Digital Transgender Archive

Akasha Barker Oral History

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In this conversation with interviewer Sebastián Castro Niculescu, entertainer Akasha Barker (she/her/hers & they/them/theirs) discusses her journey with her gender identity during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Barker touches on her feelings of deep isolation in her early life and throughout her education as well as her painful struggles with and abuse from her family. Barker finds solace in her work as an HIV/AIDS activist and as a performer

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https://nyctransoralhistory.org/interview/akasha-barker/
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Item Information:

Identifier
nk322d37w
Collection
Oral Histories with People of Color
Institution
NYC Trans Oral History Project
Creator(s)
Barker, Akasha
Niculescu, Sebastián Castro
Publisher
New York Public Library
Date Created
Jul. 12, 2018
Dates Covered
1979 to 2018
Genre
Oral Histories
Places
Massachusetts > Suffolk County > City of Boston > Boston
New Jersey
New York
Thailand
Topic(s)
Adolescence
Androgyny
Arrests
Arts and entertainment occupations
Beauty schools
Body image
Change of name
Education
Family members
Gender dysphoria
Gender realignment surgery
HIV/AIDS
Isolation
LGBTI community
Mental health
Music
NGOs
Police brutality
Sexually abused LGBTQ+ children
Substance use in LGBTQ+ communities
Support groups
Transgender community
Transgender people
Resource Type
Audio
Analog Format
2 hours 51 minutes 53 seconds
Language
English
Rights
Copyright undetermined
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