Minerva Zayas Oral History Interview

Minerva Zayas’ interview began with discussing her childhood. Minerva spent much of her young life with her single mother and siblings. She found herself working very hard and taking care of her siblings from a young age in order to help out her mom, who worked multiple jobs. Minerva spoke about the relationship that she was in throughout high school, which she soon realized was unsafe and abusive, similar to what she saw her mother face with her stepfather. Minerva reflected upon her Catholic upbringing and the effects that these beliefs and environment had on the way she self-identified. Minerva mentioned the most influential event in her young life that greatly impacted the LGBTQ+ community was most likely the legalization of same-sex marriage. As Minerva finished high school, she always knew she wanted to go to college and being the first generation in her family to do this means a lot to her. Minerva attended Eastern Washington University and majored in Psychology and Women and Gender Studies. When Minerva moved to Corvallis for an Oregon State graduate program, she found a community through the Women of Color Caucus. Yet, she found that even in her field of study, (Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies), women of color were not being adequately supported. Minerva dove into leadership in the queer Latinx community. When asked how she felt about the current social and political climate surrounding the LGBTQ+ community, Minerva expressed how difficult it has been. Minerva highlighted the importance of self-care amidst turmoil and how having a reliable support system can make a very big difference. In the future Minerva hopes to continue work in the Latinx community and possibly get her PhD and become a family counselor, something she thinks she might have benefitted from when she was younger.