Madison, Wisconsin: University Archives and Records Management Services
Summary
This is an oral history interview conducted by Chloe Foor with Rich Fluechtling, who was an incredibly influential figure in the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United Church of Christ. He talks about growing up in a small town in northern Illinois and coming to Madison for college. After college, he became greatly involved in the United Church of Christ, becoming a prominent leader in the Open and Affirming movement. He also recounts early activism in Madison, such as the MAGIC picnic and Galvanize, the Gay and Lesbian Visibility Alliance. He also talks about early political actions in Madison leading towards LGBTQ+ equality, spearheaded by Tammy Baldwin, Mark Pocan, and Dick Wagner. Rich currently resides in Palm Springs, California, and is still involved in the UCC.