Lillian Faderman is a world renowned, award winning LGBTQ+ and lesbian historian, scholar, and author. Her books include Surpassing the Love of Men, Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers, Gay L.A., The Gay Revolution, Woman: The American History of an Idea, and many others. We've interviewed her once before, and we've quoted her in many of our other episodes. This extended interview was recorded in 2023 in Lillian's home, and includes some of Lillian's expertise on lesbian history and culture throughout the 20th century as well as stories from her own life. This episode is a part of a series we’re ca ..read more

This week, we're sharing the story of Ms. Mabel Hampton, in partnership with The Lesbian Herstory Archives. Ms. Hampton (1902-1989) was an African-American lesbian, an activist, a dancer, a singer, and a domestic worker. She was also a dear friend and mentor of Joan Nestle, one of The Lesbian Herstory Archives' founders. Between 1976 and 1988, Joan Nestle sat down with Ms. Hampton numerous times to record a series of oral history interviews. We've pulled bits and pieces from these tapes to share some of Ms. Hampton's life story. The Lesbian Herstory Archives is home to the world’s largest col ..read more

Happy Pride Month!! Starting this month, we will be releasing a series of episodes that we’re calling Cruising the Archives. We’re featuring extended interviews with LGBTQ+ icons from our own archives, as well as from the collections of queer and lesbian archives throughout the country.  First up: Patricia McCombs. In December of 1974, Pat noticed that she and her Black and latinx friends were being discriminated against at CK’s, a North Side Chicago lesbian bar.  In this interview, you’ll hear all about how she and the community successfully protested discrimination at CK’s an ..read more

Redz is a little known former lesbian bar in East LA, which opened in the 1950s and catered primarily to Chicana lesbians. This is the story of one woman in particular who called this space a home: Nancy Valverde. Nancy is most known for her long fought battle with the LAPD over masquerading laws, spending dozens of nights in jail throughout the 1950s for her refusal to wear typical women’s clothing. Nancy passed away in March of 2024 just six months after our interview with her. This episode is for her.  Thank you to Nancy. This episode features interviews with: Nancy Valverde (conduct ..read more

Our full interview with Summer, security at Doc Marie's. Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! -Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you! -Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review! -For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook -Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/so ..read more

In 2018, the Hershee Bar community showed up at a series of Norfolk City Council meetings to fight for their bar. This is the story of Hershee Bar, the humans that ran it, and the humans that called it a home. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us for this episode! This episode features interviews with:  Annette Stone,  Jennifer Alomari, Andria McClellan, and Mamie B Johnson, as well as excerpts from 2018 Norfolk City Council meetings featuring various members of the local LGBTQ+ community.  Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! -Reviews help other list ..read more

YBR is the third of Oklahoma's three lesbian bars. Its full name is "Yellow Brick Road Pub" but everyone calls it YBR. These are the stories of the humans that run it and the humans that call it a home. Kevie didn't know other gay people existed growing up in Checotah, Oklahoma in the 60s and 70s. But by 2000, she had opened her very own lesbian bar in Tulsa: YBR. Since 2000, YBR has been a home and a community to many. There's Amanda, YBR's General Manager; Sarah, former bartender and current therapist; and Erica, longtime YBR regular. Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! -Support ..read more

When Mara and Emily opened The Ruby Fruit in 2023, Los Angeles hadn't had a lesbian bar since 2017.  It is named after Rita Mae Brown's iconic lesbian novel Rubyfruit Jungle, and self-described as "a strip mall wine bar for the sapphically inclined." Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us for this episode! This episode features interviews with: Mara Herbkersman, Emily Bielagus, Denise Jones, and Anna Goodman. Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! -Want to support Cruising and help us keep our content free and accessible? Join our Patreon!  -Reviews help oth ..read more

Established in 1965, Lost and Found was the longest running lesbian bar in Chicago until it was sold in 2008 and became Lizard's Liquid Lounge. Join us as we celebrate former Lost and Found regular Linda's 80th birthday at Lizard's, and hear the stories of the community members who've found a safe space at this bar over the years. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us for this episode. This episode features interviews with Linda Barsaloux, Tracey Baim, Michelle Jones,  and Barb Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast! -Want to support Cruising and help us keep our con ..read more

In February of 2020, Chicago's newest lesbian bar, Dorothy Downstairs first opened its doors. A month later, they were forced to close when the city shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. About 2 years later, they reopened, and they've been a staple of the Chicago queer community ever since! Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us for this episode! This episode features interviews with: Lillian Faderman, Zoe Schor, Whitney LaMora, and Rainn Thomas. Zoe and Whitney are fundraising to open Chicago's only queer-focused wedding & event venue in the space above Dorothy Downst ..read more