Oral History Interview with Harriet Merrick: Video, Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project

Title: Oral History Interview with Harriet Merrick: Video, Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
LC Subject: Lesbianism Lesbian community
Local Collection ID: Coll 520
Repository: University of Oregon. Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives
Interviewee: Merrick, Harriet
Interviewer: Long, Linda, 1956- Raiskin, Judith L.
Description: The Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project collection consists of interviews of 83 people for the Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project, conducted by Professor Judith Raiskin and Curator Linda Long at the University of Oregon starting in the summer of 2018.
Abstract: Harriet was born in 1951 and grew up in Milwaukie, Oregon. In her teenage years she knew she was a lesbian. She went to St Mary’s Academy. She describes the coming out process and not having words to explain her feelings. Harriet graduated from high school in 1969 and went to the University of Oregon in 1972. Harriet discusses books she read to help her understand herself. She joined the Gay People’s Alliance, which started in Eugene, off campus, but then became a student group at UO. She talks about Randy Shilts, a fellow gay student at UO, who was also an activist for gay rights. Harriet discusses a course she taught at UO. She describes a homophobic threat while walking alone in Eugene. She talks about the anti-gay political measures in Oregon and the difficulties in organizing disparate people in the campaigns. She discusses the devastation of the passage of Referendum 51. Harriet worked in the Business Affairs Office at the University of Oregon for thirty-two years. She describes the lawsuit she and the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon filed against the Oregon State Board of Education regarding the implementation of Measure 8 in the state. She discusses the gay rights group, Right to Privacy/Right to Pride and Basic Rights Oregon. Harriet was co-director of Basic Rights Oregon for a couple of years. She concludes her interview by discussing the ups and downs of the push towards marriage equality, strategizing political campaigns, and why she loves Eugene.
Subject: ACLU; AIDS (disease); Ballot Measure 9; Bean, Terry; Bryant, Anita; Cassady’s; Childs, Ted; Coming out (sexual orientation); Crawford, Richard; Davis, Julie; Fidanque, David; Gay People’s Alliance; Harris, Jean; Hate crimes; Lesbian identity; Lesbian separatism – Oregon; Mabon, Lon; Metropolitan Community Church; Ordinances, Municipal -- Oregon – Eugene; Oregon Citizens Alliance; Planned Parenthood; Springfield (Or); University of Oregon. Gay People’s Alliance; Vetri, Dominick R.
Location: University of Oregon >> Lane County >> Oregon >> United States
Date: 2018-07-23
Identifier: Coll520_do034
Rights: In Copyright
Dc Rights Holder: University of Oregon Libraries
Local Collection Name: Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
Type: Moving Image
Format: video/mp4
Set: Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
Institution: University of Oregon