Kate Clark, the director of Parkeology said, “As a younger person in the LGBTQ community, when I hear stories about the heyday of cruising the fruit loop or lesbian rugby matches every Sunday in the park, it feels like I’m hearing about lost art forms of socializing. This project is important because it serves as a window into another time for a younger generation. For an older generation, these interviews are an opportunity to revisit an earlier era of the LGBTQ community of San Diego and beyond.”
Clark used Lambda Archives for outreach, research and to conduct interviews with people who were part of the Fruit Loop story one way or another. Her event celebrating the stories was so successful last year that this year she recorded more interviews which will be played on the stereos of cars parked around the Loop.
“I think every era has its benefits and challenges for subcultures,” Clark added, “But I have to say, the current pizza delivery style of hookup-app culture feels far less exciting than the possibility of random, wild encounter in the park. Beyond sex, these stories also serve as a complex and painful tapestry of a time that was deeply affected by the AIDS crisis. It’s been an honor to hear these coming of age stories about the heartbreaks, foibles, and evolutions of our community.”
Come out, hear some stories—some wild, some sad—and meet some interesting people. For more information visit parkeology.org or contact info@LambdaArchives.org 619-260-1522.
