Leah Houtman Oral History Interview, 2017

Partial Transcript: Alright, today's date is May 24th of 2017 and we are Kat, Lily, and Clarice with Leah Houtman in Corvallis, OR...

Segment Synopsis: Houtman describes her childhood growing up in the Midwest and provides general information about herself and her history.

Keywords: childhood; family; parents; religion

Partial Transcript: What was your whole school experience like through that whole time, I guess?

Segment Synopsis: Houtman describes what her life was like for the remainder of her K-12 education, focusing on the process of moving between schools, finding community, working through mental illness, and coming to terms with her sexuality.

Keywords: LGBTQ+; anxiety; coming out; education; lesbian; mental illness; poverty; sexuality

Partial Transcript: What was your relationship with your parents during this time?

Keywords: parents; sexuality

Subjects: Houtman talks about her relationships with her parents during her high school years and beyond, focusing on how her sexuality and coming out affected their interactions.

Partial Transcript: Did any of her partners during that time period ever have any particular influence over you or affect you in any way?

Segment Synopsis: Houtman talks about how her mother's partners impacted her during her childhood as well as her current relationships with one of the partners that had a big influence on her life.

Keywords: childhood; relationships; sexuality

Partial Transcript: SO, moving on to undergrad, where did you attend your undergraduate studies and why did you pick them?

Segment Synopsis: Houtman describes her first experiences with undergraduate studies, dropping out college, working for a while, and eventually coming to study with a professor at OSU

Keywords: college; education; work

Partial Transcript: Where did you attend graduate school and why did you pick that?

Segment Synopsis: Houtman describes her decision to attend graduate school at OSU in the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Anthropology departments.

Subjects: Anthropology; Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; graduate studies

Partial Transcript: So, what were some of your favorite classes or landmark events that happened to you while you were in school?

Segment Synopsis: Houtman briefly describes some of her favorite classes at OSU

Keywords: Medical anthropology; gender and science; women's studies

Partial Transcript: So, shifting gears toward more LGBTQ issues, how were these things discussed in your family, if at all?

Segment Synopsis: Houtman talks about her family's relationship to LGBTQ+ issues during her youth and the impact it had on her growing up.

Keywords: LGBTQ+; coming out; community; homophobia; parents; sexuality

Partial Transcript: When did you meet your partner and what does your partner do?

Segment Synopsis: Houtman describes her relationship with her current partner and wife, including when they met, the process of getting married, and having and raising children as a lesbian couple.

Keywords: LGBTQ+; birth; children; custody; marriage; maternity; personal life; relationships; second-parent adoption; sperm donor

Partial Transcript: So, do you feel like being in Oregon has been a positive experience with you and your family overall?

Segment Synopsis: Houtman describes her perceptions of Oregon compared to other places she has lived in or may one day move to.

Keywords: Corvallis, OR; LGBTQ; acceptance

Partial Transcript: What do you look forward to doing in the future with your Ph.D.?

Segment Synopsis: Houtman talks about her plans for the future for her career.

Keywords: anthropology; doctorate; future; maternity; midwifery; professorship