Transcript available; see F0083-03-004 Transcript of Interview with Elgin Blair and Richard Brown
In this oral history interview Elgin Blair and Richard Brown discuss their lives in Toronto as gay men. The interview begins with Elgin (58 years old) commenting on his coming out experience, his purit…
Transcript available; see F0083-03-004 Transcript of Interview with Elgin Blair and Richard Brown
In this oral history interview Elgin Blair and Richard Brown discuss their lives in Toronto as gay men. The interview begins with Elgin (58 years old) commenting on his coming out experience, his puritanical upbringing, his struggle to accept his homosexuality, time in service during the war, radical consciousness, and his work in the Unitarian gay caucus. Other topics include gay social structure in Toronto in the 1950s, gay bars, and Elgin’s involvement in the gay liberation movement and gay organizations such as CHAT, The Body Politic, Older Gay Association, and the Gays and Lesbians against Disarmament (GLAD), as well as in the CCF. Elgin also discusses how bars and pubs, and the people who met there, were instrumental in his coping with depression and sexual orientation. Richard Brown joins the conversation in the second half of the interview. He discusses the important role of gay business like bars and baths in the building of the gay community. He also comments on his personal life, growing up, coming out experience, and involvement in Lambda.
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
Access Restrictions
N/A
Location - Original
Digital copy and original audio cassette. Original cassette tape located in A/V room.
Transcript available; see F0083-03-004 Transcript of Interview with Elgin Blair and Richard Brown.
In this oral history interview Elgin Blair and Richard Brown discuss their lives in Toronto as gay men. The interview begins with Elgin (58 years old) commenting on his coming out experience, his puri…
Transcript available; see F0083-03-004 Transcript of Interview with Elgin Blair and Richard Brown.
In this oral history interview Elgin Blair and Richard Brown discuss their lives in Toronto as gay men. The interview begins with Elgin (58 years old) commenting on his coming out experience, his puritanical upbringing, his struggle to accept his homosexuality, time in service during the war, radical consciousness, and his work in the Unitarian gay caucus. Other topics include gay social structure in Toronto in the 1950s, gay bars, and Elgin’s involvement in the gay liberation movement and gay organizations such as CHAT, The Body Politic, Older Gay Association, and the Gays and Lesbians against Disarmament (GLAD), as well as in the CCF. Elgin also discusses how bars and pubs, and the people who met there, were instrumental in his coping with depression and sexual orientation. Richard Brown joins the conversation in the second half of the interview. He discusses the important role of gay business like bars and baths in the building of the gay community. He also comments on his personal life, growing up, coming out experience, and involvement in Lambda.
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
Access Restrictions
N/A
Location - Original
Digital copy and original audio cassette. Original cassette tape located in A/V room.
Transcript available; see F0083-03-004 Transcript of Interview with Elgin Blair and Richard Brown In this oral history interview Elgin Blair and Richard Brown discuss their lives in Toronto as gay men. The interview begins with Elgin (58 years old) commenting on his coming out experience, his puri…
Transcript available; see F0083-03-004 Transcript of Interview with Elgin Blair and Richard Brown In this oral history interview Elgin Blair and Richard Brown discuss their lives in Toronto as gay men. The interview begins with Elgin (58 years old) commenting on his coming out experience, his puritanical upbringing, his struggle to accept his homosexuality, time in service during the war, radical consciousness, and his work in the Unitarian gay caucus. Other topics include gay social structure in Toronto in the 1950s, gay bars, and Elgin’s involvement in the gay liberation movement and gay organizations such as CHAT, The Body Politic, Older Gay Association, and the Gays and Lesbians against Disarmament (GLAD), as well as in the CCF. Elgin also discusses how bars and pubs, and the people who met there, were instrumental in his coping with depression and sexual orientation. Richard Brown joins the conversation in the second half of the interview. He discusses the important role of gay business like bars and baths in the building of the gay community. He also comments on his personal life, growing up, coming out experience, and involvement in Lambda. Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
Location - Original
Digital copy and original audio cassette. Original cassette tape located in A/V room.
Transcript available; see F0083-03-004 Transcript of Interview with Elgin Blair and Richard Brown. In this oral history interview Elgin Blair and Richard Brown discuss their lives in Toronto as gay men. The interview begins with Elgin (58 years old) commenting on his coming out experience, his pur…
Transcript available; see F0083-03-004 Transcript of Interview with Elgin Blair and Richard Brown. In this oral history interview Elgin Blair and Richard Brown discuss their lives in Toronto as gay men. The interview begins with Elgin (58 years old) commenting on his coming out experience, his puritanical upbringing, his struggle to accept his homosexuality, time in service during the war, radical consciousness, and his work in the Unitarian gay caucus. Other topics include gay social structure in Toronto in the 1950s, gay bars, and Elgin’s involvement in the gay liberation movement and gay organizations such as CHAT, The Body Politic, Older Gay Association, and the Gays and Lesbians against Disarmament (GLAD), as well as in the CCF. Elgin also discusses how bars and pubs, and the people who met there, were instrumental in his coping with depression and sexual orientation. Richard Brown joins the conversation in the second half of the interview. He discusses the important role of gay business like bars and baths in the building of the gay community. He also comments on his personal life, growing up, coming out experience, and involvement in Lambda. Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
Location - Original
Digital copy and original audio cassette. Original cassette tape located in A/V room.
SIDE A:
The interview opens with Lionel saying they will ‘pick up where they left off’. Alan discusses taking the first gay-oriented course at University of Toronto, taught by Michael Lynch. Alan also mentions attending a few CHAT meetings. Alan also discusses the danger of cruising, and particular…
SIDE A:
The interview opens with Lionel saying they will ‘pick up where they left off’. Alan discusses taking the first gay-oriented course at University of Toronto, taught by Michael Lynch. Alan also mentions attending a few CHAT meetings. Alan also discusses the danger of cruising, and particularly cruising theatres in Calgary. Alan discusses evaluating where he wants his future to go, and trying to under go a life ‘cleaning’ physically, emotionally and intellectually. Alan also mentions taking a weekend course titled ‘AIDS Mastery’. Alan discusses the various lessons taught in the workshops, including telling himself that he loved himself, and looking at himself in the mirror for at least one minute every day. Alan mentions being caught cruising in Bloor station by the police, but he can’t remember if he was taken to the police station.
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, Calgary, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
SIDE B:
Alan recounts a story of him cruising north of the creek in David Balfour Park, and being caught with a partner. Alan also recounts his positive test results for his HIV test, and how he coped with discovering he tested seropositive at a time when very little information on HIV and the validity of test results was available or accessible. Alan recounts telling his sexual partners about his results, and many of them still wanting to have sex with him. Alan predominantly has oral sex, and he does not enjoy using condoms due to the texture and taste of them. Alan questions the terminology of not taking any ‘unnecessary risks’ — as, under that framework, it appears sex as a whole is unnecessary. He considers attending a sex addiction treatment program, so that he can go abstinent. Alan talks about his other HIV positive friends, some of whom have stayed with him. Alan discusses attending church, and particularly his likes and dislikes for MCC (Metropolitan Community Church). Alan says he feels like an alien, a misfit on the planet. Many of the churches he has attended have validated this feeling for him.
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1970s, 1980s
Access Restrictions
N/A
Location - Original
CLGA only in possession of digital copy. Cassette tape retained by Lionel Collier
SIDE A: The interview opens with Lionel saying they will ‘pick up where they left off’. Alan discusses taking the first gay-oriented course at University of Toronto, taught by Michael Lynch. Alan also mentions attending a few CHAT meetings. Alan also discusses the danger of cruising, and particula…
SIDE A: The interview opens with Lionel saying they will ‘pick up where they left off’. Alan discusses taking the first gay-oriented course at University of Toronto, taught by Michael Lynch. Alan also mentions attending a few CHAT meetings. Alan also discusses the danger of cruising, and particularly cruising theatres in Calgary. Alan discusses evaluating where he wants his future to go, and trying to under go a life ‘cleaning’ physically, emotionally and intellectually. Alan also mentions taking a weekend course titled ‘AIDS Mastery’. Alan discusses the various lessons taught in the workshops, including telling himself that he loved himself, and looking at himself in the mirror for at least one minute every day. Alan mentions being caught cruising in Bloor station by the police, but he can’t remember if he was taken to the police station. Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, Calgary, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s SIDE B: Alan recounts a story of him cruising north of the creek in David Balfour Park, and being caught with a partner. Alan also recounts his positive test results for his HIV test, and how he coped with discovering he tested seropositive at a time when very little information on HIV and the validity of test results was available or accessible. Alan recounts telling his sexual partners about his results, and many of them still wanting to have sex with him. Alan predominantly has oral sex, and he does not enjoy using condoms due to the texture and taste of them. Alan questions the terminology of not taking any ‘unnecessary risks’ — as, under that framework, it appears sex as a whole is unnecessary. He considers attending a sex addiction treatment program, so that he can go abstinent. Alan talks about his other HIV positive friends, some of whom have stayed with him. Alan discusses attending church, and particularly his likes and dislikes for MCC (Metropolitan Community Church). Alan says he feels like an alien, a misfit on the planet. Many of the churches he has attended have validated this feeling for him. Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1970s, 1980s
Location - Original
CLGA only in possession of digital copy. Cassette tape retained by Lionel Collier
SIDE A:
NOTE: The archivist notes that this interviewee’s voice sounds extremely similar to Alan McMurray. It is likely that ‘AM’ refers to Alan McMurray. However, note that — if this is true — we presently only have sides 1 and 2, and sides 5 and 6, of Lionel’s fifth interview with Alan McMurray. …
SIDE A:
NOTE: The archivist notes that this interviewee’s voice sounds extremely similar to Alan McMurray. It is likely that ‘AM’ refers to Alan McMurray. However, note that — if this is true — we presently only have sides 1 and 2, and sides 5 and 6, of Lionel’s fifth interview with Alan McMurray. Additionally. there is no date written down on this tape, nor is it mentioned in the recordings.
Recording begins mid-interview, with AM discussing flirting a member of a church he is somehow affiliated with. AM reviews a set of photographs with Lionel, with subjects including AM’s family, himself working as a dance teacher, and previous partners of AM. Lionel tells his own story of a police encounter, while cruising and having oral sex with a man in a park in Toronto. Lionel ran away from the police and managed to escape arrest. Lionel and AM then discuss about Peter Maloney being ‘slimy’. They also discuss having sex with men whom they are not attracted to.
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1970s, 1980s
SIDE B:
Lionel continues to review photographs, including photos from AM’s trip to Salt Lake City, and his extended family. AM discusses various places he lives, and the places he would cruise — including park washrooms and hotels that had glory holes in Sarnia and Detroit.
Dates and locations discussed: Sarnia, Detroit, Toronto, 1970s, 1980s
Access Restrictions
N/A
Location - Original
CLGA only in possession of digital copy. Cassette tape retained by Lionel Collier
SIDE A: NOTE: The archivist notes that this interviewee’s voice sounds extremely similar to Alan McMurray. It is likely that ‘AM’ refers to Alan McMurray. However, note that — if this is true — we presently only have sides 1 and 2, and sides 5 and 6, of Lionel’s fifth interview with Alan McMurray.…
SIDE A: NOTE: The archivist notes that this interviewee’s voice sounds extremely similar to Alan McMurray. It is likely that ‘AM’ refers to Alan McMurray. However, note that — if this is true — we presently only have sides 1 and 2, and sides 5 and 6, of Lionel’s fifth interview with Alan McMurray. Additionally. there is no date written down on this tape, nor is it mentioned in the recordings. Recording begins mid-interview, with AM discussing flirting a member of a church he is somehow affiliated with. AM reviews a set of photographs with Lionel, with subjects including AM’s family, himself working as a dance teacher, and previous partners of AM. Lionel tells his own story of a police encounter, while cruising and having oral sex with a man in a park in Toronto. Lionel ran away from the police and managed to escape arrest. Lionel and AM then discuss about Peter Maloney being ‘slimy’. They also discuss having sex with men whom they are not attracted to. Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1970s, 1980s SIDE B: Lionel continues to review photographs, including photos from AM’s trip to Salt Lake City, and his extended family. AM discusses various places he lives, and the places he would cruise — including park washrooms and hotels that had glory holes in Sarnia and Detroit. Dates and locations discussed: Sarnia, Detroit, Toronto, 1970s, 1980s
Location - Original
CLGA only in possession of digital copy. Cassette tape retained by Lionel Collier
