Interviewer
River Watson
Description
Stacy Varkuza identifies as a queer non-binary person. They are from Phoenix, Arizona, but moved to Missoula, Montana, in 2007. Currently they live in Portland, Oregon, with their partner and nonbinary child. Stacy discusses their experiences living in Missoula as an openly queer person and how that impacted them. They recall workplace discrimination, stories of violence, but also a strong sense of queer community. They chose to leave Montana as a way to best protect and raise their child, who dealt with bullying because of their identity, and because of the current political situation in Montana. Stacy described Portland as much more accepting and comfortable, noting the strong queer community they have found.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
trans identity, trans youth, queer, non-binary, androgynous, androgyny, Donald Trump, legislation, Zooey Zephyr, Congress, Montessori, advocacy, activism, hippie
Original Date
3-4-2025
Time Period
Twenty-first century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Queer In and Out of Montana Oral History Project, OH 494, Archives & Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 494-014
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
01:04:25 minutes
Local Filename
OH_494_014_audio_use.mp3; OH_494_014_transcript.pdf
Citation
Varkuza, Stacy, "Stacy Varkuza Interview, March 4, 2025" (2025). Queer In and Out of Montana Oral History Project. 11.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/queermontana_oralhistories/11