Columbia Center for Oral History Portal > Oral history interview with Pedro L. Velásquez, 1992
Creator: | Velásquez, Pedro L. | Project: | Gay Officers Action League oral history collection (see all project interviews) | Phys. Desc. : | sound file : digital preservation master, WAV files (96 kHz, 24 bit) | Location: | Columbia Center for Oral History | Full CLIO record >> |
Biographical NotePolice Officer
Scope and Contentsb. Puerto Rico, childhood, first homosexual experience, University of Puerto Rico; immigrated to New York City, 1984, various jobs; police academy, July 1984-December 1985, language difficulties; assignment to transit police, coming out on the job, developing gay pride, fear of coming out; violence within New York Police Department (NYPD), outside homophobia, increase in homophobia among police after gay actions (ACT UP), police attitude towards gay civilians, benefits of being a police officer, treating people nicely; Gay Officers Action League (GOAL), first encounters with, fear within members, defense of gay cops against discrimination; marching in Puerto Rican Day Parade, run for city council, 1991; effect of AIDS on GOAL, expansion of GOAL
SubjectsAccess ConditionsCopyright by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 1992
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