StoryCorps Atlanta encourages LGBT residents to share their stories
A local initiative is designed to encourage the area’s LGBT residents to tell their story--a coming out of sorts.
StoryCorps OutLoud is a project to record and preserve the voices of LGBT individuals across the nation. And StoryCorps Atlanta is working with local LGBT organizations to encourage residents to come tell their stories. Participants will have 40 minutes to record a conversation with a loved one. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to share, and it will be preserved at the Library of Congress.
A few weeks ago, Dave Hayward, coordinator of Touching Up Our Roots, and a couple of friends took part in the project. According to Hayward, one of the friends told his autobiography and the other spoke about being gay and living in the Baptist Bible belt.
"There are all kinds of different ways to go about," Hayward said of a person lending their story to history.
Touching Up Our Roots is Atlanta’s LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender) History Project Initiative that promotes, documents and publicizes the contributions gay Georgians have made. Touching Up Our Roots and other organizations became involved in the project to encourage people to share their stories that honor the history, struggles, and character of the LGBT community, and preserve them in the Library of Congress. By preserving them in the Library of Congress, all the voices and experiences will be remembered for generations to come.
"StoryCorps is a perfect fit for our mission," Hayward said of his desire to be involved in the project to ensure that "our stories are told."
Participating LGBT organizations include the Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative, Georgia Equality, Georgia Safe Schools Coalition, Juxtaposed Center for Transformation, MEGA Family Project, Touching Up Our Roots and YouthPride.
StoryCorps OutLoud is a way to inform future generations about their roots because a lot of people don’t even know the roots of the struggles of the LGBT community, Hayward noted.
"It’s really great, and it’s available and anyone can go there and take advantage," he added of the importance of StoryCorps OutLoud.
Metro Atlanta residents are not the only ones who are able to to take part in StoryCorps, but Hayward maintains the project is an opportunity for people to realize LGBT stories are important.
"The fact that we have survived, persevered, and yet we still rise," he said. "It’s exciting to see how far we’ve come."
StoryCorps stories are broadcast every week on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition and the StoryCorps podcast. The StoryCorps Atlanta segments are also featured each Tuesday on WABE 90.1’s City Café between noon and 1 pm.
E-mail atlanta+georgiaequality@storycorps.org to schedule an appointment. Prospective story tellers must include their phone number and a StoryCorp representative will schedule an appointment. StoryCorps conversations are recorded at WABE’s studios in Atlanta. Log onto www.storycorps.org for more information.
