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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 Note

Police Officer

Scope and Contents

b. 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

Subjects

Access Conditions

Copyright by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 1992

Using this collection

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