Lou Sullivan diary, 1989

Lou Sullivan's diary for 1989, following him through his 37th year. Sullivan continued to live with AIDS during this time, and his health and energy declined as he became increasingly symptomatic. He was also grieving his sister Kathleen, who died this year after a long illness. Sullivan maintained community commitments when he was able, writing that he wanted to spend his remaining time being of service to others. He focused on transmasculine organizing, including with the organization he founded, FTM. Sullivan also continued to spend fulfilling time with other gay men, attending the 1989 California Men's Gathering and pursuing friendships and casual relationships. He prepared for the publication of his biography of Jack Bee Garland, and continued his educational work, traveling to Reno to record interviews with psychologist Ira Pauly. Sullivan once again devoted his final entry of the year to his gratefulness for another year alive as a man. Louis Graydon Sullivan (1951-1991) was a gay trans man from Milwaukee, WI who lived much of his adult life in San Francisco. A diarist, amateur historian, and administrative assistant, Sullivan is best known for the detailed and thoughtful diary he kept from childhood until his death from AIDS at age 39.

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Item Information:

Identifier: g732d936v
Collection: Lou Sullivan Collection
Institution: GLBT Historical Society
Creator(s): Sullivan, Lou
Date Created: 1989
Dates Covered: 1989
Genre: Diaries
Places: California > San Francisco County > San Francisco
Nevada > Washoe County > Reno
Topic(s): Death
Diaries
Gay men
Grief
HIV/AIDS
Trans men
Resource Type: Text
Analog Format: Diary
Digital Format: PDF file, 257.9 MB
Language: English
Rights: In copyright
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