Biographical Sketch
Ms. Roselle Ledesma, born in San Diego, California, is a Mexican American, lesbian woman, LGBTQ+ advocate, and long-time Omaha musician. After graduating from Bellevue East High School in 1990, Ledesma studied Studio Art at the University of Nebraska at Omaha from 1990-1991, but left to pursue music and other endeavors. During the next 15 years, Ledesma did graphic design and editing work for various private photographers around Bellevue and Omaha. In 2014, Ledesma switched career paths and began bartending at the Down Under Lounge in Omaha.
Ledesma is a life-long drummer and musician, and has been a well-known performer and multi-instrumentalist within Omaha’s music community since the early 1990’s. Ledesma has played in numerous bands, such as Lavender Couch, Sons and Daughters, Cornel Bitch, Angry Beaver, Me Jane, The Clincher, Red #9, 3rd and Delaware, Awake & Breathing, Charlotte Sometimes, Damn It Daniel, Minutes to Miles, and was a fill-in drummer for Pleiades and the Bear. Ledesma played drums in the musical performance of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Nebraska AIDS Project’s Night of a Thousand Stars and for the play’s award-winning run at Omaha’s Blue Barn Theater in 2004. Lavender Couch, Ledesma’s all-lesbian rock band, opened up for Ani Difranco in a small house show sometime around 1994.
As of February 2019, Ledesma lives in Omaha with her cats, Bowie and Brody.
Interview Summary
Ms. Roselle Ledesma, Omaha musician and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on November 16, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. Ledesma was born in San Diego, California in the early 1970’s and grew up as the youngest of five kids in a Mexican American family. After moving to Bellevue with her family at a young age, Ledesma was introduced to the drums by her father, a musician himself, and quickly took to the instrument, teaching herself how to play by performing to the radio.
Ledesma was a natural tomboy from a young age and gravitated toward playing with boys. She had early crushes on girls, but was not aware of what it meant to be “gay” at such an early age. While living in Germany from age 10-13 (1982-1985) as a result of her step-father's military deployment, Ledesma had her first kiss with both a girl and boy, but realized she was more drawn to girls. By age 18, Ledesma was confident enough in her sexuality and decided to start coming out to those in her life. She received acceptance from friends and family at a time when being gay was still not widely accepted. Ledesma’s mother was one of the most supportive and protective forces in her life, and encouraged her to be herself.
After graduating from Bellevue East High School in 1990, Ledesma studied Studio Art at the University of Nebraska at Omaha from 1990-1991, but left to pursue music and other endeavors. Ledesma began to meet more LGBT people in her twenties at gay clubs and bars like The Run (also known as the Omaha Mining Company), The Max, Connections, The Chesterfield, James Dean, and Gilligans. During this time, individuals would sometimes wait outside of clubs to harass and attack LGBT people when they left. Ledesma and her friends remained vigilant and protective of each other.
Throughout the 1990’s, Ledesma became a well-known performer and multi-instrumentalist within Omaha’s music community. Ledesma has played in numerous bands, such as Lavender Couch, Sons and Daughters, Cornel Bitch, Angry Beaver, Me Jane, The Clincher, Red #9, 3rd and Delaware, Awake & Breathing, Charlotte Sometimes, Damn It Daniel, Minutes to Miles, and was a fill-in drummer for Pleiades and the Bear. Ledesma played drums in the musical performance of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Nebraska AIDS Project’s Night of a Thousand Stars and for the play’s award-winning run at Omaha’s Blue Barn Theater in 2004. Lavender Couch, Ledesma’s all-lesbian rock band, opened up for Ani Difranco in a small house show sometime around 1994.
When not performing with her bands and music projects, Ledesma provided graphic design and editing work for various private photographers around Bellevue and Omaha. In 2014, Ledesma switched career paths and began bartending at the Down Under Lounge in Omaha. As of February 2019, Ledesma lives in Omaha with her cats, Bowie and Brody.
In this interview, Ledesma also discusses previous abusive relationships, sexism in the music community, and her Mexican background.
Biographical Sketch
Ms. Ann Cannon, born in Omaha, Nebraska, is a white, lesbian woman, LGBTQ+ advocate, and long-time corporate executive and business leader. Cannon attended Marian High School from 1973-1977, where she played in Nebraska’s first girls state basketball tournament in 1977. After graduating, Cannon attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney (then known as Kearney State College) on a full-ride athletic scholarship, graduating in 1981 with a BS in Business Administration.
In 1982, Cannon began her 30+ year career in corporate leadership roles, and has worked for National Cash Register Corporation (1982-1986), Commercial Federal Savings and Loan (1986-1989), First Data Resources (1989-1996), Renaissance Worldwide (1996-2003), Prairie Voice Services (2003-2008), Cable Services Group Systems (2008-2011), and Lincoln Financial Group (2013-2016), holding positions such as Senior Project Manager, Director, Vice President and Senior Vice President. From 2005-2008, Cannon was Board Director of the Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross, and since 2011, has served as Board Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands.
In 2016, Cannon retired to spend time with her wife and partner of more than 20 years, Gay Rich (1963-2018), a long-time Senior Vice President at First Data Corporation. Rich passed away in July 2018 after a long battle with cancer.
Interview Summary
Ms. Ann Cannon, Omaha business leader and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 4, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. Cannon was born in Omaha, Nebraska in the late 1950’s and grew up as one of seven kids in a large Catholic family. With a father who coached basketball at her elementary school, St Pius X, Cannon was a natural athlete and excelled at sports.
Cannon began to know she was somehow “different” in her later grade school years, but did not understand what it meant to be gay. By the time she entered 9th grade at Marian High School, Cannon had realized the full extent of her feelings for girls, and came out to her parents in 1976. Both were accepting and supportive of her being gay, but were concerned about her navigating life as a gay teenager in the 1970’s. Cannon was set up for counseling with Sister Barb Markey at Marian High School, who encouraged Cannon to be true to herself, and told her that she was created in the image of God. These overwhelmingly positive reactions from the adults in Cannon’s life were fundamental to her self-acceptance and success.
Cannon was on Marian's varsity basketball team throughout high school, and played in Nebraska’s first girls state basketball tournament in 1977. After graduating, Cannon attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney (then known as Kearney State College) on a full-ride athletic scholarship, graduating in 1981 with a BS in Business Administration.
In 1982, Cannon began her 30+ year career in corporate leadership roles, and has worked for National Cash Register Corporation (1982-1986), Commercial Federal Savings and Loan (1986-1989), First Data Resources (1989-1996), Renaissance Worldwide (1996-2003), Prairie Voice Services (2003-2008), Cable Services Group Systems (2008-2011), and Lincoln Financial Group (2013-2016), holding positions such as Senior Project Manager, Director, Vice President and Senior Vice President.
During her time in the corporate world, Cannon did not feel accepted or treated equally as a gay woman. As recently as 2013, Cannon was uninvited to an event at her company because senior officials did not like that her partner was a woman. She frequently had to use gender neutral pronouns to avoid others knowing about her sexuality, and she felt lonely as a gay woman in corporate America. Despite this, Cannon persevered and used her natural leadership and teamwork skills to continually move up in her career.
While working for First Data Corporation in 1993, Cannon met her wife and partner of more than 23 years, Gay Rich (1963-2018), who worked as a long-time Senior Vice President at First Data Corporation throughout the 2000’s. Cannon’s family adored Rich, as she was a great cook, loved sports, attending Creighton Bluejays basketball games, and was an all-around wonderful person.
In 2015, Rich was diagnosed with cancer and began treatment. Because the couple were not married, Cannon was told she may not be able to see Rich after certain treatments and operations. Cannon was horrified, and the couple married shortly after in order to legally protect their relationship. After a long battle with Cannon by her side, Rich passed away in July 2018.
In this interview, Cannon also discusses her Catholic faith, LGBTQ+ media and representation when she was younger, and her plans for the future.
Biographical Sketch
Mr. Rob Gilmer, born in Huntington, New York, is a white, gay man, photographer and former co-owner of Dixie Quicks restaurant (1996-2018), a popular brunch spot and a favorite of Omaha/Council Bluffs’ LGBTQIA+ community. Gilmer grew up on a farm in Huntington, New York, and later attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City (1982-1986) where he graduated with a BFA in Photography. Throughout the 1980’s, Gilmer worked various jobs, such as bussing tables and checking coats at New York City gay clubs Les Mouches and The Saint, gardening, and DJing.
After moving to Omaha in 1986 with his partner René Orduña (1953-2016), Gilmer began his 30-year career working at ENCOR to provide support for those with developmental disabilities. Additionally, Gilmer and Orduña opened their restaurant Dixie Quicks at 15th and Dodge in 1996, which featured “a blend of Southern Cooking with Cajun, Tex-Mex and Southwest elements,” and was the first restaurant in Omaha to offer brunch. In 2001, the restaurant moved to 19th and Leavenworth and opened the adjacent RNG Gallery, where it operated for the next 10 years until moving to its last location in Council Bluffs, Iowa. A highly popular brunch spot, Dixie Quicks was an attraction for politicians and celebrities visiting the area, a safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community, won 2016’s Restauranteurs of the Year from the Iowa Restaurant Association, and was featured on the fourth season of Food Network’s show Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives in 2008.
Orduña was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer and died in November 2016. In early 2018, Dixie Quicks and RNG Gallery closed after 22 years in operation. As of March 2019, Gilmer lives in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Interview Summary
Mr. Rob Gilmer, photographer and restaurant owner, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 5, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. Gilmer was born in Huntington, New York in the early 1960’s and grew up as the youngest of four children on a three-and-a-half acre farm. There, Gilmer explored with his friends and had a very unique, liberal upbringing with free-thinking parents.
Gilmer knew he was gay around age four or five, knew that this was “different” and “frowned upon,” but never believed it was wrong himself. When he did eventually come out to his parents, his sexuality was a non-issue. Gilmer moved to New York City to attend the School of Visual Arts in 1982, where he graduated with a BFA in Photography in 1986. During this time, he met his long-term partner René Orduña while working as a disco bus boy at New York City gay club Les Mouches. Their first date was 6 days long, and they moved in together soon after in 1983.
When the AIDS epidemic began in the 1980’s, Gilmer heard it referred to as “gay cancer” and initially believed it was due to the use of the drug called Poppers. Gilmer and Orduña lived in the Upper West Village and experienced the gay men around them dying “left and right.” In addition to this, the AIDS epidemic put a spotlight on the already-stigmatized gay community in New York City, and Gilmer witnessed a lot of gay bashing and discrimination. He saw sick gay men being sent on Greyhound buses back to their homophobic hometowns and families, not knowing if they would survive the ride.
In 1986 while on a trip to Omaha to attend Orduña’s brother’s wedding, the couple decided to stay in Nebraska. Gilmer worked various jobs like gardening and DJing and later began his 30-year career at ENCOR supporting those with developmental disabilities. In 1996, Orduña left his job waiting tables when his favorite restaurant, Heaven Sent, closed in North Omaha. Depressed and missing his love of soul food, Gilmer suggested Orduña start his own restaurant. That year the couple opened Dixie Quicks restaurant on 15th and Dodge, which featured “a blend of Southern Cooking with Cajun, Tex-Mex and Southwest elements,” and was the first restaurant in Omaha to offer brunch. In 2001, the restaurant moved to 19th and Leavenworth and opened the adjacent RNG Gallery, where it operated for the next 10 years until moving to its last location in Council Bluffs, Iowa. A highly popular brunch spot, Dixie Quicks was an attraction for politicians and celebrities visiting the area, a safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community, won 2016’s Restauranteurs of the Year from the Iowa Restaurant Association, and was featured on the fourth season of Food Network’s show Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives in 2008.
Orduña was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer in September 2016, and Gilmer cared and advocated for him throughout his battle with the disease. Orduña died in November 2016, and in early 2018, Gilmer closed Dixie Quicks and RNG Gallery after 22 years of operation. As of March 2019, Gilmer lives in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
In this interview, Gilmer also discusses being raped while hitchhiking at age 17, his time at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and marrying Orduña in 2011.
Interview Notes
Trigger warning for death, rape and suicide.
An unexpected event next door can be faintly heard during part of the interview.
Biographical Sketch
Mr. Chuck Martens, born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, is a white, gay man, LGBTQ+ advocate, and one of the founding members of Nebraska AIDS Project (NAP) and River City Mixed Chorus. Martens grew up on a farm in Shelby, Iowa, and later attended the University of Northern Iowa (1967-1969) to study Business Education before leaving to pursue other opportunities. Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, Martens held various professional roles in Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Kansas, including working as a respiratory therapist, overseeing insurance claims and managing several restaurants. After eventually settling in Omaha, Martens is now retired while continuing to work part-time as caretaker for the Lancaster Apartments and acting in local movies and television commercials.
In the early 1970’s, Martens was active in the newly formed Metropolitan Community Church of Omaha, where he served as a deacon for several years. Later that decade, Martens served on the board of directors for one of the earliest gay rights organizations in Omaha, GAIN (Gay Awareness Iowa Nebraska). In 1984, he became one of the founding members of Nebraska AIDS Project (NAP) and River City Mixed Chorus (RCMC). After the formation of CFEP (Citizens for Equal Protection) in 1990, Martens served on the board of directors and helped organize National Coming Out Day in Elmwood Park in 1992. In 2016, Martens created Forgotten Omaha, a Facebook group of more than 73,000 users, where he works to “educate and inform members about the history” of Omaha.
As of March 2019, Martens lives in Omaha.
Interview Summary
Mr. Chuck Martens, longtime Omaha LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on January 16, 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska. Martens was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa in the late 1940’s and grew up as the oldest of three children on a farm in Shelby, Iowa. Martens’ childhood was a difficult time, as he felt isolated and had a violent father, but occupied his time with reading, carpentry, raising purebred sheep, and chores on the farm.
Martens was aware as early as kindergarten that he was “different” from his peers, but did not understand what it meant to be gay. In high school Martens tried to date girls, but noticed that all the girls he went out with were more masculine looking. During his senior year of high school Martens had his first sexual experiences with other boys.
In 1967, Martens graduated from Shelby-Tennant Community School and left to study Business Education at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls, Iowa. During this time Martens sought out counseling at UNI to “cure” himself of his homosexuality, but the counselor instead helped him with self-acceptance.
While at UNI, Martens struggled with studying and the transition to larger class sizes, and left in 1969. After his departure, Martens lost his draft deferment and decided to enlist in the Navy. In November 1969, Martens received the call to start basic training and was given only 24 hours to pack and say goodbye to loved ones. Knowing he could not fight in any war, let alone one like the Vietnam War that he believed was unjust, Martens began panicking as he contemplated fleeing to Canada or attempting suicide. Instead, he came out as gay to the recruiter and was threatened with prison and a $5,000 fine, but was ultimately given an honorable discharge.
Shortly after these events, Martens had his first experience at a gay bar, the Lounge on 5th Street, which was in the basement of a hotel in downtown Waterloo, Iowa. Later, after a brief stint in Minneapolis, Martens moved home to his parents and came out to them as gay. They were mostly supportive, but still felt shame about his sexuality, and initially believed they had somehow caused him to be gay.
Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, Martens held various professional roles in Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Kansas, including working as a respiratory therapist, overseeing insurance claims and managing several restaurants. Martens also had three serious relationships during this time with Jim (1971-1972), Tom (1973-1980), and Larry (1980-1984), two of whom died from complications related to AIDS in 1992.
In the early 1970’s, Martens became active in the newly formed Metropolitan Community Church of Omaha, where he served as a deacon for several years. Later that decade, Martens served on the board of directors for one of the earliest gay rights organizations in Omaha, GAIN (Gay Awareness Iowa Nebraska). In 1984, he became one of the founding members of Nebraska AIDS Project (NAP) and River City Mixed Chorus (RCMC). After the formation of CFEP (Citizens for Equal Protection) in 1990, Martens served on the board of directors and helped organize the National Coming Out Day event in Elmwood Park in 1992. In 2016, Martens created Forgotten Omaha, a Facebook group of more than 73,000 users, where he works to “educate and inform members about the history” of Omaha.
As of March 2019, Martens lives in Omaha and is retired, but continues to work part-time as caretaker for the Lancaster Apartments and acting in local movies and television commercials.
In this interview, Martens also discusses the AIDS epidemic, facing discrimination for his sexuality, and Omaha’s former bathhouses, gay bars, tearooms and cruising spots.
Interview Notes
Trigger warning for death, suicide and anti-gay violence. Interview also includes frank discussions of sex.
Biographical Sketch
Mr. John Smid, born in Denver, Colorado, is a white, gay man, and former Executive Director of Love In Action (1990-2008), one of the largest and oldest ex-gay ministries in the world and part of ex-gay umbrella organization Exodus International. Smid grew up in Omaha in the 1950’s and 1960’s, attending Paddock Road Elementary, Arbor Heights Junior High, and Westside High School (1968-1972). After high school, Smid married and had two children with his high school girlfriend, and worked as a clerk at Union Pacific Railroad (1973-1986). Smid and his wife divorced in 1979, and he lived as an out gay man in Omaha throughout the early 1980’s.
By the late 1980’s, Smid had suffered a string of failed relationships with men and felt drawn to the teachings of Evangelical Christianity, which was introduced to him by a coworker. In 1987, Smid heard a radio advertisement by Focus on the Family promoting Exodus International’s ex-gay ministry programs, and reached out to the organization. He received a job offer from Love In Action and that year, packed up his things, quit his job, and moved his life to San Rafael, California, where he worked as a House Manager for the residential program. In 1990, Smid was promoted to Executive Director of Love In Action, a position he held until 2008. During this time, Smid developed a wealth of new material for the ministry, applying the same language and structure used by chemical dependency programs to their gay conversion therapy. In 2004, Smid created and implemented the Refuge program, which focused on gay conversion therapy for teenagers. The program was discontinued in 2007.
With growing legal issues, public backlash, and internal battles within Love In Action, Smid resigned in 2008. This began his journey of finding freedom from the ex-gay movement, starting LGBT-affirming Grace Rivers Ministry, and speaking publicly about the harm of conversion therapy. In 2017, Smid donated the materials from his time at Love In Action to the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., who passed them on to the National Museum of American History. Smid acted as a consultant on the 2018 movie Boy Erased, based on the memoir by conversion therapy survivor Garrard Conley. In the movie, fictional character Viktor Sykes, played by actor and director Joel Edgerton, is based on Smid.
As of March 2019, Smid lives in Paris, Texas, with his husband Larry.
Interview Summary
Mr. John Smid, former Executive Director of ex-gay ministry Love In Action, was interviewed by phone on January 28, 2019, by Luke Wegener. Smid was located in Brookston, Texas, and Wegener in Omaha, Nebraska. Smid was born in Denver, Colorado, in the early 1950’s and by age three had moved to Omaha with his family. Smid’s childhood was difficult and traumatic, as his mother was abusive. In 1965, his parents divorced and Smid was left with his “sociopathic” mother, who eventually remarried a violent, alcoholic man. Despite a tumultuous home life, Smid enjoyed playing with his friends in the Westridge neighborhood, attending Paddock Road Elementary, and spending time with his birth father.
At age 16 in 1970, Smid moved in with his father in the Benson area, while attending Westside High School (1968-1972) and working for a transport refrigeration company. During his adolescence, Smid had various crushes on male peers and coworkers, but continued to date girls, whose friendship he enjoyed. After a particularly painful experience of unrequited love from a male coworker, Smid decided to marry his high school girlfriend in 1973. That same year, Smid began his job as a clerk at Union Pacific Railroad, where he worked until 1986.
In 1979, after six years of marriage and the birth of two children, Smid realized he could no longer deny his sexuality and divorced his wife. Over the next several years, Smid lived in a predominantly gay neighborhood off 38th and Harney and dated men. By the late 1980’s, Smid had suffered a painful string of failed relationships with men and felt drawn to the teachings of Evangelical Christianity, which was introduced to him by a coworker. In 1987, Smid heard a radio advertisement by Focus on the Family promoting Exodus International’s ex-gay ministry programs, and reached out to the organization. He received a job offer from Love In Action and that year, packed up his things, quit his job, and moved his life to San Rafael, California, where he worked as a House Manager for the residential program.
In 1988, Smid married his second wife, which “raised up” his status in the ex-gay organization, as heterosexual marriage was seen as a sign of success. However, Smid felt devastated during the honeymoon when he struggled to have sex with his new wife. He felt the marriage was “emotional torture,” but was determined to somehow make it work.
In 1990, Smid was promoted to Executive Director of Love In Action, a position he held until 2008. During these 18 years, Smid committed himself to the restrictive rules of the Love In Action program, which included renouncing and avoiding any “False Images,” a term used to describe anything considered a temptation of the “homosexual lifestyle.” Smid could not listen to any non-Christian music, attend theatre productions, watch most movies, wear any clothing considered gay, feminine or revealing, and did not allow himself to have close friendships with men. During this time, Smid also developed a wealth of new material for the ministry, applying the same language and structure used by chemical dependency programs to their gay conversion therapy. In 2004, Smid created and implemented the Refuge program, which focused on gay conversion therapy for teenagers. The program was discontinued in 2007.
With growing legal issues, public backlash, and internal battles within Love In Action, Smid resigned in 2008. This began his journey of finding freedom from the ex-gay movement, starting LGBT-affirming Grace Rivers Ministry, and speaking publicly about the harm of conversion therapy. In 2017, Smid donated the materials from his time at Love In Action to the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., who passed them on to the National Museum of American History. Smid acted as a consultant on the 2018 movie Boy Erased, based on the memoir by conversion therapy survivor Garrard Conley. In the movie, fictional character Viktor Sykes, played by actor and director Joel Edgerton, is based on Smid.
As of March 2019, Smid lives in Paris, Texas, with his husband Larry.
In this interview, Smid also discusses the process of making amends after leaving Love in Action, and his relationship with husband Larry.
Interview Notes
Trigger warning for domestic violence, abuse, homophobia, suicide, and gay conversion therapy.
This interview may be particularly difficult for some listeners, as it includes frank discussions of the ex-gay organization Love in Action’s gay conversion therapy programs, tactics, and beliefs.
Biographical Sketch
Mx. Emily Borgmann, born in Norfolk, Nebraska, is a white, queer, non-binary poet, educator, advocate, instructor in Creative Writing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (2017-), writing consultant (2015-) and adjunct instructor (2019-) at Metropolitan Community College.
Borgmann grew up in the small Nebraska village of Hoskins, later moving at age eight to Norfolk, Nebraska. After graduating from Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran High School (Waco, Nebraska) in 1999, Borgmann briefly attended the University of South Dakota at Vermillion, Coe College (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), and Northeast Community College (Norfolk, Nebraska) before settling in Omaha in 2001 to attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). Borgmann graduated with their BFA in Poetry and Fiction from UNO’s Writer’s Workshop in 2014, and their MFA in Creative Writing (Poetry) in 2016.
From 2013-2018, Borgmann created and ran a community-based writing program at Omaha nonprofit Youth Emergency Services (YES), where they taught poetry and emotional expression to homeless and at-risk youth. Borgmann was also the organizer, curator, and host for the Introducing Reading Series (2015-2016), a collaboration that paired established writers from UNO’s MFA in Writing program with student-writers in the YES Community Writing Program. In 2016, Borgmann worked as a teaching artist at the Nebraska Writers Collective, where they facilitated creative writing workshops at correctional facilities, schools, and community mental health organizations.
Borgmann’s work has been published in numerous literary journals and anthologies, such as Copper Nickel, The Laurel Review, Green Mountains Review, Salamander, Alligator Juniper, and Skidrow Penthouse. They are the recipient of the Champion of Youth Advocacy Award from Youth Emergency Services, the 2014 Helen W. Kenefick Prize in Poetry from the Academy of American Poets, and in 2018 received a National Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship in Literature.
As of April 2019, Borgmann resides in Omaha with their partner.
Interview Summary
Mx. Emily Borgmann, poet and educator, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on March 28, 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska. Borgmann grew up in the small Nebraska village of Hoskins, later moving at age eight to Norfolk, Nebraska. As a child, Borgmann grew up with an unstable home life, surrounded by alcoholism and experiencing sexual abuse at a young age, but learned to survive by voraciously reading and writing.
Borgmann had no knowledge or awareness of their queer identity in childhood and adolescence, as being anything other than heterosexual was not an option or “real way of being.” They were raised and educated in the Evangelical Lutheran Church, where they received homophobic messages at school from teachers, and were told that if they ever had a friend who was homosexual and could not “be converted,” they had to cut them out of their life. Borgmann attended Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran High School (Waco, Nebraska) from 1995-1999, where students could be expelled for the mere suspicion that they were gay. During their teenage years, Borgmann was struggling with heavy drinking, an eating disorder, hallucinations, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other issues stemming from childhood trauma. Borgmann tried to get sober several times during their teenage years, and by age 20, had successfully quit drinking.
After graduating from high school Borgmann briefly attended the University of South Dakota at Vermillion, where they experienced psychosis, were hospitalized, and had to move back home with their parents. They later attended Coe College (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Northeast Community College in 2000, where they met poet Neil Harrison, who encouraged them to pursue writing. Borgmann moved to Omaha in 2001 to attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), where they took one class at a time while managing bouts of psychosis and mental health issues. In 2014, they earned their BFA in Poetry and Fiction from UNO’s Writer’s Workshop, and in 2016, their MFA in Creative Writing (Poetry).
Borgmann had their first relationship with a woman in the early 2000’s, but did not come into their queer identity until their second relationship, where they began to learn more about diverse sexualities and gender identities. They came out to their mother at one point in their first relationship, but she told them that “women can’t have sex with each other.” They did not discuss their sexuality again. In 2019, Borgmann came out to their friends and community as non-binary.
Borgmann works as an instructor in Creative Writing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (2017-), as well as writing consultant (2015-) and adjunct instructor (2019-) at Metropolitan Community College. From 2013-2018, Borgmann created and ran a community-based writing program at Omaha nonprofit Youth Emergency Services (YES), where they taught poetry and emotional expression to homeless and at-risk youth. Borgmann was also the organizer, curator, and host for the Introducing Reading Series (2015-2016), a collaboration that paired established writers from UNO’s MFA in Writing program with student-writers in the YES Community Writing Program. In 2016, Borgmann worked as a teaching artist at the Nebraska Writers Collective, where they facilitated creative writing workshops at correctional facilities, schools, and community mental health organizations. Borgmann is currently working on a memoir about their emotional relationship with their mother and “learning to love via confusion.”
Borgmann’s work has been published in numerous literary journals and anthologies, such as Copper Nickel, The Laurel Review, Green Mountains Review, Salamander, Alligator Juniper, and Skidrow Penthouse. They are the recipient of the Champion of Youth Advocacy Award from Youth Emergency Services, the 2014 Helen W. Kenefick Prize in Poetry from the Academy of American Poets, and in 2018 received a National Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship in Literature.
As of September 2019, Borgmann resides in Omaha with their partner.
In this interview, Borgmann also discusses their mother’s death, the role of trauma in self-actualization, the importance of education, and their thoughts about being a life-long Nebraskan.
Interview Notes
Trigger warning for sexual abuse, self-harm, eating disorders, and death.
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Ron Holt, born in Omaha, Nebraska, is a white, gay man, psychiatrist, national speaker, educator and LGBTQ+ activist. Holt grew up in Omaha’s Millard area and graduated from Millard South High School in 1984. After a brief one-year stint at Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska, Holt transferred to Wayne State College in 1985, graduating with a BS in Biology and Chemistry in 1989. Holt attended medical school at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences from 1989-1993, then completed his Residency Program in Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine and California Pacific Medical Center in 1997.
After completing his education, Holt worked for Kaiser South San Francisco Medical Center as an attending psychiatrist from 1997-2017. During this time, Holt traveled back to Wayne State College each year to provide educational lectures and workshops on LGBTQ+ issues for students. In 2017, Holt left his position at Kaiser South San Francisco Medical Center to pursue his dream of doing LGBTQ+ advocacy work full-time. The same year, Holt co-authored the book Pride: You Can’t Heal If You’re Hiding From Yourself with his husband, Dr. William Huggett. The two have also published numerous LGBTQ-affirming adult coloring books, and in 2018, raised $16,000 to send 6,000 coloring books to 175 non-profit organizations throughout the United States and Canada.
Holt is a member of the Association of LGBTQ Psychiatrists (AGLP), American Psychiatric Association (APA), Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA), and several other professional organizations. In the last 20 years, Holt has won numerous awards, such as the David Lawrence Community Service Award (2009), R.J. Erickson Diversity Achievement Award (2010), and the Wayne State College Presidential Award for Diversity (2017).
As of May 2019, Holt lives in San Francisco with his husband, William Huggett.
Interview Summary
Dr. Ron Holt, psychiatrist and LGBTQ+ educator, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on April 24, 2019 in Wayne, Nebraska. Holt was born in Omaha, Nebraska in the mid 1960’s and grew up in the Millard area (Roxbury neighborhood). By the time he reached 5th grade at Walt Disney Elementary School, Holt knew he was gay, though he lacked a word for his feelings. He experienced bullying and harassment from other boys, and felt isolated. At home, things weren’t much better, as Holt faced relentless verbal and emotional abuse from his homophobic father. While attending Millard Central Junior High, Holt’s 5-year-old sister died from Leukemia, which devastated the family.
Holt graduated from Millard South High School in 1984, then attended Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska for one year before transferring to Wayne State College (WSC) in order to get further away from his father. As a popular, active student at WSC, Holt was a member of the track and field team and was a dorm resident assistant. In 1986, Holt met his long-term partner, William Huggett, through their mutual girlfriends. Huggett was three years ahead of Holt in school, and when Huggett moved to Omaha to attend medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), they maintained a long-distance relationship. However, Holt and Huggett were forced to remain closeted, as Holt knew he had to hide the relationship from his homophobic, abusive father. Huggett and Holt even hid their friendship, only hanging out in surrounding Nebraska towns where no one knew them or could spread rumors about the nature of their relationship.
After graduating in 1989 from Wayne State College with his BS in Biology and Chemistry, Holt attended medical school at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (KCU) from 1989-1993. During his first year there, Holt unexpectedly came out to his father during a heated confrontation. Afterward, Holt’s father began calling and harassing him all hours of the day, seven days a week, with homophobic slurs, verbal abuse and threats to get him expelled from medical school. Holt’s father then threatened to kill him and his partner, William. Holt immediately called William, who lived in Omaha at the time, and told him that he had to quickly get out of town. William left his class at UNMC, packed a bag and traveled to Kansas City to be with Holt, where they stayed in a hotel room for safety. Holt eventually threatened to file a restraining order against his father, which finally stopped the phone harassment.
Holt was stressed and frightened after his experience with his father, but still managed to move forward in his educational pursuits. He graduated from medical school at KCU in 1993, then completed his Residency Program starting at Baylor College of Medicine and finishing at California Pacific Medical Center in 1997. After completing his education, Holt worked for Kaiser South San Francisco Medical Center as an attending psychiatrist from 1997-2017. During this time, Holt traveled back to Wayne State College each year to provide educational lectures and workshops on LGBTQ+ issues for students.
In 2017, Holt left his position at Kaiser South San Francisco Medical Center to pursue his dream of doing LGBTQ+ advocacy work full-time. The same year, Holt co-authored the book Pride: You Can’t Heal If You’re Hiding From Yourself with his husband, Dr. William Huggett. The two have also published numerous LGBTQ-affirming adult coloring books, and in 2018, raised $16,000 to send 6,000 coloring books to 175 non-profit organizations throughout the United States and Canada.
Holt is a member of the Association of LGBTQ Psychiatrists (AGLP), American Psychiatric Association (APA), Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA), and several other professional organizations. In the last 20 years, Holt has won numerous awards, such as the David Lawrence Community Service Award (2009), R.J. Erickson Diversity Achievement Award (2010), and the Wayne State College Presidential Award for Diversity (2017).
As of May 2019, Holt lives in San Francisco with his husband, William Huggett.
In this interview, Holt also discusses his relationship with his Grandmother Maxine, the journey of healing from his father’s abuse, and why he feels passionate about LGBTQ+ activism.
Interview Notes
Trigger warning for abuse.
Biographical Sketch
Mr. Aaron Aupperle, born in Lincoln, Nebraska, is a white, gay man, LGBTQ+ advocate, and conversion therapy survivor. Aupperle grew up in Lincoln in the 1970’s and 1980’s, attending Hawthorne Elementary, Lefler Middle School, and Lincoln High School (1989-1993). After graduating high school, Aupperle took classes at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln from 1993-1994, Southeast Community College from 2005-2010, and graduated with his BA in Liberal Arts from Doane College in 2015.
As a child, Aupperle was raised Christ Lutheran Missouri Synod, a conservative religion that considers homosexuality a sin. After coming out to his parents in the early 1990’s and his father’s subsequent death, Aupperle began seeing a Christian counselor at the request of his mother. Additionally, Aupperle found a support group for those struggling with their sexuality, and its leader recommended Love in Action, one of the largest and oldest ex-gay ministries in the world and part of ex-gay umbrella organization Exodus International.
In both 1995 and 1998, Aupperle traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to attend residential gay conversion programs run by Love in Action. During his second stay, a “mock funeral” was staged for Aupperle after he violated camp rules by having a sexual relationship with a coworker. This traumatic experience was portrayed in the 2018 film Boy Erased, based on the memoir by conversion therapy survivor Garrard Conley. In the movie, fictional character “Cameron,” who is loosely based on Aupperle, endures the mock funeral scene, which is an exaggerated version of Aupperle’s real life experience at Love in Action.
Since 2000, Aupperle has worked for Lincoln’s Bryan East Hospital, both as a Radiology Film Librarian (2000-2013) and Distribution Specialist (2013-present). In recent years, Aupperle has used his experience at Love in Action to speak about the harm of conversion therapy and advocate for LGBTQ+ affirming causes. Aupperle introduced Boy Erased at Film Streams movie theater in Omaha in November 2018, after attending the movie’s premiere a month earlier in New York City. In fall 2018, Aupperle was also featured as a guest on the podcast UnErased: The History of Conversion Therapy in America.
In February 2019, Aupperle testified at the Nebraska State Legislature in support of Senator Megan Hunt’s Legislative Bill 167, which aims to restrict conversion therapy in the state. Aupperle was the keynote speaker for Lincoln Star City Pride’s Stellar Legacy Dinner held in April 2019.
As of May 2019, Aupperle lives in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Interview Summary
Mr. Aaron Aupperle, conversion therapy survivor and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on May 1, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Aupperle was born in Lincoln, Nebraska in the mid-1970's and grew up with three older sisters. By the time he entered junior high at Lefler Middle School, Aupperle knew he was gay, but did not have a label for his feelings. Aupperle was seen as “feminine” by his classmates and was relentlessly bullied during his 8th grade year. He felt isolated, alone, and went through a major episode of depression.
At home, Aupperle dealt with a verbally abusive father and generally unsupportive home atmosphere. Raised in the conservative Christ Lutheran Missouri Synod church, Aupperle's family considered homosexuality a sin. After his mothered discovered romantic letters from another boy while cleaning his room, Aupperle officially came out to both of his parents in 1993 at age 17. At his mother’s request, Aupperle began seeing a Christian counselor and attending a support group for those struggling with their sexuality. The leader of that group, vocal ex-gay supporter Gordon Opp, recommended that Aupperle attend Love in Action, one of the largest and oldest ex-gay ministries in the world and part of ex-gay umbrella organization Exodus International.
In both 1995 and 1998, Aupperle traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to attend residential gay conversion programs run by Love in Action. Not sure what to expect, Aupperle imagined the experience would be more like the MTV reality show The Real World. Aupperle initially agreed to attend the program because of his reckless and sexually compulsive behavior, which he was told was linked to him being gay. He believed that if he was “cured” of his homosexuality, the sex addiction would follow. However, of the five “levels” participants were expected to move through, Aupperle never moved beyond the first.
Aupperle’s first experience at the program in 1995 was markedly different than his second, as it was a “transition” year for the organization. When he returned in 1998, Aupperle experienced a nervous breakdown upon entering campus grounds and almost left, but was coached by Executive Director of Love in Action, John Smid, to stay. At the time of his second stay, the program was much stricter and more frightening to Aupperle. During this stay, a “mock funeral” was staged for Aupperle after it was discovered that he violated camp rules by having a sexual relationship with a coworker. Staff made Aupperle lie on a table while program members delivered eulogies meant to shame and scare him. This traumatic experience was portrayed in the 2018 film Boy Erased, based on the memoir by conversion therapy survivor Garrard Conley. In the movie, fictional character “Cameron,” who is loosely based on Aupperle, endures the mock funeral scene, which is an exaggerated version of Aupperle’s real life experience at Love in Action.
Since 2000, Aupperle has worked for Lincoln’s Bryan East Hospital, both as a Radiology Film Librarian (2000-2013) and Distribution Specialist (2013-present). In recent years, Aupperle has used his experience at Love in Action to speak about the harm of conversion therapy and advocate for LGBTQ+ affirming causes. Aupperle introduced Boy Erased at Film Streams movie theater in Omaha in November 2018, after attending the movie’s premiere a month earlier in New York City. In fall of 2018, Aupperle was also featured as a guest on the podcast UnErased: The History of Conversion Therapy in America.
In February 2019, Aupperle testified at the Nebraska State Legislature in support of Senator Megan Hunt’s Legislative Bill 167, which aims to restrict conversion therapy in the state. Aupperle was the keynote speaker for Lincoln Star City Pride’s Stellar Legacy Dinner, held in April 2019.
As of May 2019, Aupperle lives in Lincoln, Nebraska.
In this interview, Aupperle also discusses his struggles with self-esteem and shame since his time at Love in Action, his relationship with a former long-term partner, and his dreams for the future.
Biographical Sketch
Ms. Karen Granberg, born in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a white, bisexual woman, psychotherapist and LGBTQ+ advocate. Granberg grew up as one of 13 children in the small town of New Sweden, Maine, and attended New Sweden Consolidated School (1956-1965) and Caribou High School (1965-1967). In 1967, Granberg’s family moved to Meriden, Connecticut, where she attended Maloney High School (1967-1969). After graduation, Granberg went on to earn a BS in Psychology and Math from Bethel College and Seminary (St. Paul, Minnesota) in 1974, and her M.S.Ed in Counseling from Wayne State College (Wayne, Nebraska) in 1986.
After completing her education, Granberg worked at Wayne State College as an Adjunct Instructor and Licensed Counselor from 1986-2018. During her time there, Granberg was an essential resource and support to LGBTQ+ students on campus. She helped co-found Wayne State College’s LGBTQ+ student group PRIDE in 1994, where she served as an advisor until 2018. Granberg supported students in hosting panels, educational programming, drag shows and other LGBTQ+ campus events. After her retirement in 2018, Granberg formed Q-Chat, a social group for LGBTQ+ community members in Wayne to connect. Granberg also opened her own private practice at Pearl Street Counseling in Wayne, where she offers part-time counseling services.
Granberg is a member of the American Counseling Association, National Education Association, and received the Dr. Ron Holt Professional Staff Civic Engagement Award in 2018.
As of August 2019, Granberg lives in Wayne with her husband, Gordon.
Interview Summary
Ms. Karen Granberg, psychotherapist and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on July 17, 2019 in Wayne, Nebraska. Granberg was born in Worcester, Massachusetts in the early 1950’s and shortly thereafter moved with her family to New Sweden, Maine, a town of roughly 600 people. There she attended New Sweden Consolidated School (1956-1965) and Caribou High School (1965-1967). As a middle child in a family of 13 children, Granberg was introverted, loved to spend time reading alone, and was very independent from her siblings. Her father, Robert Dischinger, was a minister in the Swedish Baptist Church (Baptist General Conference) while her mother, Virginia Lundholm Dischinger, was a homemaker.
From a young age, Granberg rejected the strict gender roles and patriarchal hierarchy of the Baptist religion. While other girls in her class were obsessing over their crushes on boys, Granberg was puzzled and uninterested in this behavior. She had attractions to both boys and girls but was not aware that this was “different” or seen negatively within society. There was no information at the time on sexuality at all, and she had never heard the term “bisexual”.
In 1967, Granberg’s family moved to Meriden, Connecticut, where she attended Maloney High School (1967-1969). After graduation, Granberg enrolled at Bethel College and Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she earned her BS in Psychology and Math in 1974. It was during her time in college that Granberg began to think more about dating and relationships, but only in the context of feeling she wanted to become a wife and mother. The administration at Bethel College sent students the clear message that homosexuality was prohibited at their institution, and this was the first time Granberg realized that her feelings for women were “different” and not socially acceptable. At one point, Granberg was called in to the Dean of Students’ office for suspicions of being a homosexual, but since there was no evidence, nothing came of it.
Granberg married Gordon Granberg in 1974 and they moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where Gordon took a job as Pastor at Morningside Baptist Church. During this time, Granberg was a homemaker raising her two daughters, Sara and Erin, and began the process of trying to reconcile her faith and sexuality. In 1981, Granberg moved to Wayne, Nebraska, to begin graduate school at Wayne State College while her husband worked as Pastor at First Baptist Church. This marked another shift for Granberg in figuring out her sexuality, as she began seeing an affirming therapist, discussed her attractions to women with peers, and read literature on LGBTQ+ topics. She eventually discovered the term “bisexual” and felt this identity fit her best. Granberg came out to her husband sometime in the late 1980’s and he reacted with acceptance and support.
After earning her M.S.Ed in Counseling from Wayne State College in 1986, Granberg worked at Wayne State College as an Adjunct Instructor and Licensed Counselor from 1986-2018. During her time there, Granberg was an essential, outspoken resource and support to LGBTQ+ students on campus. When First Baptist Church, her husband’s employer, found out Granberg was affirming of LGBTQ+ students, they pressured her to adopt the church’s anti-LGBTQ+ stance. When Granberg did not bend to their will, the conflict could not be resolved, and the American Baptist Church put out a national resolution condemning homosexuality, her husband Gordon formally resigned from his position at the church.
During her career at Wayne State College, Granberg co-founded the LGBTQ+ student group PRIDE in 1994, where she served as an advisor until 2018. Granberg supported students in hosting panels, educational programming, drag shows and other LGBTQ+ campus events. After her retirement in 2018, Granberg formed Q-Chat, a social group for LGBTQ+ community members in Wayne to connect. Granberg also opened her own private practice at Pearl Street Counseling in Wayne, where she offers part-time counseling services.
Granberg is a member of the American Counseling Association, National Education Association, and received the Dr. Ron Holt Professional Staff Civic Engagement Award in 2018.
As of August 2019, Granberg lives in Wayne with her husband, Gordon Granberg.
In this interview, Granberg also discusses the difficulty of living as a married bisexual woman in a small town, her desire to become a therapist and help students, and her daughters Sara and Erin.
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Donald Callen Freed, born in Holdrege, Nebraska, is a white, gay man, retired educator, musician and LGBTQ+ advocate. Freed grew up on a farm three miles north of Loomis, Nebraska, and attended Loomis Public Schools. In 1970, Freed graduated valedictorian from his senior class and attended Nebraska Wesleyan University (Lincoln, Nebraska) from 1970-1974, where he earned his BM in Applied Voice and Choral Music Education. Freed continued his education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), where he earned his MM in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy in 1978.
From 1983-1987, Freed worked as Director of Choral Activities and Instructor of Voice at Peru Stage College, but decided to pursue his education further after encouragement from a mentor. He began a PhD program at UNL in 1987, where he graduated with his doctorate in Vocal Pedagogy and Choral Music Education in 1991. After completing his education, Freed taught at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska, as Instructor of Music (1993-2005). In 2005, Freed moved to Alpine, Texas, where he was Head of the Music Program and a Professor of Voice until he retired in 2018.
Freed has published numerous articles, scholarly reviews and compositions, and is a recipient of the UNL Distinguished Music Alumni Award and UNL Graduate Student Award. He is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, American Choral Directors Association, College Music Society, River City Mixed Chorus, River’s Edge, University of Nebraska Foundation Burnett Society, and Omaha’s First United Methodist Church.
As of August 2019, Freed lives in Omaha, Nebraska.
Interview Summary
Dr. Donald Callen Freed, educator and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on July 31, 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska. Freed was born in Holdrege, Nebraska in the early 1950’s and grew up as the oldest of three boys on a farm north of Loomis, Nebraska. His father, Donald William Freed (1925-2005), was a US Army Veteran who fought in the Siege of Bastogne and Battle of the Bulge during World War II. Freed’s mother, Mary Louise Callen Freed (1926-2005), was an archeologist and anthropologist. Both of Freed’s parents were “serious intellectuals,” introverts and voracious readers.
Growing up in a small town as a “sissy and a smarty” was difficult for Freed, and he was socially ostracized and treated poorly by his peers. He wasn’t aware of his sexuality, as he had never heard the term “gay.” Freed survived this difficult time by focusing his energy on reading, schoolwork, and extracurricular activities. At age 14, he began piano and voice lessons and threw himself into his music.
Freed’s family was active in the United Methodist Church, which was social justice oriented. At age 16 (1968), he attended Nebraska’s United Methodist Conference at First United Methodist Church in Omaha. There he saw activists and civil rights leaders speak, like Senator Ernie Chambers.
After graduating valedictorian from Loomis Public Schools in 1970, Freed attended Nebraska Wesleyan University (Lincoln, Nebraska) from 1970-1974, where he earned his BM in Applied Voice and Choral Music Education. During this time, Freed had sexual experiences with other men and visited Lincoln’s hottest cruising spot, the Nebraska State Capitol. However, he still felt these sexual experiences were an “aberration” and shameful.
Freed continued his education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), where he earned his MM in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy in 1978. In 1983, Freed began teaching at Peru State College, where he was Director of Choral Activities and Instructor of Voice (1983-1987). That same year, Freed moved in with a friend, Larry Ebmeier, and the two unexpectedly fell in love. The couple were together for nearly 30 years (1983-2011). For most of his career, Ebmeier worked as a Pharmacist at Bryan East Medical Center in Lincoln. He was also a writer who published four gay novels in the 1980’s, some under the pseudonym Clayton R. Graham.
In 1987, Freed decided to pursue his education further after encouragement from a mentor. He began a PhD program at UNL in 1987, where he graduated with his doctorate in Vocal Pedagogy and Choral Music Education in 1991. That same year, at age 39, Freed finally came out to his parents by bringing Ebmeier home to meet them. They accepted and welcomed Ebmeier into the family.
After completing his education, Freed taught at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska, as Instructor of Music (1993-2005). In 2005, Freed and his partner moved together to Alpine, Texas, where he was Head of the Music Program and Professor of Voice. In 2011, Ebmeier tragically died in a biking accident near Marfa, Texas. Freed retired in 2018 and moved back to Nebraska.
Freed has published numerous articles, scholarly reviews and compositions, and is a recipient of the UNL Distinguished Music Alumni Award and UNL Graduate Student Award. He is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, American Choral Directors Association, College Music Society, River City Mixed Chorus, River’s Edge, University of Nebraska Foundation Burnett Society, and Omaha’s First United Methodist Church.
As of August 2019, Freed lives in Omaha, Nebraska.
In this interview, Freed also reads excerpts from books Farm Boys: Lives of Gay Men from the Rural Midwest (1996) by Will Fellows, and How Sex Changed: A History of Transsexuality in the United States (2004) by Joanne Meyerowitz. He also discusses his Great Aunt Irmis Johnson, who interviewed transgender celebrity Christine Jorgensen in the 1950’s.
Interview Notes
Trigger warning for discussions of death.
Biographical Sketch
Mr. Antonio Jackson, born in Omaha, Nebraska, is a Black gay man and LGBTQ+ advocate. Jackson grew up in North Omaha’s Hillside Projects and attended Benson High School (1993-1999). During high school, Jackson worked for Baker’s Supermarkets (1996-1999) and after graduation, Goodwill Industries (1999-2007) while periodically taking classes at Metropolitan Community College (MCC). While at MCC, Jackson was involved with the LGBTQ+ student group on campus, Metro Spectrum.
In 2017, Jackson earned his BA in Youth/Family Services and Administration at Purdue University Global, and in 2019, began working toward his MS in Human Services.
As of August 2019, Jackson lives in Omaha with his boyfriend, Tyler.
Interview Summary
Mr. Antonio Jackson, LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on August 1, 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska. Jackson was born in Omaha, Nebraska in the early 1980’s to a young, single mother and grew up in the Hillside Projects of North Omaha. Life for Jackson was difficult from a young age, as the small family did not have a lot of money. Jackson attended Boyd, Miller Park and Kellom Elementary Schools, Monroe Middle School, and Benson High School (1993-1999). Jackson struggled in school, as he was bullied by his peers for being feminine or “too soft”, and clashed with his teachers. Jackson’s mother encouraged him to be active, play sports and get involved, but he was not athletic and did not fit in with his peers. Jackson spent time in and out of group homes during his teenage years.
Jackson began to realize he was “different” than his peers between the ages of 5-8, as he was attracted to boys, but was not aware of the term “gay”. At age 14, Jackson came out to his mother and she was accepting of his sexuality, but his father (who was mostly estranged at the time) did not believe he was actually gay.
During high school, Jackson worked for Baker’s Supermarkets (1996-1999) and after graduation, Goodwill Industries (1999-2007) while periodically taking classes at Metropolitan Community College (MCC). While at MCC, Jackson was involved with the LGBTQ+ student group on campus, Metro Spectrum. However, Jackson did not feel he fit in within this group, as he was the only Black member. Jackson struggled to fit in anywhere, as he didn’t feel accepted by the Black community because of his sexuality, and the LGBTQ+ community was not as welcoming because of his race.
In 2017, Jackson earned his BA in Youth/Family Services and Administration at Purdue University Global, and in 2019, began working toward his MS in Human Services.
As of August 2019, Jackson lives in Omaha with his boyfriend, Tyler.
In this interview, Jackson also discusses his pop culture idols, close friendships, his relationship with boyfriend Tyler, and his hopes and dreams for the future.
Biographical Sketch
Ms. Margret Fennell, born in Gordon, Nebraska in the 1930’s, is a white trans woman, retired Union Pacific conductor, and LGBTQ+ advocate. Fennell grew up as the oldest of six children in rural Gordon and Hyannis, Nebraska, before moving with her family to Omaha at the age of five in 1941. Fennell attended St. Cecilia Grade School (1941-1950) and St. Cecilia Cathedral High School (1950-1954). After graduating in 1954, Fennell briefly worked for Rubin Distributing before entering the Dominican Order as a Lay Brother (1955-1960). Upon realizing this profession was not suited to her, Fennell worked for Railway Express (1961-1968) before joining Union Pacific (UP) in 1969, where she worked as a switchman and conductor until her retirement in 1999.
Fennell was one of the founding members of River City Gender Alliance in the late 1980’s, one of the oldest and largest transgender and gender non-conforming support organizations in the country. Fennell is also a long-term member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), where she attends multiple weekly meetings and supports others in their path to recovery.
As of December 2019, Fennell lives in Omaha with her wife, Valerie.
Interview Summary
Ms. Margret Fennell, retired Union Pacific worker and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 9, 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska. Fennell was born in Gordon, Nebraska in 1936 and grew up as the oldest of six children. Fennell’s father Thomas was a businessman and ran a hardware store in Hyannis, Nebraska. Fennell’s mother Helen was a stay-at-home mother who doted on her children. Both of Fennell’s parents were originally from St. Joseph, Missouri.
In 1941 at the age of five, Fennell’s family moved to Omaha and she began attending St. Cecilia Grade School (1941-1950) and St. Cecilia Cathedral High School (1950-1954). For the most part, Fennell got along with her peers and enjoyed her classes. She was a devout Catholic, altar boy, and pontifical server.
During her time in grade school, Fennell saw a movie poster at a risqué theater on 14th and Douglas depicting a “half-man, half-woman.” This was her first exposure to any kind of gender-nonconformity. Around 6th or 7th grade, Fennell began sneaking into her mother’s closet when her parents were gone and dressing up in her mother’s clothes, though she had no idea what this meant. In 8th grade, Fennell saw news coverage of early transgender icon Christine Jorgensen, but knew she had to keep her own feelings about her gender identity a secret.
Fennell began dating in high school and would ask her dates to wear nylons, dresses and heals so that she could use their clothes to “dress herself in her mind.” After graduating in 1954, Fennell briefly worked for Rubin Distributing before entering the Dominican Order as a lay brother (1955-1960). During her time as a lay brother, Fennell worked in Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa. Upon realizing this profession was not suited to her, Fennell moved back to Omaha in 1960, began working for Railway Express (1962-1969), and married Leona McGrath, with whom she had four children. After Railway Express went out of business, Fennell joined Union Pacific (UP) in 1969, where she worked as a switchman and conductor both in Omaha and North Platte, Nebraska, until her retirement in 1999.
In her early years at UP, Fennell got sober and joined an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) support group in North Platte, Nebraska. She eventually began attending a gay AA group in Omaha, where she was allowed to explore more of her identity and find acceptance from fellow members. In the 1980’s, Fennell went to Omaha’s gay nightclub The Max, where she met and befriended a person who appeared to be a “man in women’s clothes.” From then on, she began to explore more of her own gender expression, started going out with her friend wearing women’s clothes, and chose to sometimes use the name Margret.
Fennell’s circle of trans and gender non-conforming women continued to grow, and she attended crossdressing conventions put on by Tri-Ess (Society for the Second Self) in Chicago, Illinois and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. After this, Fennell and her friends started their own group, River City Gender Alliance (RCGA), and began regularly meeting in motels across Omaha. In the 1990’s, University of Nebraska at Omaha Professor Dr. Meredith Bacon joined RCGA and helped the group grow considerably.
Leona, Fennell’s wife, knew about her wearing women’s clothing, and was not supportive of her identity. After Leona’s passing in the late 1990’s, Fennell met her second wife, Valerie, through Omaha’s Metropolitan Community Church. Valerie was accepting and affirming of her identity as Margret, and they married in 2009.
As of December 2019, Fennell lives in Omaha with her wife, Valerie.
In this interview, Fennell also discusses her relationship with her children Thomas Jr. and Madaline, and her decision to live as both Tom and Margret.
Interview Notes
The narrator of this interview is comfortable going by both her chosen name, Margret, and given name, Tom. Because of generational differences and changes in terminology related to gender identity and expression, Margret uses the term crossdresser and trans woman interchangeably. She explained to Luke that she would have lived full-time as Margret if it had been accepted in her generation, but this was not an option.
Biographical Sketch
Ms. Sue Stroesser, born in Omaha, Nebraska, is a white, lesbian woman, counselor and social justice advocate. Stroesser grew up in Omaha as one of six children in a large Catholic family, and attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary, Loveland Elementary, and Arbor Heights Junior High (now Westside Middle School). After graduating from Westside High School in 1980, Stroesser attended Creighton University for one year before transferring to Chadron State College (Chadron, Nebraska) in 1981, where she earned a B.A. in English Literature in 1985.
After brief stints in Los Angeles, California (1988-1989) and San Diego, California (1989-1990), Stroesser moved to Seattle, Washington in 1990, where she worked various jobs, was involved in LGBTQ+ advocacy work, and represented Seattle’s Women’s Soccer Team at the New York City Gay Games in 1994. After being fired from a job for her sexuality in 1994, Stroesser began working at Costco and lead a successful campaign to implement domestic partner benefits for employees in 1999. From 2000-2002, Stroesser attended Goddard College (Plainview, Vermont), where she earned an M.A. in Public Policy.
Stroesser moved back to Omaha in 2003 with her wife, Mary, to settle down and eventually start a family. In 2007, she earned an M.S. in Community Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. After completing her education and becoming a licensed mental health practitioner, Stroesser went on to work as a therapist at Lasting Hope Recovery Center (2008-2009), Methodist Health System (2009-2012), and Community Alliance (2016-2019). From 2014-2016, Stroesser taught classes online as an adjunct at Adams State University (Alamosa, Colorado) in the Counseling Education department, as well as classes in the Human Services program at Metropolitan Community College (Omaha, Nebraska).
Stroesser is a member of the American Counseling Association.
As of February 2020, Stroesser lives in Omaha with her wife, Mary, and two sons.
Interview Summary
Ms. Sue Stroesser, therapist and social justice advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on January 27, 2020 in Omaha, Nebraska. Stroesser was born in Omaha, Nebraska in the early 1960s and grew up as one of six children in a large, Catholic, working-class family. Stroesser attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary, Loveland Elementary, and Arbor Heights Junior High (now Westside Middle School). Stroesser had crushes on girls during this time, but did not have the terminology to define her attractions until she was an older adolescent.
During her years at Westside High School (1976-1980), Stroesser struggled academically, but found support and connection with her teammates on the girls’ basketball team. There she met her first girlfriend, a fellow teammate, and they maintained a secret romantic relationship throughout high school. Stroesser knew she had to remain closeted due to the time period, and took male classmates to events like school dances. The stress of hiding her relationship from family and friends, while maintaining a relationship in secrecy, was exhausting.
After graduation, Stroesser attended Creighton University for one year before transferring to Chadron State College (Chadron, Nebraska) in 1981. During her college years, Stroesser played college basketball and continued to find friendship and romantic connection with fellow lesbian teammates. In 1985, Stroesser graduated with a B.A. in English Literature from Chadron State College, and moved back to Omaha. That same year Stroesser met and began dating her future wife, Mary, while they worked together at Valentino’s Pizza.
After brief stints in Los Angeles, California (1988-1989) and San Diego, California (1989-1990), Stroesser moved to Seattle, Washington in 1990, where she worked various jobs and was involved in LGBTQ+ advocacy work. In Seattle, she found her first truly affirming community, attended her first Pride Parade, and held hands with her wife in public.
In Seattle, Stroesser and her wife, Mary, wanted to meet other lesbians to connect with. As a life-long athlete, Stroesser had typically found other lesbians to connect with in playing sports, so she joined a women’s soccer team. In 1994, Stroesser traveled with her soccer team to the Gay Games in New York City, which fell on the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. The experience was transformative for Stroesser.
Two weeks after returning to Seattle from the Gay Games, Stroesser was fired from her job at a packaging company for being lesbian. That year she began working for Costco, a company where she could be out on the job, and lead a successful campaign to implement domestic partner benefits for employees in 1999.
Stroesser decided to continue channeling her own experiences of discrimination into social justice work, and began attending Goddard College (Plainview, Vermont) in 2000, where she earned an M.A. in Public Policy in 2002. That same year in Vermont, Stroesser obtained a civil union with wife, Mary.
Stroesser and her wife, Mary, moved back to Omaha in 2003 in the hopes of one day starting a family. In 2007, Stroesser earned an M.S. in Community Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. After completing her education and becoming a licensed mental health practitioner, Stroesser went on to work as a therapist at Lasting Hope Recovery Center (2008-2009), Methodist Health System (2009-2012), and Community Alliance (2016-2019). From 2014-2016, Stroesser taught classes online as an adjunct at Adams State University (Alamosa, Colorado) in the Counseling Education department, as well as classes in the Human Services program at Metropolitan Community College (Omaha, Nebraska).
In this interview, Stroesser also discusses adopting her two sons, getting married in Iowa in 2009, experiences of discrimination in obtaining identity documentation, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in the late 1990s, and the 1980s AIDS crisis.
Biographical Sketch
Ms. Ashley Swartz, born in Wahoo, Nebraska, is a white, pansexual, trans woman, farmer, speaker, educator and LGBTQ+ advocate. Swartz grew up on her family’s farm in Malmo, Nebraska, and graduated from Wahoo’s Bishop Neumann High School in 1980. After graduating, Swartz took over the family’s corn and soybean farm business and has continued to farm the land with her brother for nearly four decades. During this time, she also became a volunteer firefighter in Malmo, a position she has held for more than 30 years.
In 1996, Swartz started the process of transitioning and got involved with various LGBTQ+ groups, such as Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), and River City Gender Alliance (RCGA). Over the last two decades, Swartz has spent much of her time helping to educate others about the trans community. In the late 1990’s, Swartz became involved with PFLAG, working to help the organization address the needs of transgender members and, for a time, was a member of River City Gender Alliance (RCGA). Swartz has been featured in the Omaha World-Herald, shared her story as part of a national ad campaign for the HRC Foundation, traveled throughout Nebraska as part of the ACLU’s Transgender Voices project, and lobbied in Washington, D.C. for the National Center for Transgender Equality.
Swartz lives on her farm in Malmo, but makes frequent trips to Lincoln and Omaha to spend time with her two adult children and granddaughter.
Interview Summary
Ms. Ashley Swartz, Nebraska farmer and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on March 28, 2018, in Malmo, Nebraska. Swartz was born in Wahoo, Nebraska in the early 1960’s and grew up on the family farm as one of five children. As a child, Swartz knew as early as three years old that she was “different” than her peers, and she learned to fit in by modeling the mannerisms and behavior of boys. Swartz’s only exposure to transgender people was through harmful and offensive media stereotypes, like the Phil Donahue show.
As an adult, Swartz struggled to understand why everything in her life felt off. After getting married, Swartz entered marriage counseling with her wife, but eventually began to see a team of professionals in Omaha dedicated to helping her understand her gender identity, which included psychologists and an endocrinologist. Swartz began her transition in 1996, went through a divorce, and began to navigate life in Malmo as the only openly trans person, and one of the only transgender farmers in the country.
In the beginning, Swartz received hate mail and threatening phone calls, people stopped at her house to “get a peek” of her, and a local business told her she was not welcome “for her own safety.” Many of Swartz’s meals were drive-thru fast food, because grocery shopping usually resulted in being laughed at and taunted by other customers. Despite this, Swartz focused on the small, everyday kindnesses and connections with others in her town, and she is thankful for the increase in support she has received over the years. Things have significantly improved for her since the 1990’s, with her business relationships staying strong and her connection to the community continually evolving. Swartz’s Christian faith has been an important source of strength for her in being true to herself and navigating life as a trans woman in a rural community. As of August 2018, Swartz lives on her farm in Malmo, but makes frequent trips to Lincoln and Omaha to spend time with her two adult children and granddaughter.
In this interview, Swartz also discusses volunteer firefighting, her relationship with her children, and finding trans-friendly medical care.