S1E1 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

The UUGC of Norfolk

Meet the group that invigorated LGBTQ+ organizing in Tidewater, Virginia. The Unitarian Universalist Gay Caucus of Norfolk formed 50 years ago in 1976, but its lasting impact on queer activism can still be felt today. Projects initiated by the UUGC include the long-running gay newspaper Our Own Community Press and the Gay Information Line, a hotline staffed by volunteers.

In this episode:

00:00 Intro

02:00 Tidewater, VA and gay interactions with the military

04:20 How the UUGC got started, the inaugural spaghetti dinner

09:12 Our Own Community Press is born!

11:32 UUGC social events and goings-on

15:21 Stepping into activism

21:33 The UUGC vs the Virginia Beach Public Library

24:03 Tensions with the Unitarian Church

25:55 The legacy of the UUGC

28:34 Credits

Out in the South is brought to you by the Tidewater Queer History Project, a community/academic partnership dedicated to collecting and preserving LGBTQ history in and around Hampton Roads, Virginia. Please listen, subscribe, and rate our show on your chosen listening platform. 

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