Interviewee: Michael Petrelis Interview Number
A PROGRAM OF MIX – THE NEW YORK LESBIAN & GAY EXPERIMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL Interviewee: Michael Petrelis Interview Number: 020 Interviewer: Sarah Schulman Date of Interview: April 21, 2003 © 2004 The New York Lesbian & Gay Experimental Film Festival, Inc. ACT UP ORAL HISTORY PROJECT Interview of Michael Petrelis April 21, 2003 MICHAEL PETRELIS: My name is Michael Petrelis. We’re in San Francisco, California, at my apartment that I share with my partner, Mike Merrigan. And, today is April 21st, 2003. SARAH SCHULMAN: How old are you, dear? MP: I am 44, and quite proud of my wrinkles and gray hair that I have in a few spots. I’m really proud. I’m still here at my great age, at 44. SS: Where were you born, Michael? MP: Newark, New Jersey. SS: Did you grow up there? MP: For about four or five years, and then my parents moved us to the suburbs, to a little town called Caldwell – also, in New Jersey. Caldwell, New Jersey. SS: And you went to high school there? Grew up there? MP: Well, I actually went to an alternative high school in East Orange, New Jersey. And, I was out in high school. SS: You came out in high school, in the ’70s? MP: Yeah. I guess I came out in 1974, ’75, and I graduated in 1977, and I’m happy to say, I wasn’t the only out gay or lesbian that I went to high school with. And also, that a few – well they were girls at the time, they’re women now – from kindergarten in Caldwell, New Jersey, are also out, and were also out at that time and I’ve seen them at high school reunion things or at demonstrations.
[Show full text]