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David Levasseur

David Levasseur, born in 1958, grew up in the French-Canadian neighborhood of Castle Hills in Salem. He attended Salem High School and worked as an Administrative Assistant at Salem State University, where she earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees. His tight-knit, Catholic, working-class family encouraged him to be an altar boy and even had him prescribed Valium because they suspected he was gay. He discusses being closeted and the enormous violence and fear surrounding young gay men. He started going to gay bars in Boston after graduating high school and would later attend Mr. Dominic’s, Joseph’s, and Fran’s Place in Lynn. He lived in San Francisco from 1978 to 1986, spending much of his time in the Castro District. He currently resides in Lynn and spends some time on the West Coast. David wants to see more outreach/support to LBGTQ+ elders. His November 2023 interview discusses French-Canadian identity, Catholicism, family life, changes in the LGBTQ+ community, the changing nature of Salem and Lynn, gay and lesbian bars, coming out, racial discrimination, and his recent wedding.

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David Levasseur

Duration

1:03:14

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I was indoctrinated into being an altar boy.

David Levasseur

You could literally be beaten or shot at just from walking down the street.

David Levasseur

My brother had some trouble with it.

David Levasseur

We were close because we felt the same way.

David Levasseur

In 1977 I met my first transgender person.

David Levasseur

Back then everything was very separatist.

David Levasseur

Everybody's finally coming together.

David Levasseur

There is now a class system within the whole being gay or sexuality.

David Levasseur

A senior dinner once a month.

David Levasseur

These were circumstances which were incredibly extreme.

David Levasseur

They had a bunch of pamphlets.

David Levasseur

I grew up thinking there's something wrong with me.

David Levasseur

Don't take privileges for granted.

David Levasseur

There was nobody back then to explain what you were going through.

David Levasseur

Today's society in Salem is like P-Town North.

David Levasseur

I decided that it was okay to be me.

David Levasseur

Fran's mostly was lesbians and drag queens.

David Levasseur

Richard took me kind of under his wing.

David Levasseur

They wouldn't serve me.

David Levasseur

Advertisements would generally feature younger people.

David Levasseur

I don't know who's gay or who's not.

David Levasseur

After the ceremony was over, everybody applauded us.

David Levasseur

I'd lost a lot of friends.

David Levasseur

And then AIDS just completely blew up.

David Levasseur

Very loud voices from very few people.

David Levasseur

Give back to the people who have given so much to you.

David Levasseur

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