5 minute read
The Pride Center Oral History Project
By Cynthia Bott, PC Board President
When the Pride Center began planning the celebration of our 50th anniversary COVID had not even been imagined. As the realities of the pandemic settled in and restrictions began to be imposed, we had to alter plans, and like many nonprofits, figure out ways to continue providing services to the community on a reduced budget. Thankfully, we were able to forge ahead with plans for an oral history project because of the capacity to conduct the interviews virtually.
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Working with Ashley Hopkins-Benton, Senior Historian and Curator for Social History with the NY State Museum, interviews began earlier this year. Potential interviewees were identified by contacts of the center and through a review of the Pride Center Archives in the M.E. Grenander
Department of Special Collections and Archives, housed at SUNY Albany. Those who had been interviewed were also instrumental in identifying other potential candidates. As you might imagine, finding members of our community who were instrumental in the center’s founding and the early years proved to be a challenge. Some of those important people are still with us, but others have died, and some simply could not be located. Ashley continues this important work that will become part of the permanent collection of the NY State Museum.
In addition, the interviews were used to create a documentary previewed at our 50th Jubilee. Filmmaker John Romeo donated his time and skill to craft a 30-minute documentary highlighting different themes that emerged and our center’s history. Both John and Ashley served with grace, considering the restrictions of our budget and the complete disregard of deadlines.
I was 11 years old when the Pride Center was founded. Watching the documentary and listening to the interviews reminded me that much of the freedom I enjoy today is because I am able to stand on the shoulders of those who were willing to put reputation and safety at risk to grow and nurture our community. All of us owe a debt to those who came before, and all of us have an obligation to lift up those who come after us.
Special thanks to David Kahn, board member and Executive Director of the Adirondack Museum, who facilitated Ashley’s introduction and kept pushing for the project. Additional thanks to Ashley and John, who have treated this project with respect and care. Finally, heartfelt thanks to those who sat for an interview and shared your experiences, preserving a vital part of history for the LGBTQ movement and the Pride Center.
Those individuals are: Nancy Burton Richard Conti Gloria DeSole Judy Disco Scott Edward Judith Fetterley Candace Groudine Sheila Healy Scott Levine Paul Leyden Joanne Mattera Maggie Morrison Ken Mortensen Frieda Munchon Gary Pavlic Libby Post Ken Screven Stephanie Slominski Keith St. John Cindy Swadba Vince Quackenbush Dr. Ray Werking Gwen Wright
THANK YOU!
Do not fret if you missed the Jubilee. We will be releasing parts of the documentary and snippets from the interviews as we move through the holiday season in conjunction with our holiday fundraising. Our goal this year was to raise $100,000 to keep us operating through 2021. We are well on the way with the $40,000 raised through the Jubilee but need your assistance to keep moving forward. Please consider making a donation to the Pride Center today so we may continue to provide much-needed services, repair our building, and survive the economic impact of the pandemic.
Thanks, Cynthia
Ashley Hopkins-Benton, Ashley.Hopkins-Benton@nysed.gov
John Romeo PhatAkter Productions, LLC Romeoactor@gmail.com
commUNITY FALL 2020 3
Letter from Executive Director
Martha Harvey, Executive Director/CEO
2020! Am I right? 2020 has been an exceedingly stressful year for all of us. And like every seriously challenging time in history, it has shown us the very best of ourselves and each other. As the year winds down and the holidays approach, we know that even though this year has been unlike any other, we remain stronger together, even if “getting together” means looking at each other on a computer screen.
We have all been afforded the opportunity to reevaluate what in life is really important. That family, whether blood or chosen, means everything. Community means everything. And when forced to discover new ways to stay connected, we rise to the occasion and take stock of what we know for sure – that love and compassion, in many varied forms, can carry us through any strife.
You, as a member or ally of the LGBTQ community, understand the significance of the role that you play. Many of you graciously shared your personal stories of the Pride Center for the 50th Anniversary Video that was created this year in partnership with the New York State Museum. Others of you joined us for a safe, socially distanced “50th Anniversary Jubilee” held at the Jericho Drive-in. Many of you learned how to use Zoom and joined our virtual support groups. Others have donated their time, talent, and treasure throughout these past eight months to help keep the Pride Center going.
It should not come as a shock that, like many other non-profit organizations, the Pride Center of the Capital Region is struggling to stay afloat. Not being able to host our biggest fundraiser of the year due to the ongoing pandemic was certainly not how we wanted to celebrate our 50th birthday and has forced us to make staffing and program changes. And so we must lean on you – our community members, our allies, our family – to pull us through this dark time. With your continued support, we can and will not only survive but thrive!
Please consider making a year-end, tax-deductible gift to the Pride Center of the Capital Region. Together we remain NY Tough! Keep love in your heart and stay six feet apart.
