GOHI Oral Histories - Ohio History Connection

The Ohio History Connection and GOHI are dedicated to preserving stories from all Ohioans. As a part of that mission, these oral histories were collected from LGBTQ+ Ohioans who impact and improve their communities. In addition to the video interviews, there are audio-only oral histories in the GOHI collection that we are working to digitize and make available online. Some of these are available now at the bottom of this page. If you would like to hear others, you can make a request at the Archives Library on the third floor of the Ohio History Center. Do you know an LGBTQ+ Ohioan with a story to tell? Email us your idea at [email protected]!

You can browse these oral histories by name, decade, city and subject on our LGBTQ+ research guide.

William "Bill" Brownson (May 12, 2007)

Bill Brownson was born in Montpelier, Ohio in 1963 to Bill and Myrtle (Burrell) Brownson. His father was a school superintendent and his mother worked to help the elderly. This oral history was organized by Rob Berger as part of his mission to collect and share oral histories from the LGBT community of Central Ohio.

In his interview Brownson talks about growing up on a farm, when he first realized he was "different," and his awareness of the LGBTQ community when he was young. He discusses his first conversation about being gay, coming out, and the LGBTQ community in Columbus, Ohio in the early 90s. Brownson has worked with Equality Ohio and with the Log Cabin Republicans since the mid-90s.

He served as the President of the Log Cabin Republicans of Ohio from 1995-98, and served as the National Chair in 2006 when this interview was done. He describes his work with the Log Cabin Republicans, the strides they've made, withholding support from Bush in 2004, and why he's a Republican. Brownson has worked in the banking industry for many years and shares his mostly positive experiences working in Columbus. He goes on to share his first experience of being publicly out, coming out to his family, and discrimination. Brownson concludes by talking about the changes in acceptance of the LGBTQ community, his work with King Avenue United Methodist Church, and acknowledges the support of his partner, Myron Phillips.

Deb Adler (August 21, 2006)

Manny Flowers (August 1, 2006)

Frederick J. Holdridge (January 24, 2006)

Fred Holdridge was born in 1924 in Lima, Ohio. He entered the armed services in 1943 and served in the Army in France during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. He attended Kenyon College from 1948 to 1950 and graduated with a degree in history economics. Holdridge lived in Chicago and New York until he returned to Columbus in 1959 with his partner, Howard Burns. They purchased, and lived in, an apartment building on Campus. Holdridge and Burns moved to Sunbury Road before settling in German Village where they opened Hausfrau Haven, a general store and Village institution. With Burns's unique talent for finding new products Hausfrau Haven flourished and became the hub for the German Village Fun Committee. They kept German Village interesting with dinners in their store window, lawn ornament rental, and starting the annual Pet Parade and Casseroles and Carols. Holdridge was active with the German Village Society, the Contemporary American Theatre Company (CATCO), wrote columns for many local papers, and had a regular spot in Bob Connor's radio show. He helped bring Oktoberfest back to German Village in 1986.

In his interview Holdridge talks about growing up in Lima, his awareness of gay people when he was young, and when he realized he was gay. He discusses his time at Kenyon College, living in New York and Chicago, and how he met Howard. He describes the LGBTQ scene in Columbus, how he and Howard socialized with other couples, and his worries about being "outed." Holdridge didn't "come out" until the mid-1970s. By that time he and Howard were a German Village institution sponsoring many events, had columns in local newspapers, and regular radio spots on WTVN-FM. Holdridge shares memories of opening Hausfrau Haven, many of the events they sponsored, and Howard's knack for finding unique products for their store. He concludes by talking about the differences in the LGBTQ community from the 1950s to today and concerns for the future.

Elliot Fishman (October 5, 2005)

Elliot Fishman was born in 1959 in Columbus, Ohio. He attended Miami University before getting his law degree from the Ohio State University. Studying at the Moritz College of Law in the 1980s put him in the orbits of professors Rhonda Rivera and Douglas Whaley, two of the strongest gay-right advocates in the State of Ohio. Between their influence and an importance of community service fostered by his family; Fishman took leadership roles in the newly forming gay-rights organizations, Stonewall Union and the Human Rights Campaign. He was also essential in the fight against AIDs in the 1980s, serving on the AIDs Taskforce.

In his interview Fishman talks about his family and their views on being gay, first realizing he was "different," and his awareness of other gay-people when he was young. He shares his experience coming out, how and where he found his community, and how he became involved in gay-rights activism. Fishman discusses the founding of Stonewall Union, his roles in the organization in the early years (fundraising), and some people who were supporters of the organization. He describes the Gay Pride Parade and accompanying protests before moving on to talk about the 1984 fight at the Columbus City Council meeting to determine job protections based on sexual orientation. He speaks on the response to the AIDs epidemic in Columbus in the 1980s, his work with city and state leaders, and the gay-rights leaders who worked for change in the 1980s and 90s. Fishman helped form an LGBTQ focused law association and was the 2nd president of the Human Rights Campaign. He discusses parties and gay clubs in Columbus inclduing the Kismet, Tradewinds, The Garage, Imaginations, Corbett Reynolds's Rudely Elegant, and the history of the Berwick Ball. He concludes his interview by talking about, discrimination, the changes in Columbus's gay community, and his hopes for its future.

Harold Sylvester (January 25, 1986)

Harold Sylvester was born in 1903 in Granger, Ohio. He was interviewed January 25, 1986 by Bryan Knedler an active member in OSU’s Gay Activist Alliance. Sylvester was interviewed in a nursing home in Medina, Ohio.

In his interview Sylvester talks about growing up on the farm, being the youngest of 5 siblings, and the loss of his mother at an early age. He was able to teach himself to play the piano by watching the keys move on a player-piano, and even wrote a music book, "Chord Progress in Popular Music." He moved to Cleveland where he attended the Cleveland Institute of Music shortly before dropping out to play in bands and give music lessons. Sylvester talks about the difficulties of making money and loneliness while living in Cleveland. He returned to Medina where he opened a nursery specializing in flowers.

He talks about learning the nursery business from working at a family greenhouse, Hammerschmidt and Clark, when he was young. Sylvester shares how he felt about being gay when he was younger, his family's reaction, and going to see a psychiatrist. He became involved in the organization Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, and found the camaraderie comforting. He and Bryan end the interview by taking about mutual acquaintances, and the current state of the gay community in Cleveland and Columbus.

Francis Darrell Reed (January 27, 1985)

Francis Reed grew up in Ashland, Ohio and moved to Columbus in the mid-1940s. He was interviewed January 27, 1985 by Bryan Knedler and Robert Howle, active members in OSU’s Gay Activist Alliance. Reed was a friend and contemporary of Howle's who could speak to gay culture of Columbus in the 1940s and 50s. The tapes of this interview are of varying quality with background sounds throughout. They were sharing a meal of pot pies.

Reed was known as and refers to himself at times as the "Black Widow." This is because a lover of his had died and for several years Reed wore nothing but black. Throughout his interview he talks about the clubs he frequented, not all of the clubs he mentions would be considered gay clubs. The clubs he talks about include: the Speedway, Coppa Club, Blue Feather, Oasis, Sweet Sixteen, 55 Bar, 119 Bar (these are the same bar, the name changed based on its address on Long Street), Rosemary's, The Circle Bar, the Ionian, Turk Club, and the Kismet. Several of the bars he mentioned had early drag shows these include the Silver Slipper, 55/119 Bar, and possibly the Blue Feather. Reed was a frequent customer at the Speedway, which he referred to as a Black and Tan club. He was well known to the clubs owner Willie West, who helped him avoid police raids on several occasions. He also describes an interesting story about Hap and Billy, owners of the 55/119 Bar.

Reed and Howle share a common background which they discuss at some length. They were both residents of 42/153 Governor's Place, the only unofficial gay boarding house in the 1950s in Columbus. Together they speak about Albert, the owner of the house, some of the other residents, and life on Governor's Place.

Towards the end of the interview Howle, who has his own oral history, shares some more of his experiences from nursing and the gay community in Columbus. Reed talks about changes in the gay community in the 1970s and 80s. He talks about how he related with the straight community both in the 1950s and in the 80s. Reed also shares details about basic living in Columbus, including a story of how he found some bones from the Ming Dynasty.

Robert P. Howle (November 5 & 8, 1984)

Robert P. Howle was born in 1924 in Columbus, Ohio. He was interviewed in 1984 by Bryan Knedler an active member in OSU’s Gay Activist Alliance and Howle's roommate. At the time Howle was a student at OSU. The interview was conducted on November 5th and 8th at 299 W. 5th Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. On the second date he and Bryan are in the kitchen making cookies during the interview. A note of caution, Howle's interview contains discussions of a sexually explicit nature and drug use.

Howle's father was Raymond D. Howle, a manager at the Ohio Malleable Iron Company. His mother was Anna M. Jacobs, she died when he was young and his father remarried. Howle's father also passed several years later and he grew up living at times with his grandmother, sister, and uncle. In his interview he talks about growing up "different," his early sexual experiences, and joining the military. Shortly after graduating high school Howle went into an office training course. During a trip to Canada to visit a friend he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. At this point he is introduced to gay-culture and begins to explore his sexuality. During this time he visits Columbus and Detroit often and discusses the gay bars and nightlife in each city. He describes the words the gay men used to talk about themselves, each other, and sex in the 1940s, early on he was still unaware of the word "gay." He talks about his circle of friends and the kinds of parties and entertainment they enjoyed, including the drag scene.

Howle goes back and fills in more of his early life growing up in various locations around the Northeastern United States, primarily Ohio. After this, he continues chronologically returning to the United States and leaving the Canadian Air Force. This left him open to the draft and he was conscripted into the United States Army. Throughout his time in both the Canadian Air Force and the United States Army he was in sexual relationships with men, and describes how to pick up military men. He had basic training at Camp Joseph Robinson in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Howle transferred to Fort Benning in Georgia for paratrooper training, but was unable to complete the course due to high blood pressure. On leave to Columbus Howle got married as a cover, there was no real relationship, and they divorced several years later. He was transferred to Fort George G. Meade in Maryland. While there he admitted to the Priest that he was gay, the priest sent him to the captain, and the captain had him dismissed from the Army.

Howle returns to Columbus and begins to work for a private psychiatric hospital. In 1948, he begins nurses training in Chattahoochee, Florida. He talks about his life, sexual experiences there, and the gay bars in Tallahassee. As part of his training he moved to New York City where he worked at Bellevue Hospital. At Bellevue, Howle was in charge of the Male insulin and electric shock therapy patients. He returned to Florida to complete his training before heading back to Columbus to work for St. Francis Hospital. Howle worked for a year at Battey State Hospital in Georgia before returning to St. Francis where he was busted on drug charges. He was convicted and sentence to two years at Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. He talks about what life in prison was like as a gay man. Ultimately he was moved to the psychiatric wing where he served as the secretary for the director.

After being released from prison he moved back to New York City to train as a medical and dental assistant. A nun who had formerly worked with him at St. Francis recruited him to work at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Cincinnati where he managed the personnel department. In 1959 he had an affair with a married man and decided that his religious beliefs were incompatible with his sexual orientation so he decided to give up sex. In 1963 Howle moved to Batesville, Indiana where he ended up managing three departments at Margaret Mary Hospital. While there he describes living the "straight life." The pressures there were taxing and he vacationed in New Orleans often where he could live openly, while still abstaining from sex. from 1968 to 1974 he went to work with Benedictine Monks at former Indian missions in Pierre, South Dakota and St. Paul, Minneapolis. There Howle lived a life of "poverty and chastity." In 1975 he spent a short time with the "People of Praise" charismatic community in South Bend, Indiana. Being open about his sexuality he was forced to leave the community and returned to Columbus in 1976. He worked for the state for several years before returning to take classes full-time at OSU in 1979. It was at this point he became involved with the Gay Alliance. Howle and his roommate Elmer won the Gay Hotel of the Year award for hosting Gay Alliance parties. He and Bryan conclude the interview by discussing the history of the Gay Alliance and its work on campus.

Stefan “Victoria” Luebkemann (August 1, 1983)

Stefan Luebkemann grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He was interviewed August 1, 1983 by Bryan Knedler, an active member in OSU’s Gay Activist Alliance. Luebkemann was in his mid to late-twenties and a former student at The Ohio State University. The tapes of this interview are of varying quality with music or animal sounds throughout.

In his interview Luebkemann focuses on gay culture and social groups on and around OSU campus in the 1970s and 80s. He talks about how he met Anthony. He and Anthony had a longterm relationship, until Anthony tragically died in a car accident. Luebkemann shares stories from when he was a child and some family history from both his family and Anthony's. He describes his first experiences at some of the gay bars and clubs in Columbus and the experience of coming out to his friends and family. Luebkemann began attending and participating in Drag performances in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He talks about the drag scene in Columbus where he was officially recognized by another performer, his "Aunt" Beatrice. He describes the organization, or hierarchy, of the gay community in Columbus, and why he is a central figure in it. He discusses some of the rivalries between groups, what aspects give people value, and butchness vs. femness.

Luebkemann details a typical day in his life while he was attending OSU which was a balance of classes and social functions. He talks about the the start of his persona, Victoria, and the establishment of gay families, including the rules and expectations of bring in a family. His family was themed around Victorian royalty while other groups such as the Blondettes were celebrity themed, and one was themed around "old church ladies." Luebkemann discusses the tension between the "hustlers" and the "queens", the fights with straights, and even the popularity of stealing potted plants. He ends by talking about some of the characters in the gay community, the organization of families, and the weekly family meeting called the "Our Ladies of Prague Guild."

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