Series:

Black LGBTQ+ Legends of Los Angeles

Topic:

African American History

LGBT Movement

Biographical Note:

A Black lesbian mother, reverend, caretaker, author, and advocate the Black LGBT community and HIV/AIDs.

Interviewer:

Johns, Byron

Interviewee:

Lanoix, Alfreda

Persons Present:

Lanoix and Johns

Place Conducted:

Conducted via the Zoom teleconferencing platform

Supporting Documents:

Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library’s Center for Oral History Research.

Interviewer Background and Preparation:

The interview was conducted by Byron Johns, Psy.D., organizational psychologist and trained facilitator and interviewer. Johns has worked with Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD) in New York City, and on numerous LGBTQ-focused projects.

Processing of Interview:

The transcript is a verbatim transcription of the recording as transcribed by a professional transcribing agency. The interviewee was given an opportunity to review the transcript but made no corrections or additions.

Length:

7.25 hours

Language:

English

Copyright:

Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.

Audio:

Series Statement:

The Black LGBTQ+ Legends of Los Angeles oral history project reflects a legacy of Black folks supporting each other in the face of race, sexual orientation, and class-based marginalization. Los Angeles is one of the major US cities that experienced sweeping social and political changes as a result of Black civil rights movements and gay liberation movements from the 1960’s until the present. Likewise, Los Angeles is often represented as a city where integration was established ahead of legislation. However, LGBT histories involving African Americans are limited. These oral history testimonies will fill historical gaps relating to Black LGBT social and political life in Los Angeles.

Note:

Brief mentions of individuals have been redacted to protect privacy.

Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri—Living in a very segregated community—Difficult and unhappy upbringing with her mom—Loving relationship with her grandmother—Taking on a mothering role for her younger siblings—Deciding to leave home—Growing up in a fear-based religion—Her childhood best friend getting murdered—Her first boyfriend as a teen—Getting pregnant—Her family’s reaction to her pregnancy—Traumatic labor and delivery experience—Leaving home with her baby to live with her boyfriend’s family—Moving into her own apartment—Her grandmother’s passing—Deciding to find her father in California—Visiting her father with her son and deciding to stay—Relationship with her stepfather—Reflecting on her time In Kansas City

Reflecting on the emotional experience of the first interview—Healing from past pains and trauma—Reflecting on motherhood—Reconnecting with her father—Moving to California—Going to school to become a data processor—Working at Blue Cross Blue Shield and getting laid off—Moving into her own apartment—Her son coming out to California after two years—Becoming a bus driver and bus operator for 15 years—Deciding to retire early—Repressing her sexuality because of her religious upbringing—Her first relationship with a woman—Struggling to accept her sexuality—Her family moving to California—Her brother moving in with her and helping take care of her son—Becoming pregnant again—Having her daughter—Getting married to her daughter’s father—Buying a house—Her son getting involved with a gang—Realizing that she was a lesbian—Experiences severe emotional distress

Fear of her family’s reaction to her sexuality—Her husband threatening to take the kids away after she came out—Moving out of her house and into an apartment—Her mother turning her son against her when she came out—Coming out to her daughter—Distancing herself from her siblings after coming out—Having lesbian neighbors back in Missouri—Her first relationship with a woman—Co-parenting with her ex-husband and becoming friends—Having relationships with women—Her son getting involved with a gang—Breaking up with her girlfriend—Working through issues with her son—Her son going to prison—Learning that her mother had relationships with women

Healing though the oral history process—Living openly as a lesbian woman—Attending Unity Fellowship Church for the first time—Getting involved with the church and getting to know Carl Bean—Joining the church deacon board—Working at the Minority AIDS Project—Becoming a minister—Working on the Unity Fellowship Church convocation—Financial struggles with the Minority AIDS Project—Deciding to leave Unity Fellowship Church—Life after Unity Fellowship Church

Reflecting on her life as a caretaker—Life after leaving Unity Fellowship Church—Reflecting on her life’s purpose of caring for people—Reflecting on her growth and accepting her life’s choices—Thoughts on service—Becoming a motivational speaker and doing commercials—Falling in love with painting—Writing a book called, Go to Hell—Doing commercials—Moving to Seattle—Reading excerpts from her book, Go to Hell—Meditation—Doing a speaking engagement for Google—Celebrating being a lesbian—Seeing the evolution of the Black LGBTQ+ community—Reflecting on the interview process—Reflecting on how she would like to be remembered and her legacy