The Outwords Archive (OUTWORDS)
The Outwords Archive (OUTWORDS) was founded in 2016 in Los Angeles to capture, preserve, and share the stories of LGBTQ+ elders. OUTWORDS believes in the deep capacity of these oral histories to strengthen the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, and to empower LGBTQ+ young people with the knowledge that they are not alone on their personal journeys and challenges, as well as context for the movement they belong to and the elders on whose shoulders they stand. For more info, please visit theoutwordsarchive.org.
OUTWORDS programs create intergenerational impact in three unique ways. As a media production company, we record interviews of historically marginalized LBGTQ+ elders across the US. As a professional, historical, community archive, we organize and preserve digital assets of these stories. And as a distribution company with multi-channel sharing, we provide free content online to millions of viewers.
Prominent topics and themes represented in the OUTWORDS collection include LGBTQ+ history, LGBTQ+ activism, Two Spirit people, and Intersex activism.
Featured Interviews
Judy AbdoJudy Abdo is an activist and was the first out lesbian woman to serve as Mayor of Santa Monica. She was interviewed by the Outwords Archive in February 2023.
Marcus Arana
Marcus Arana is a transgender and two-spirit activist. He was interviewed by the Outwords Archive in July 2016.
Gwenn Craig
Gwenn Craig is a political, human rights, and LGBTQ+ activist and a mentee of Harvey Milk. She was interviewed by the Outwords Archive in August 2021.
Miguel Criado
Miguel Criado is a multidisciplinary artist and queer and disability activist. He was interviewed by the Outwords Archive in August 2022.
Lani Ka'ahumanu
Lani Ka'ahumanu is a bisexual feminist, activist, and author. She was interviewed by the Outwords Archive in July 2016.
David Strachan
David Strachan is an Intersex Activist and one of the first people to legally change their gender to non-binary. He was interviewed by The Outwords Archive in January 2022.