Tommie L. Watkins Jr. papers
-
No requestable containers
-
Ask a Question -
Scan Request
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION
Papers of Rev. Tommie Lee Watkins Jr., documenting his interaction with the U.S. Navy regarding their demand that he repay tuition. During the three-year administrative process, Watkins asserted that the Navy's insistence that he repay tuition when it had excused numerous cases involving white students was influenced by racism. His papers also document his views on communities of faith and the inclusion and affirmation of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, those questioning their sexuality, people living with AIDS, and their families. Includes correspondence, essays, clippings, and a videorecording of a service at Miami, Florida's Greater Bethel A.M.E. (African Methodist Episcopal Church) Church on April 15, 2001, where Watkins worked as program director for HIV/AIDS prevention education.
Dates
- 2000-2009.
Creator
- Watkins, Tommie L., Jr. (Person)
Language of Materials
Collection material in English
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Ordained a Baptist minister in 1991, Watkins served as youth minister at the First Missionary Baptist Church of Hueytown in Bessemer, Alabama. He attended the United States Naval Academy from 1994 to 1997, where he was elected class president and earned the rank of battalion commander. In 1997, he resigned after allegations of homosexual activity. He finished his degree at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, and has worked as a business analyst, math teacher, and health educator focusing on gay youth and communities of color. In 2000, the South Florida Conference of the AME Church denied his application for ordination as an A.M.E. itinerent deacon (the lowest level of itinerent minister). He founded the Ministry of Reconciliation, which is an inclusive and affirming education and worship experience primarily for Black Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning persons, Persons Living With AIDS (PLWAs), and their family members. In 2005, Watkins published a book about his life experiences titled "Living Out Loud."
Extent
.3 cubic feet. (.3 cubic feet.)
Abstract
Papers of Rev. Tommie Lee Watkins Jr., documenting his interaction with the U.S. Navy regarding their demand that he repay tuition. During the three-year administrative process, Watkins asserted that the Navy's insistence that he repay tuition when it had excused numerous cases involving white students was influenced by racism. His papers also document his views on communities of faith and the inclusion and affirmation of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, those questioning their sexuality, people living with AIDS, and their families. Includes correspondence, essays, clippings, and a videorecording of a service at Miami, Florida's Greater Bethel A.M.E. (African Methodist Episcopal Church) Church on April 15, 2001, where Watkins worked as program director for HIV/AIDS prevention education.
Physical Description
N/A
General
- Contact Information:
- Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections 2B Carl A. Kroch Library Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255-3530 Fax: (607) 255-9524 rareref@cornell.edu http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
- Compiled by:
- Rima Turner
- Date completed:
- Feb. 7, 2006
- EAD encoding:
- Peter Martinez, Feb. 2006 Rima Turner, Feb. 2006
- African Methodist Episcopal Church -- : Florida.
- African-American gays -- United States.
- Gay clergy -- United States.
- Gay military personnel -- United States -- Government policy.
- Homophobia -- United States.
- Homosexuality -- Religious aspects.
- Race discrimination -- United States.
- United States. Navy -- : Gays.
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Compiled by Rima Turner
- Date
- Feb. 2006
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections Repository
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca NY 14853
607-255-3530
607-255-9524 (Fax)
rareref@cornell.edu