Brenda McComb Oral History Interview, 2017

Partial Transcript: So, today is May 17, 2017, and this is an interview for the OSU Queer Archives, and will you please state your name and birthdate?

Segment Synopsis: McComb talks about her childhood, family, and early schooling. She also briefly talks about having Spina Bifida and learning about bigotry and violence during elementary school.

Keywords: bullying; childhood; disability; education; family; gender; identity; sexuality

Subjects: bullying; childhood; disability; education; family; gender; identity; sexuality

Partial Transcript: So, your family, did they talk about LGBT or any of that?

Segment Synopsis: McComb discusses her parents' prejudice towards LGBTQ+ people and its connection to her childhood.

Keywords: LGBTQ+; family; prejudice; religion

Subjects: family; prejudice; religion; sexual minorities

Partial Transcript: Did you ever hear about the term transgender when you were that age?

Segment Synopsis: McComb discusses her experiences with the term transgender during her childhood and adolescence.

Keywords: consciousness; gender identity; transgender

Subjects: consciousness; gender identity; transgender

Partial Transcript: So, then for college, where did you go?

Segment Synopsis: McComb briefly describes her college years, particularly focusing on her feelings of discomfort and anxiety during social interactions.

Keywords: college; discomfort; social interaction

Subjects: colleges and universities; discomfort; social interaction

Partial Transcript: So, when you graduated, what was your first job?

Segment Synopsis: McComb describes her jobs after graduating from college, learning about the possibility of transitioning, and moving around the country with her then wife.

Keywords: academia; education; identity; trans; work

Subjects: academia; education; identity; transgender; work

Partial Transcript: So, how many children do you have?

Segment Synopsis: McComb talks about her relationship with her family, particularly her children throughout her transition. She also talks about the transition process as well as her mental health in the years leading up to and following her coming out.

Keywords: children; coming out; depression; family; gender identity; identity; religion; suicide; therapy; transgender

Subjects: children; coming out; depression; family; gender identity; identity; religion; suicide; therapy; transgender

Partial Transcript: So, then you moved back here and you had already transitioned?

Segment Synopsis: McComb talks about her experiences with colleagues and the community in Oregon when she returned after transitioning. Many colleagues were supportive and she found campus and other resources, but she also encountered less receptive people.

Keywords: Corvallis, OR; colleagues; coming out; gender identity; mental health; resources; support groups

Partial Transcript: What do you think is the biggest struggle as a woman now?

Segment Synopsis: McComb talks about her struggles with being heard by groups of men now that she has come out as a woman.

Keywords: being heard; gender; gender identity; transgender

Partial Transcript: So, if you could do it all over again, would you have transitioned soon do you think?

Segment Synopsis: McComb talks about what she would do if she could go back in time and have the opportunity to transition earlier.

Keywords: gender; transgender; transition

Partial Transcript: So, to any other people who are struggling with gender identity, do you have any words of wisdom, would you say?

Segment Synopsis: McComb shares some final words of wisdom for people struggling with their gender identity today.

Keywords: community; gender identity; identity; support