Kaleb Sisco, stage name Ginger Von Snap, is interviewed by Sarah Steiner as a part of the Gender and Sexuality Oral History project. Sisco is a gay male who performs gender neutral drag by blurring gender norms. Von Snap appears at The Odditorium,…
Jay Manalo was born and raised in Northern Virginia by Filipino parents. Manalo went to NC Chapel Hill for college where he majored in Computer Science and Chemistry and shares how he switched gears and ended up in a doctoral program for Counseling…
Jill Ellern grew up in rural West Virginia. She talks about her career path as a librarian and recounts her experiences as a Lesbian woman in West Virginia, Washington D.C. and western North Carolina.
John Miele tells about he and his partner moving to Jackson County and opening a small business in Dillsboro. They became active with the Merchant's Association and active in politics on the town and county level and were welcomed in the community.…
John Wermuth was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and moved to Sylva from Atlanta, Georgia with his partner of 27 years. He shares his experience being a gay business owner in downtown Sylva and with the LGBTQ community of Jackson County in…
Kaleb Lynch moved to Cullowhee in 2005 and discusses transitioning to a man while in college at Western Carolina University and living and working in Jackson County. He talks about the organizations available to him while at Western such as BGLAD,…
Karson Walston moved to Jackson County in 2004 and discusses his experience transitioning to a man while operating his own business. He talks about his relationship with his father during his transition and getting married. He discusses the lack of…
Kassie Troy is from Clayton, North Carolina, and now lives in western North Carolina for college. She discusses coming out to her family in high school as a transgender female. Troy explains how much more inclusive Jackson County is compared to…
Kat Gray, stage name Katarina Eclipse, is interviewed by Sarah Steiner as a part of the Gender and Sexuality Oral History project. Eclipse is a transgender drag queen. She relates the experience she had coming out in high school which resulted being…
Lanie Kear discusses her process that led her to understand she was pansexual, starting in middle school when she came out as a lesbian. Kear feels fortunate to have an accepting family and friends and has experienced very few negative interactions.…