Kiriyo (Rio) Spooner interviewed by Shai Kuper May 18, 2021 via the Zoom platform.

Narrator:
Kiriyo (Rio) Spooner was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1953. Spooner’s father worked for General Motors for 20 years, then joined The United States Agency for International Development, and the family moved to New Delhi, India when Spooner was 13. Spooner attended The American International School and studied with other Americans, Canadians, and Europeans living abroad, as well as Indian students wanting an American-style education. She moved back to the US six years later for college. She moved between various community colleges and colleges until graduating with a BA from the University of Michigan. She is a singer, an artist, an educator, and a leader.

Spooner is a white feminist, lesbian, and polyamorous lover. A queer sober leather D/S, BDSM educator, and activist. Currently in a poly authority-based relationship for more than a decade. She lives with her partner and her partner’s two kids. Spooner was raised Episcopalian, became a pagan, and converted to Judaism two years ago. Spooner built a career in feminist books, including selling and distribution, wholesale, publishing, writing, and editing. Spooner co-owned a feminist lesbian book store, Womonfyre Books in Northampton. Spooner started her book career activism in Ann Arbor as a volunteer in a feminist bookstore. After leaving Womonfyre, Spooner worked in the Yale Co-op Books advocating for health insurance coverage for queer partners and holding a position as a board member in The Women Center for Liberation. Her home in New Haven had become a space for feminist lesbian events and educational hub.

Abstract:

In this interview, Kiriyo reflects upon her experiences in the world as a lesbian and a feminist. Kiriyo discusses the importance of community building through education and the powerful tool of books as a liberating knowledge. She discusses how those things have been important in her life as well as the lives of others. Kiriyo reflects on the first lesbian feminist bookstore she co-founded and co-owned in Northampton and how the store had been a target both of homophobic attacks during the 1980s, and as a center of debate of the lesbian sex wars. She also discusses where her life has gone since then.

Interviewer:
Shai Kuper is a Class of 2021 Ada Comstock Scholar at Smith College pursuing a bachelor’s in psychology and the study of women and gender.

Please note: this interview mentions sexual assault, drug use and suicide.