Cruising | Queer History and Culture – Details, episodes & analysis

Lillian Faderman is a world renowned, award winning LGBTQ+ and lesbian historian, scholar, and author. Her books include Surpassing the Love of Men, Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers, Gay L.A., The Gay Revolution, Woman: The American History of an Idea, and many others. We've interviewed her once before, and we've quoted her in many of our other episodes. This extended interview was recorded in 2023 in Lillian's home, and includes some of Lillian's expertise on lesbian history and culture throughout the 20th century as well as stories from her own life.

This episode is a part of a series we’re calling Cruising the Archives. We’re featuring extended interviews with LGBTQ+ icons from our own archives, as well as from the collections of queer and lesbian archives throughout the country.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman.  Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Logo is by Finley Martin.

Support the Show.

This week, we're sharing the story of Ms. Mabel Hampton, in partnership with The Lesbian Herstory Archives. Ms. Hampton (1902-1989) was an African-American lesbian, an activist, a dancer, a singer, and a domestic worker. She was also a dear friend and mentor of Joan Nestle, one of The Lesbian Herstory Archives' founders. Between 1976 and 1988, Joan Nestle sat down with Ms. Hampton numerous times to record a series of oral history interviews. We've pulled bits and pieces from these tapes to share some of Ms. Hampton's life story.

The Lesbian Herstory Archives is home to the world’s largest collection of materials by and about Lesbians and our communities.

This episode is a part of a series we’re calling Cruising the Archives. We’re featuring extended interviews with LGBTQ+ icons from our own archives, as well as from the collections of queer and lesbian archives throughout the country.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman.  Cover art is by Nikki Ligos. Logo is by Finley Martin.

Support the Show.

When Mara and Emily opened The Ruby Fruit in 2023, Los Angeles hadn't had a lesbian bar since 2017.  It is named after Rita Mae Brown's iconic lesbian novel Rubyfruit Jungle, and self-described as "a strip mall wine bar for the sapphically inclined."

Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us for this episode!

This episode features interviews with: Mara Herbkersman, Emily Bielagus, Denise Jones, and Anna Goodman.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover Art is by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Olivia Travel

-Discover Olivia at Olivia.com and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISING

Support the Show.

Established in 1965, Lost and Found was the longest running lesbian bar in Chicago until it was sold in 2008 and became Lizard's Liquid Lounge. Join us as we celebrate former Lost and Found regular Linda's 80th birthday at Lizard's, and hear the stories of the community members who've found a safe space at this bar over the years.

Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us for this episode.

This episode features interviews with Linda Barsaloux, Tracey Baim, Michelle Jones,  and Barb

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-Want more LGBTQ+ history and stories? Follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover Art is by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Olivia Travel

-Discover Olivia at Olivia.com and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISING

Support the show

Support the Show.

In February of 2020, Chicago's newest lesbian bar, Dorothy Downstairs first opened its doors. A month later, they were forced to close when the city shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. About 2 years later, they reopened, and they've been a staple of the Chicago queer community ever since!

Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us for this episode!

This episode features interviews with: Lillian Faderman, Zoe Schor, Whitney LaMora, and Rainn Thomas.

Zoe and Whitney are fundraising to open Chicago's only queer-focused wedding & event venue in the space above Dorothy Downstairs! You can support this next endeavor HERE.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover Art is by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Olivia Travel

-Discover Olivia at Olivia.com and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISING

Support the Show.

Mona Sargent (born Mona Nystrom) is widely credited as the owner of the first lesbian bar in San Francisco, and perhaps the first public lesbian bar in United States. Between 1933 and 1950 she  owned a series of bars in clubs in San Francisco: Mona's, Mona's Barrelhouse, Mona's 440 Club, The Paper Doll, and Mona's Candle Light.

Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us for this episode.

This episode features interviews with Beth Lemke, Clay, and Lillian Faderman. The episode also features archival tape of interviews with Mona Sargent, featuring Rikki Streicher and Reba Hudson, conducted by Nan Alamilla Boyd as a part of the Wide Open Town History Project, Courtesy of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society (collection 2003-05).

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover Art is by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Olivia Travel and Honda

-Discover Olivia at Olivia.com and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISING

Support the Show.

Rikki Streicher opened Maud's in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco in 1966. The bar would be a fixture of the lesbian community there until it closed its doors in 1989.  It's memorialized in the 1993 documentary Last Call At Maud's and in the hearts and minds of all those who called Maud's a home over the years!

Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us for this episode.

This episode features interviews with Paris Poirier, Karen Kiss, Susan Fahey, Mandy Carter, and Jeanne Clarke, as well as audio excerpts from Last Call at Maud's. The episode also features archival tape of interviews with Rikki Streicher conducted by Nan Alamilla Boyd as a part of the Wide Open Town History Project, Courtesy of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society (collection 2003-05).

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover Art is by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Olivia Travel and Honda

-Discover Olivia at Olivia.com and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISING

Support the Show.

Our full interview with Ray, bartender at Doc Marie's.

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover Art is by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Olivia Travel and Honda

-Discover Olivia at olivia.com/experience and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISING

Support the Show.

In the summer of 2022, the city of Portland excitedly awaited the opening of a new lesbian bar: Doc Marie's. It didn't go as planned. Join us as we uncover the full Doc Marie's story, exploring the dark side of the internet, the nuances of queer culture, and the unexpected challenges of opening a business.

Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us for this episode.

This episode features interviews with Aundrenee Nash, Brandy Feit, Olga Bichko, Ken Batali, Robin, Anna, Danica, and Shane O'Neill

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover Art is by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Olivia Travel and Honda

-Discover Olivia at Olivia.com and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISING

Support the Show.

Our full interview with Anjali Kumaran, regular patron at The Sports Bra. 

Thank you for listening to Cruising Podcast!

-Support Cruising here! Cruising is an independent podcast. That means we're entirely funded by sponsors and listeners like you!

-Reviews help other listeners find Cruising! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review!

-For more Cruising adventures, follow us @cruisingpod on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook

-Cruising is reported and produced by a small but mighty team of three: Sarah Gabrielli (host/story producer/audio engineer), Rachel Karp (story producer/social media manager), and Jen McGinity (line producer/resident road-trip driver). Theme song is by Joey Freeman. Cover Art is by Finley Martin.

-Special thanks to this episode's sponsors, Olivia Travel and Honda

-Discover Olivia at olivia.com/experience and save $100 on your next trip when you use promo code CRUISING

Support the Show.