were quoted as saying your book, Shelter, is “an advocacy tool” can you talk
about this?
Q: I recently read a paper by a fellow volunteer at Sylvia’s, Ricky Price, titled “I Need To Talk To You.” In his paper he describes how “Language describing one’s gender, race and sexual orientation works to locate your personal identity within a societal framework and in the case of many of the youths at the shelter, directly led to their homelessness.”He continued, bringing up a point that I (and probably most queer individuals) relate to, “These youths face constant rejection for being unrecognizable within a social or cultural discourse. By saying, “I am gay” or trans or bi or queer they are both liberated and oppressed by the words they use.” What are your feelings on this issue, and what do you believe is the most progressive or all inclusive way to deal with labeling, gender pronouns, and identification regarding sexual orientation? What is the most accepted approach in the movement right now?
Q: The majority of youth at Sylvia are Black, Hispanic, or mixed-race. Historically allmajor human rights movements (i.e. Black, Women’s, Gay) have been intertwined,
sometimes supportive of each other and sometimes antagonistic to each other. What
unique perspectives and strengths do you think the youth you work with will add to themovement as racial, ethnic and gender minorities? What challenges will they face inadding to the movement?
Q: If you could list a few, who are the biggest players (in addition to you, of course)currently in fighting the LGTBQ homeless youth epidemic?
this is half the questions to what turned out to be an amazing interview...
-thanks to Christina Grilo who is presenting the Interview today to Dr. Susan Cavin.
Tentative Gay Liberation/Sexuality Movement Activist Interview Questions
Interviewee: Lucky S. Michaels, Director of MCCNY Homeless Youth Services
General Topics:
Personal Background
Sylvia’s (History, Involvement)
Photography, Shelter
Beliefs/aims regarding past, current and future Gay Liberation Movement, Sexuality
Movement in US
How LGTBQ homeless youth has/has not been a part of mainstream movements, past,
current and future
Specific Questions:
Q: Growing up, were you aware of or have access to any political or social movements
that were going on?
Q: In The Advocate’s “Forty under 40: Arts” Piece that you were featured in, you
mentioned your concern for the lack of services and representation for the LGTBQ
homeless youth population, saying that they are essentially invisible because people
would rather talk about marriage equality and more attractive issues. Are you aiming to make this epidemic of homeless LGTBQ youth part of the more mainstream Gay
Liberation Movement Is this possible? If so, how?
Q: Sylvia’s is a part of MCCNY. Can you talk a bit about MCCNY? Do you consider
yourself a member of The Church? How do you believe having a church geared towards
the LGTBQ community impacts the Sexuality and Gay Liberation Movement?
Q: Some consider MCCNY, Sylvia’s place and the work you and individuals such as
Reverend Pat Bumgardner do a continuation of Sylvia Rivera’s involvement in the
movement. What would you say to this? Do you think the objective and work has
changed?
Q: You were quoted as saying your book, Shelter, is “an advocacy tool” can you talk
about this?
Q: I recently read a paper by a fellow volunteer at Sylvia’s, Ricky Price, titled “I Need To Talk To You.” In his paper he describes how “Language describing one’s gender, race and sexual orientation works to locate your personal identity within a societal framework and in the case of many of the youths at the shelter, directly led to their homelessness.”He continued, bringing up a point that I (and probably most queer individuals) relate to, “These youths face constant rejection for being unrecognizable within a social or cultural discourse. By saying, “I am gay” or trans or bi or queer they are both liberated and oppressed by the words they use.” What are your feelings on this issue, and what do you believe is the most progressive or all inclusive way to deal with labeling, gender pronouns, and identification regarding sexual orientation? What is the most accepted approach in the movement right now?
Q: The majority of youth at Sylvia are Black, Hispanic, or mixed-race. Historically allmajor human rights movements (i.e. Black, Women’s, Gay) have been intertwined,
sometimes supportive of each other and sometimes antagonistic to each other. What
unique perspectives and strengths do you think the youth you work with will add to themovement as racial, ethnic and gender minorities? What challenges will they face inadding to the movement?
Q: If you could list a few, who are the biggest players (in addition to you, of course)currently in fighting the LGTBQ homeless youth epidemic?
this is half the questions to what turned out to be an amazing interview...
-thanks to Christina Grilo who is presenting the Interview today to Dr. Susan Cavin.
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