Dublin Core
Title
Interview with KAITLYN GROLESKE AND XOCHIYOLLOTL HARBISON
Description
Interview conducted on April 26, 2016
Creator
Emily Owen
Source
Interview
Date
April 26, 2016
Rights
Queer @ HSU
Identifier
[no text]
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
KAITLYN GROLESKE AND XOCHIYOLLOTL HARBISON
How do you personally identify?
K: A lesbean.
S: I identify as sexually fluid.
How do you define “queer”?
K: Queer is anything that is not heterosexual.
S: It means strange, but it’s really a blanket term. People used to use it as a lot of different things. And then it became a term used to shame, but now it’s being reclaimed and it’s turning into a positive thing.
What does “queer” mean to you?
K: I don’t feel too personally about it. It’s just a word that exists. I understand why people can identify with it though.
S: It doesn’t really mean anything to me. I don’t like labels or the stigma that they create, so I don’t identify with it at all.
What do you think of the queer community at Humboldt State?
S: I know a fair amount of them, and I like all of them. It would be nice to be more involved, but from what I know it’s a really great accepting place.
K: I think they’re all beautiful people and it’s a beautiful community.
What has it been like to be a queer couple at HSU?
S: I don’t have an answer, it’s not even something that I think about. We’re just walking around and being ourselves.
K: I feel like any other couple at school, it’s just a normal thing. I honestly don’t even take note of it.
Has the response from the HSU community been different than anywhere else?
K: I can probably count all the queer people I know from back home that are out. Here it’s an accepted thing.
S: From where we’re from it’s different. It’s a completely different experience. Where we grew up is really conservative. If people ask me I’ll answer, but here it’s a non-issue.
Do you feel comfortable expressing your queerness on campus?
K: Yes. We don’t usually have any reservations about being open when we’re at school. Sometimes, but not very often, I feel judged. I just don’t know what anyone is thinking, but overall yes I feel comfortable.
S: Yeah, I’ve never felt uncomfortable.
Have you ever had any negative experiences as a queer couple at HSU?
S: No, not really.
K: No, I’ve never felt negative on Humboldt’s campus.
What is a positive experience you’ve had on campus relating to your queerness?
K: When we hold hands, people smile and it feels good. I can tell when someone notices and it’s nice to get a good response.
S: I’ve honestly gained a lot of friends because of it. Everyone is always really positive. When I was first visiting, and we rolled into town to go to the tour super early. The first thing we saw was two girls holding hands, and I couldn’t really be out at home so it was very cool and exciting to see.
If you could sum up what it’s like to be queer at HSU in one sentence, what would it be?
K: I guess, I would say don’t categorize yourself because variety is the spice of life.
S: It’s a cool place but we need more gender neutral bathrooms.
How do you personally identify?
K: A lesbean.
S: I identify as sexually fluid.
How do you define “queer”?
K: Queer is anything that is not heterosexual.
S: It means strange, but it’s really a blanket term. People used to use it as a lot of different things. And then it became a term used to shame, but now it’s being reclaimed and it’s turning into a positive thing.
What does “queer” mean to you?
K: I don’t feel too personally about it. It’s just a word that exists. I understand why people can identify with it though.
S: It doesn’t really mean anything to me. I don’t like labels or the stigma that they create, so I don’t identify with it at all.
What do you think of the queer community at Humboldt State?
S: I know a fair amount of them, and I like all of them. It would be nice to be more involved, but from what I know it’s a really great accepting place.
K: I think they’re all beautiful people and it’s a beautiful community.
What has it been like to be a queer couple at HSU?
S: I don’t have an answer, it’s not even something that I think about. We’re just walking around and being ourselves.
K: I feel like any other couple at school, it’s just a normal thing. I honestly don’t even take note of it.
Has the response from the HSU community been different than anywhere else?
K: I can probably count all the queer people I know from back home that are out. Here it’s an accepted thing.
S: From where we’re from it’s different. It’s a completely different experience. Where we grew up is really conservative. If people ask me I’ll answer, but here it’s a non-issue.
Do you feel comfortable expressing your queerness on campus?
K: Yes. We don’t usually have any reservations about being open when we’re at school. Sometimes, but not very often, I feel judged. I just don’t know what anyone is thinking, but overall yes I feel comfortable.
S: Yeah, I’ve never felt uncomfortable.
Have you ever had any negative experiences as a queer couple at HSU?
S: No, not really.
K: No, I’ve never felt negative on Humboldt’s campus.
What is a positive experience you’ve had on campus relating to your queerness?
K: When we hold hands, people smile and it feels good. I can tell when someone notices and it’s nice to get a good response.
S: I’ve honestly gained a lot of friends because of it. Everyone is always really positive. When I was first visiting, and we rolled into town to go to the tour super early. The first thing we saw was two girls holding hands, and I couldn’t really be out at home so it was very cool and exciting to see.
If you could sum up what it’s like to be queer at HSU in one sentence, what would it be?
K: I guess, I would say don’t categorize yourself because variety is the spice of life.
S: It’s a cool place but we need more gender neutral bathrooms.
Original Format
Oral Interview