Oral History Interview with Jill Sager: Video, Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project

Title: Oral History Interview with Jill Sager: 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: Sager, Jill
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: Jill was born in the Bronx in 1957. She was raised Jewish and went to secular Yiddish schools. Born with the left leg shorter than the other, Jill had surgery at age nine to correct the discrepancy, but the surgery failed, leaving her with a permanent disability that affects her mobility. She was diagnosed with scoliosis at age twelve. Every summer her family vacationed in Upstate New York in the “Bungalow Colony.” Jill was sexually attracted to girls at a young age and had a relationship at the Bungalow Colony. In high school, Jill fell in love with a girlfriend who rejected her. Jill went to therapy and her male counselor suggested she sleep with men. Jill started a relationship with a man and moved to San Francisco. In San Francisco, she became a part of the lesbian community. Jill went to college, graduated from San Francisco State University in 1984, and got involved with the Disability Rights Movement. She played with the Shooting Stars basketball team. She discusses the assassination of Harvey Milk, the Briggs Initiative, and Sally Gearhart. Jill moved to Oregon and fell in love with Susie Grimes. Jill says that Eugene was “lesbian heaven.” She talks about farming just outside Eugene. Jill started the Pride Celebration in Eugene, and worked with many other women on the celebration. Jill talks about working against Ballot Measure 9. She discusses changes in the lesbian community over time. Later, Jill fell in love with a man and they got married. It disturbed her that she instantly had privileges married to a man that she otherwise would not have had. In her new relationship, she was initially uncomfortable with other straight couples.
Subject: Abortion; AIDS (disease); Baleboostehs; Bars (Drinking establishments) -- California – San Francisco; Heterosexuality; Judaism; Lefton, Enid; OWL Farm; Parenting; People with disabilities – civil rights – United States; Phelps, Linda; Sheklow, Sally; Silvers, Vicki; WomanShare Collective.
Location: University of Oregon >> Lane County >> Oregon >> United States
Date: 2018-08-29
Identifier: Coll520_do052
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