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LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with John Smid

UNO Libraries - Oral History Projects

 

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00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:48 - Early childhood

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Segment Synopsis: 1:40: Growing up in Omaha; 6:42: Neighborhood friends

00:12:08 - Parents' divorce

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Segment Synopsis: 13:53: Mother’s abusive boyfriend; 17:00: Sister leaving home; 20:01: Moving in with father

00:24:13 - Jobs during teenage years

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Segment Synopsis: 27:14: Lesbian cook; 29:49: Working at refrigeration company; 30:56: Crush on coworker

00:31:42 - Adolescent sexuality 00:34:50 - Parents' jobs

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Segment Synopsis: 34:50: Father’s jobs; 35:40: Mother’s jobs

00:38:25 - High school

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Segment Synopsis: 40:03: Dating future wife; 43:13: Crush on Tom

00:48:02 - First wife Kris (1973-1979)

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Segment Synopsis: 51:40: Wedding night; 55:15: Decline of marriage; 57:43: Attraction to coworker; 1:00:36: Kids

01:01:15 - Living openly gay

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Segment Synopsis: 1:01:15: Living in gay neighborhood

01:05:20 - Christianity and renouncing homosexuality

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Segment Synopsis: 1:08:08: Joining ministry; 1:12:57: Meeting Vileen

01:16:55 - Discovering Love in Action 01:24:02 - Second wife Vileen (1988-2013)

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Segment Synopsis: 1:28:40: Honeymoon; 1:30:24: Unhappiness in marriage; 1:30:32: “Figuring out” homosexuality

01:32:46 - More on Love in Action

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Segment Synopsis: 1:32:46: Founders; 1:37:42: “False Images”; 1:54:37: Living in isolation; 1:58:40: Program materials; 2:00:38: Refuge program for teens; 2:07:36: “Treatment” methods; 2:24:15: Resignation (2008)

02:30:35 - Freedom 02:36:50 - Garrard Conley and Boy Erased 02:44:52 - Donation to Mattachine Society and Smithsonian Museum 02:52:10 - Accountability 02:57:22 - Grace Rivers Ministry 03:02:17 - Gay Christian Network Conference (2012) 03:03:42 - Divorcing second wife (2012) 03:12:42 - Meeting husband Larry

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Segment Synopsis: 3:19:00: Moving to Paris, Texas; 3:19:49: Getting married 

03:21:37 - Reflection questions

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Segment Synopsis: 3:21:46: What God’s love based on; 3:22:46: Last thoughts