Wynne Stuart and Vicki Hawes Oral History

Wynne and Vicki shared their experiences growing up, attending women’s colleges, and finding their way to Charlottesville. They share how they met each other, and how they met other queer people in Charlottesville. They discuss the lesbian community in Charlottesville in the 1970s and 1980s, including gatherings like dances at the Unitarian Church and the Thawing Out party. Wynne also talks about her involvement with the AIDS Support Group. Both discuss their experiences working at UVA as out gay women. They both discuss their “kids,” a group of eight former UVA students they informally adopted. They also share their participation in a psychological study on the impact of holding hands with a same-sex partner.