Kiriyo “Rio” Spooner
Kiriyo "Rio" Spooner was interviewed by Shai Kuper on April 12 and 22, 2021. In this interview, Kiriyo reflects upon her experiences in the world as a lesbian and a feminist. Kiriyo discusses the importance of community building through education and the powerful tool of books as a liberating knowledge. She discusses how those things have been important in her life as well as the lives of others. Kiriyo reflects on the first lesbian feminist bookstore she co-founded and co-owned in Northampton and how the store had been a target both of homophobic attacks during the 1980s, and as a center of debate of the lesbian sex wars. She also discusses where her life has gone since then.
Click here for a full transcript of the interview.
Please note: this interview mentions sexual assault, drug use and suicide.