Tupelo Pride 2019 Exhibit

The Invisible Histories Project-Mississippi launched during Tupelo Pride 2019\u27s opening event at the Link Centre. IHP-MS had an information table with two pop-up exhibits: a selection of record covers from the collection of DJ Prince Charles (Charles Smith), now housed in the University of Mississippi Libraries Archives and Special Collections, and a selection of ethno-poems , curated by graduate student oral history interviewers Maddie Shappley and Hooper Schultz

Conwill, Lena

In this interview, Lena Conwill discusses her life as an out lesbian in the state of Mississippi. Conwill talks about her childhood in Itawamba county, a troubling home life, her battle with addiction, and her career in a treatment facility. She later discusses a tumultuous relationship with her ex, her marriage to Julia “Star” Newsom, the Starting Over coffee shop, Rumors bar, and LGBTQ life in Tupelo, Mississippi. This interview was conducted as a part of the Queer Mississippi Oral History Project through a grant from the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies at the University of Mississippi, in partnership with the Invisible Histories Project, in 2019

Vanhorn, Rufus

In this interview, Rufus VanHorn discusses his life as a gay man in the Episcopal church in Mississippi. He also talks about his childhood in Vardaman, Mississippi and the hardships his family faced with addiction and loss of a child. He later discusses his experiences as a foreign exchange student in South Africa, his experience at a Monastery located in Massachusetts, and his later move to Tupelo, Mississippi. This interview was conducted as a part of the Queer Mississippi Oral History Project through a grant from the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies at the University of Mississippi, in partnership with the Invisible Histories Project, in 2019

Fowlkes, Jen

In this interview, Jen Fowlkes discusses her life growing up in Sebring, Florida and her family life. Fowlkes shares about her early introduction to the Episcopal church and her love for books and music. Later she discusses a relationship with a friend/roommate that occurred while she was in college. Fowlkes shares her life in Orlando as an out lesbian and working as a legal assistant. She then shares about her transition to Tupelo, MS and her life within the Episcopal church as a youth consoler. At the end of the interview Fowlkes shares about her marriage with Laura Leigh and her current life in Tupelo, Mississippi. This interview was conducted as a part of the Queer Mississippi Oral History Project through a grant from the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies at the University of Mississippi, in partnership with the Invisible Histories Project, in 2019

Whitlock, Joshua

In this interview, Joshua Whitlock discusses his life as a gay man and relator living in Mississippi. Whitlock talks about his childhood in Corning, California, his love and history with equestrian sport, and his thirteen-year long relationship with a man named Tommy. He later discusses his experience with drag in California and his life as a restaurant manager in Alabama. In the last part of the interview, Whitlock talks about his marriage to Hays Burchfield, his experience with Starkville Pride, and being a sperm donor for his lesbian friends. This interview was conducted as a part of the Queer Mississippi Oral History Project through a grant from the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies at the University of Mississippi, in partnership with the Invisible Histories Project, in 2019

White, Eric Godiva

In this interview, Eric White starts by discussing his life growing up in Fulton, Mississippi and his experience with a conservative town and family. White later talks about how he became “GoDiva” at Rumors gay bar in Tupelo. Later, White discusses his drag experiences in Memphis, Nashville, and Orlando. Throughout the interview, White talks about the current political climate and its impact on Tupelo, Mississippi. Toward the end of his interview, White talks enthusiastically about his involvement with the LGBTQ community in Tupelo and his plans for Tupelo Pride in 2019. This interview was conducted as a part of the Queer Mississippi Oral History Project through a grant from the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies at the University of Mississippi, in partnership with the Invisible Histories Project, in 2019

Fowlkes, Laura Leigh

In this interview, Laura Leigh Fowlkes discusses her life as a lesbian woman. Fowlkes talks about her childhood in Amory, Mississippi as well as her time as a student at Mississippi State. She then shares about her formative relationship with a woman named Kelly, and her moves to Colorado, Alabama, Michigan, and Florida. Later, Fowlkes talks about her relationship and marriage to Jen Fowlkes and her life in Tupelo. This interview was conducted as a part of the Queer Mississippi Oral History Project through a grant from the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies at the University of Mississippi, in partnership with the Invisible Histories Project, in 2019