Interviewer: Group Story Circle format
Interview Date: January 22, 2020
Location: Hattie Redmond Women and Gender Center, Oregon State University
Duration: 1:37:24
In this story circle, participants take turns sharing their stories regarding the topic of "coming in vs. coming out." After an ice-breaker and introductions, Juniper Alliston, the story circle co-facilitator, explains that the goal of the story circle is to talk about what "coming in" to identity means for the participants, rather than just a focus on stories about coming out to peers, friends, and family. Alliston (she/her/hers pronouns) starts by sharing her own story. She speaks first about coming out and then about the experience of coming in. She shares that she has come out several times throughout her life and also shares her experiences coming in to her identity. She reflects on examples of identity exploration from her earlier life.
The next person to share their story is Ray Wolf (he/him/his pronouns). He shares that his story is divided into two periods and it has a focus on mental health. He shares his experiences growing up in Spain, reflects on the trauma and loss he has endured during his adolescence, and describes his experiences finding community and support now living in the United States. Caden DeLoach (they/them/their pronouns) shares their story next. They begin by reflecting on Wolf's thoughts about building a masculinity which is different from dominant culture's masculinity; they talk about their experiences in the Navy; and they express their thoughts on their transition experience. The next person to share their story is Kate Schilke (she/her/hers pronouns). She begins her story by talking about coming out and shares how this impacted her personal and professional experiences. She reflects on where she found her support network and the challenges she endured, including her experiences with mental health, as she transitioned.
The next person to share has chosen to remain anonymous and will be referred to as "A" (they/them/their pronouns). They reflect on their coming out experience, their thoughts on their identity, and their relationship with their parents in relation to both of those subjects. A also discusses their experiences related to their medical transition and their social life on the OSU campus in relation to their identity. Quincy Meyers is the next person to share hir story (ze/hir/hirs pronouns). Ze begins by talking about hir childhood and shares being diagnosed with an intersex variation known as 'Turner's syndrome' at the age of 12 and navigating the healthcare system as a teenager. Ze then talks about hir experiences of coming to understand hir gender identity through gender euphoria and talks about hir family and hir relationships with them, especially her grandmother.
The story circle then opens up as Quincy continues to share hir story and others chime in with their reflections and thoughts. Some topics that are spoken about are 'passing', body dysphoria, and the societal erasure of non-binary identities and experiences. The group then spends some more time unpacking 'non-binary' identity. They discuss how gender and the gender binary are a social construct and a part of colonization. The group talks about Quincy's grandmother with Quincy reflecting on hir relationship with her. The group spends some time unpacking how death is often used by cis society as a metaphor for describing someone's transition and how problematic this metaphor can be. Wolf describes how cis people do not understand how tiring and exhausting it can be to experience transphobia. Alliston notes that the story circle was healing. She wraps up the event by thanking everyone and sharing information about future events.
This story circle was hosted by the Hattie Redmond Women and Gender Center and the Pride Center as part of their Transgender Story Circle program. The program is described as being a space for people who identify under the transgender umbrella to gather in a safe/brave space to share their stories and create connections. Furthermore, the goal of the program was to document trans voices and stories to be archived in the OSU Queer Archives, where they can be accessed by current and future students. Juniper Alliston, Ray Wolf, Caden DeLoach, Kate Schilke, Quincy Meyers, and a person who has chosen to remain anonymous were the participants of this story circle.
Dublin Core
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Description
The next person to share their story is Ray Wolf (he/him/his pronouns). He shares that his story is divided into two periods and it has a focus on mental health. He shares his experiences growing up in Spain, reflects on the trauma and loss he has endured during his adolescence, and describes his experiences finding community and support now living in the United States. Caden DeLoach (they/them/their pronouns) shares their story next. They begin by reflecting on Wolf's thoughts about building a masculinity which is different from dominant culture's masculinity; they talk about their experiences in the Navy; and they express their thoughts on their transition experience. The next person to share their story is Kate Schilke (she/her/hers pronouns). She begins her story by talking about coming out and shares how this impacted her personal and professional experiences. She reflects on where she found her support network and the challenges she endured, including her experiences with mental health, as she transitioned.
The next person to share has chosen to remain anonymous and will be referred to as "A" (they/them/their pronouns). They reflect on their coming out experience, their thoughts on their identity, and their relationship with their parents in relation to both of those subjects. A also discusses their experiences related to their medical transition and their social life on the OSU campus in relation to their identity. Quincy Meyers is the next person to share hir story (ze/hir/hirs pronouns). Ze begins by talking about hir childhood and shares being diagnosed with an intersex variation known as 'Turner's syndrome' at the age of 12 and navigating the healthcare system as a teenager. Ze then talks about hir experiences of coming to understand hir gender identity through gender euphoria and talks about hir family and hir relationships with them, especially her grandmother.
The story circle then opens up as Quincy continues to share hir story and others chime in with their reflections and thoughts. Some topics that are spoken about are 'passing', body dysphoria, and the societal erasure of non-binary identities and experiences. The group then spends some more time unpacking 'non-binary' identity. They discuss how gender and the gender binary are a social construct and a part of colonization. The group talks about Quincy's grandmother with Quincy reflecting on hir relationship with her. The group spends some time unpacking how death is often used by cis society as a metaphor for describing someone's transition and how problematic this metaphor can be. Wolf describes how cis people do not understand how tiring and exhausting it can be to experience transphobia. Alliston notes that the story circle was healing. She wraps up the event by thanking everyone and sharing information about future events.
This story circle was hosted by the Hattie Redmond Women and Gender Center and the Pride Center as part of their Transgender Story Circle program. The program is described as being a space for people who identify under the transgender umbrella to gather in a safe/brave space to share their stories and create connections. Furthermore, the goal of the program was to document trans voices and stories to be archived in the OSU Queer Archives, where they can be accessed by current and future students. Juniper Alliston, Ray Wolf, Caden DeLoach, Kate Schilke, Quincy Meyers, and a person who has chosen to remain anonymous were the participants of this story circle.