Appalachian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Oral History Project

The Appalachian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Oral History Project documents the growth of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community within the Appalachian Region of North Carolina and its effect on regional character, culture, diversity, and values. The project's outcomes included this oral history project and a symposium. 

Project Steering Committee:

• Kathy Staley and Michael Howell (co-directors)
• Pat Beaver, Director of the Center for Appalachian Studies and Anthropology professor
• Karl Campbell, ASU History professor
• Cheryl Claassen, ASU Anthropology professor
• Maggie McFadden, ASU Interdisciplinary Studies professor emerita
• David Orvis, ASU English professor
• Sponsoring Agency: Grant from: North Carolina Humanities Council

The interviewees consisted of:

• Individuals ages 20 to 81
• Lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, one transgender individual, and one heterosexual individual
• One Latino individual
• One African-American individual
• At least 11 individuals who were born and raised in Appalachian North Carolina, Tennessee, or Kentucky ( some individuals who committed to be interviewed have not supplied background information)
• An additional three individuals attended high school in Appalachian, North Carolina.
• Two natives who moved out of Appalachia
• It covers the following counties: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Henderson, Jackson, Polk, Watauga, and Wilkes (there is a concentration in Buncombe, Watauga, and Wilkes counties)
• Three couples have raised children
• Three ministers
• Four Appalachian State University students and one UC-Berkeley student
• 14 transcripts with six approved transcripts