Lou Sullivan diary, 1990-1991

Lou Sullivan's diary for 1990-1991, following him from the ages of 38-39 and ending with his death. Sullivan by this point had long since outlived his doctors' initial expectations for his survival, but his health was deteriorating rapidly. He focused his remaining energy on community service, particularly with FTM, the trans men's organization he had founded. He also recorded the last of his yearly video interviews with Dr. Ira Pauly. In 1990, Sullivan's book From Female to Male: The Life of Jack Bee Garland was released by Alyson Publications; Sullivan had written in his diary for many years about his wish to become a traditionally published author, and he wrote extensively in this volume of the pride, validation, and sense of service to Garland's memory that this new book gave him. Sullivan's final months were spent with his family, loved ones, and local volunteers, who helped him with his daily care. On February 27, 1991, he wrote his final entry, describing the donation of his papers to the Gay and Lesbian Historical Society of Northern California (now the GLBT Historical Society), which he had cofounded. Sullivan's last words in his diary were, "I'm sure there's a lot more I should be writing here, but I'm gonna sign off here now." He would die three days later on March 2. 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: pz50gw51d
Collection: Lou Sullivan Collection
Institution: GLBT Historical Society
Creator(s): Sullivan, Lou
Date Created: 1990 to 1991
Dates Covered: 1990 to 1991
Genre: Diaries
Places: California > San Francisco County > San Francisco
Washington > King County > City of Seattle > Seattle
Nevada > Washoe County > Reno
Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > City of Milwaukee > Milwaukee
Topic(s): Death
Diaries
Gay men
Grief
HIV/AIDS
Trans men
Resource Type: Text
Analog Format: Diary
Digital Format: PDF file, 261.1 MB
Language: English
Rights: In copyright
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