Lou Sullivan diary, 1978-1979

Lou Sullivan's diary for 1978 through mid-1979, following him from the ages of 27-28, when he was still uncertain of the way forward through his gender struggles. Three major events happened to Sullivan during this time: he befriended Emmon Bodfish, another transmasculine person attracted to men; he grieved his brother Patrick, who died in a motorcycle accident in 1979; and he ended his decade-long relationship with his partner. Patrick's death devastated Sullivan, brought him closer to his family, and precipitated lasting changes in his life as he recognized its brevity. 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: kh04dq08s
Collection: Lou Sullivan Collection
Institution: GLBT Historical Society
Creator(s): Sullivan, Lou
Date Issued: 1978 to 1979
Dates Covered: 1978 to 1979
Genre: Diaries
Places: California > San Francisco County > San Francisco
Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > City of Milwaukee > Milwaukee
Topic(s): Death
Diaries
Gay men
Grief
Music
Trans men
Resource Type: Text
Analog Format: Diary
Digital Format: PDF file, 185.1 MB
Language: English
Rights: In copyright
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