Sager, Jill, 2018 August 29

Jill was born in the Bronx in 1957. She was raised Jewish and went to secular Yiddish schools. Born with the left leg shorter than the other, Jill had surgery at age nine to correct the discrepancy, but the surgery failed, leaving her with a permanent disability that affects her mobility. She was diagnosed with scoliosis at age twelve. Every summer her family vacationed in Upstate New York in a “bungalow colony.” Jill was sexually attracted to girls at a young age and had a relationship at a bungalow colony. In high school, Jill fell in love with a girlfriend who rejected her. Jill went to therapy and her male counselor suggested she sleep with men. Jill started a relationship with a man and moved to San Francisco. In San Francisco, she became a part of the lesbian community. Jill went to college, graduated from San Francisco State University in 1984, and got involved with the Disability Rights Movement. She played with the Meteorites basketball team. She discusses the assassination of Harvey Milk, the Briggs Initiative, and Sally Gearhart. Jill moved to Oregon and fell in love with Susie Grimes. Jill says that Eugene was “lesbian heaven.” She talks about farming just outside Eugene. Jill started the Pride Celebration in Eugene, and worked with many other women on the celebration. Jill talks about working against Ballot Measure 9. She discusses changes in the lesbian community over time. Later, Jill fell in love with a man and they got married. It disturbed her that she instantly had privileges married to a man that she otherwise would not have had. In her new relationship, she was initially uncomfortable with other straight couples.

Key terms: Abortion; AIDS (disease); Baleboostehs; Bars (Drinking establishments) -- California – San Francisco; Heterosexuality; Judaism; Lefton, Enid; OWL Farm; Parenting; People with disabilities – civil rights – United States; Phelps, Linda; Sheklow, Sally; Silvers, Vicki; WomanShare Collective.