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L1990.05 The Bridget Wilson and Kim McAlister Papers
L1990.05
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Title: L1990.05 The Bridget Wilson and Kim McAlister Papers
Dates: 1983-1988
Collection Number: L1990.05
Creator/Collector:
Bridget Wilson
Kim McAlister
Extent: .5 linear feet
Repository:
Lambda Archives of San Diego
San Diego, California 92116
Abstract: Bridget Wilson is most known for her lifetime to commitment to activism and her service in the Judge Advocate Corps of the
California State Military. As a child in Nebraska, Wilson was girl selected for her High School’s then-boy’s rifle team, leading
to other schools in the area refusing to compete against them. Wilson served in the United States Army Reserves from 1977-1980,
with an honorable discharge and several commendations. Wilson trained and worked as a nurse until 1987; during her time as
a nurse, she was a staff member of the notable Dr. Brad Truax.
Language of Material: English
Open for research
L1990.05 The Bridget Wilson and Kim McAlister Papers. Lambda Archives of San Diego
Biography/Administrative History
Taken from The Center’s Wall of Honor
Bridget Wilson is most known for her lifetime to commitment to activism and her service in the Judge Advocate Corps of the
California State Military. As a child in Nebraska, Wilson was girl selected for her High School’s then-boy’s rifle team, leading
to other schools in the area refusing to compete against them. Wilson served in the United States Army Reserves from 1977-1980,
with an honorable discharge and several commendations. Wilson trained and worked as a nurse until 1987; during her time as
a nurse, she was a staff member of the notable Dr. Brad Truax.
Wilson then entered the legal field and graduated from University of San Diego School of Law. During her time as a student
at the university, Wilson was a founding member of the Gay and Lesbian Law Student Association. She then opened her own practice
and formed her law firm in 1997 where she focused on military, civil litigation, business, employment, and personal injury
law.
Wilson is a pioneer in LGBT communities nation-wide. She marched in the earliest gay pride parades at a time when some people
wore paper bags over their heads to prevent identification. She was an original volunteer for The Center in 1973 and served
on the planning committee for the Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade from 1974-1979. In the 1980’s Wilson was involved in the San
Diego Democratic Club, United San Diego Elections Committee, and the AIDS Foundation.
Bridget has used her legal expertise to aid the LGBT community across the nation, working with groups such as the National
Lesbian and Gay Law Association, the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, the ACLU, and the Tom Homann Law Association.
Wilson is best known for her work with LGBT veterans and servicemembers. She is a charter member of the San Diego Veterans
Association and American Veterans for Equal Rights and a co-coordinator for the Dixon Defense Group that defended seven Navy
women from a lesbian witch-hunt that received national publicity.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Bridget Wilson and Kim McAlister collection contains materials that involve the Democratic Party, Gay voters in 1984,
AB101, Proposition 6, and Jesse Jackson's Presidential Campaign. In addition, documents from the NOW Lesbian Rights Conference
1988, The San Diego Democratic Club, Gays in the Military, miscellaneous government legal papers, military law papers, public
services papers, papers in regard to the San Diego AIDS Project, and outreach involving local Latinx communities, specifically
those in Tijuana and Baja California. There are several documents that highlight the Tijuana and Baja California region, including
Tijuana Magazines, flyers for organizing events, notes, articles, and letters. This expansive collection additionally documents
Lambda Gay Pride in the 1980's, sexuality-based discrimination in the workplace, religious support of LGBT communities, gay
comics, a photo collection of the Gay Ballot Parade in 1980, Nicky and Sandie Awards Court, and various articles and correspondence
by Bridget Wilson.
San Diego Democratic Club
Lambda Pride
Lambda Archives
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Proposition 6
AB101
Tijuana LGBTQ
Jesse Jackson
San Diego