Lou Sullivan diary, 1979-1980

Lou Sullivan's diary for mid-1979 through mid-1980, following him from the ages of 28-29, when he fully self-actualized as a trans man and began medical transition. After an unsuccessful attempt to work with a therapist at the Center for Special Problems, who didn't understand his homosexuality, Sullivan sought help from trans counselor Steve Dain. Dain connected Sullivan to a medical team who helped him to begin hormone therapy. Sullivan also investigated top surgery during this time, and by the end of this diary volume had a surgical date. Sullivan's experience of using hormones and presenting as male was joyous and euphoric. He took steps to transition bureaucratically and to change jobs so that he could make a new first impression on a new set of co-workers, and wrote extensively about his excitement at his new life. Louis Graydon Sullivan (1951-1991) was a gay trans man from Milwaukee, WI who lived much of his adult life in San Francisco. A diarist, amateur historian, and administrative assistant, Sullivan is best known for the detailed and thoughtful diary he kept from childhood until his death from AIDS at age 39.

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Item Information:

Identifier: mw22v586t
Collection: Lou Sullivan Collection
Institution: GLBT Historical Society
Creator(s): Sullivan, Lou
Date Issued: 1979 to 1980
Genre: Diaries
Subject(s): Steve Dain
Places: California > San Francisco County > San Francisco
Topic(s): Gay men
Music
Punk rock music
Testosterone
Top surgery
Trans men
Transitioning (Gender)
Resource Type: Text
Analog Format: Diary
Digital Format: PDF file, 161.9 MB
Language: English
Rights: In copyright
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