Next Phase Funded Wow!

Ohio Humanities + Private Donors boost funds by $45,000

I am thrilled to announce that we have received $12,000 from the Ohio Humanities. Three individual donors contributed another $20,000, $10,000 and $3,000, making it possible for me to complete another round of interviews.

I have been writing grants for most of the year. It’s been a really useful exercise because the bigger granting agencies require more detail - ask hard questions. Now that this project has legs, I’ve really had to think things through again.

We have two more grants out there waiting to be reviewed and hopefully approved, as we will need more to finish.

Wichita Kansas

I am preparing to visit Wichita KS. It is the only location on the list that I have not yet returned to.

I moved from Dallas as a trailing spouse in 1995, and spent seven years there. I broke up with my former spouse there, I met my current spouse there, and attended Wichita State University earning BAs in both Communication and Women’s Studies. I produced two documentaries at WSU, a feat that most likely contributed to my getting the “Snowy Owl” award from the Elliott School of Communication which paid my tuition for my senior year.

Honestly, I was one of those obnoxious returning adult students that did all the homework and got straight “A’s.” I turned 40 in my first semester and had been out of school for twenty-two years. By the end of it, I understood the world so much better. I’m still paying off the loans but that’s another story.

In 2002 Dorothy was offered a stellar position at Case Western Reserve University to create a Center for Women, and I graduated with a masters in Media and Communication from the New School.

Production Schedule

I have once again sought out an old associate to work with me - Lonny Quattlebaum. He now works at Digital Brand, filming and flying a drone quite a bit. I have a complete studio to work in, with changeable sets, equipment and crew. Production heaven. Yay.

I’ve heard back from many of the key people I want to interview and my interview schedule is filling up.

Wichita passed a civil rights ordinance in 1977, one of the first in the country. When Anita Bryant’s “Save Our Children” campaign successfully overturned a similar ordinance in Dade County, Fl. Wichita was one of the first cities targeted for repeal and taking the issue to a public vote.

The LGBT community was hit hard. Having enjoyed relative protection for over two years, many who had “come out” lost their jobs, and others moved away. I will be interviewing key people who were involved in the fight.

Grateful

I continued to be encouraged by the enthusiasm and willingness of people to be interviewed. Even after 40 years the memories are front and center, and the stories just begging to be told. Thank you for your courage to speak out and help document this historic era in the LGBT movement.