Kim Christensen
Kim Christensen was interviewed by Julia Callahan on March 27, 2020, who wrote the following abstract of the interview:
In this interview, Kim Christensen traces her life as an activist from its roots in the union politics of rural Ohio to the radical Antioch student teachers and progressive Lutheran pastor she was exposed to in grade school. She describes further forays into political activism while at Earlham College and her introduction to the life of out lesbians. Christensen reflects upon her move to, and years living in, the Pioneer Valley, working for gay liberation through the foundation of GALA with friends and collaborators, Gerry Scoppettuolo, Jetta Fraser, Randy Albedla, Elaine McCrate, Jeff Jerome and others, in response to the Family Protection Act. She describes her life in Northampton including the violence she faced as an outspoken lesbian and the internal difficulties she faced as a gay woman among leftists and a leftist among more apolitical lesbians. She emphasizes the coalition building done by GALA with local progressive groups such as Pledge of Resistance against the US invasion of Nicaragua and Latinos Unidos. Christensen also discusses her decision to leave Northampton, her subsequent move to New York and her work there with the AIDS activism group, Act Up. Additionally, Christensen reflects on her lifelong struggle with a rare connective tissue disorder and her subsequent current work with the Ehlers Danlos Society as well as her work advocating for labor unions for maintenance workers and food service workers at Sarah Lawrence College.
Click here to view the full transcript of the interview.
Please note: this interview mentions homophobia, sexual assault, violence and threats of violence.