Athens Queer Oral History Project

Nancy MacNair was born in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania in 1938 and moved to Athens in 1975 when her husband got a job as a professor of social work at the University of Georgia. In this interview, she discusses her work as a sexual health educator during…

Sam Denney was born in Athens in 1989 and is an aerial dance instructor at Canopy Studios. In this interview she discusses the development of her lesbian identity, the difficulties she has faced as a Queer person, and the Queer community in Athens.…

JW Chin was born in Atlanta but considers themself an Athens native. Currently, JW is living in Athens and attending the University of Georgia to obtain a Master’s degree in social work. In this interview they discuss the formation of their…

Content Warning: This interview includes references to mental distress and suicide.Adrya Stembridge was born in 1970 and grew up in Athens. In this interview, she discusses the fraught process of discovering her transgender identity and the…

Christiana Henry was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, before moving to Atlanta, and finally settling in Athens in 2015. In this interview she discusses her experiences as a trans woman and finding Queer community in Athens through the art and music…

James Barbour was born in Jackson, Mississippi, and moved to Atlanta when he was a child. He came to Athens to study business at the University of Georgia, and remains in Athens today. He is a drag performer and a founding member of the drag troupe,…