Oral History Interview with Susi Thelen: Video, Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
- Title
- Oral History Interview with Susi Thelen: 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
- Thelen, Susi
- 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
- Susi was born in 1961, a third-generation Oregonian. She grew up in Beaverton. She was successful in high school; she was an athlete and was involved in student government. In 1969, her parents had a spiritual experience and turned to an Indian guru, “Guru Maharaja” of the Divine Light Mission. Despite the publicity of her family in this cult, Susi was secretive in school about her family’s participation. The fear and secrecy she experienced in the Divine Light taught her how to be closeted as a lesbian. She attended the University of Oregon and majored in journalism and advertising. She also joined a sorority. But she was unhappy and lonely and thought about suicide. She had a girlfriend but they were both very closeted. Susi occasionally went to Portland, where she found it easier to be gay. Susi is critical of Eugene’s reputation as a liberal city. Susi discusses working for University of Oregon student recruiting. She talks about her wedding in 1993. She concludes her interview by discussing contemporary use of non-binary pronouns and her frustration with LGBTQ identification.
- Subject
- Abuse; Ballot Measure 8; Bars (Drinking establishments) -- Oregon – Eugene; Closeted gays -- United States; Drug use; Internalized homophobia; Marriage equality; Rajneeshees -- Oregon – Rajneeshpuram; Rape; Self-esteem; Social isolation; Soromundi Lesbian Chorus of Eugene; University of Oregon. School of Journalism and Communication; White flight.
- Location
- University of Oregon >> Lane County >> Oregon >> United States
- Date
- 2019-08-27
- Identifier
- Coll520_do072
- 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
