UnFictional
The Ghosts of Fire Island
Throughout the 20th century, Fire Island was a gay mecca for fun and freedom. In the 80's, a mysterious illness transformed the community.
By Myke Dodge Weiskopf • • 28m ListenMike Fisher and Kevin Hertzog
Courtesy of Mike Fisher
For most of the 20th Century, New York's Fire Island was virtually the only place on Earth where gay men and lesbians felt safe to live and to love. But at the dawn of the 1980's, an entire culture changed irrevocably, as the populace began falling prey to a mysterious and lethal new illness. What happened over the next decade is a haunting story about emotional and physical transformation in the midst of a plague.
Courtesy of Mike Fisher
Produced, edited, and mixed by Myke Dodge Weiskopf. Supervising producer for UnFictional was Nick White.
Technical assistance from Lori Ann Brass, Ann Heppermann, Jasmin Lopez, and Dylan Peers McCoy.
Special thanks to Jim Fouratt, Gina Garan, Jon Kinnally, Ann Magnuson, Eric Marcus, Carl Meyer-Curtis, and Chris Young.
Dedicated to the ghosts of Fire Island.
Myke Dodge Weiskopf has a page featuring photos, videos, and more information about Fire Island and this project.
This episode originally aired on December 3, 2013.