LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Marcy Bieler

Marcy Bieler, LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 13, 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska. Bieler shared information about growing up in Kansas, knowing she was transgender at a young age, coming out as trans to her ex-wife, her relationship with her daughter, facing discrimination in rural Iowa, and joining River City Gender Alliance., Biographical Sketch: Marcy Bieler, born in Leadville, Colorado, is a white trans woman living in Irwin, Iowa. Growing up in Kansas as the daughter of a welder and nurse, Bieler is an active member of the River City Gender Alliance and outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. She is the proud mother of two teenage daughters., Interview Summary: Marcy Bieler, LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 13, 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska. Bieler was born in Leadville, Colorado to Edith and Henry Bieler and grew up in a working-class family as one of six children in Kansas. At a young age, Bieler knew she was a girl, but was not in an environment where she could safely express her identity. Sporting long hair as a child, strangers would see Bieler as a little girl, which infuriated her father and he forced her to cut her hair. Bieler was often called "fag" or "gay" by other kids during her childhood and adolescence, and frequently got in fights with other students., In 2002, Bieler married her girlfriend and together they had one daughter. Bieler eventually came out to her wife, and though she took it well at the time, it became clear to Bieler that her wife was punishing her for being transgender. She was eventually outed by her wife to her entire community without her consent and lost her home. Living in rural Iowa, Bieler struggled with employment due to discrimination against transgender individuals. She has also faced inappropriate treatment while receiving medical care., Falling into serious depression and seeing no way out, Bieler contemplated suicide. After hitting rock bottom, Bieler sought out a therapist to help her regain control of her life and accept her identity. With therapy to help her recover her life, Bieler joined River City Gender Alliance, an Omaha-based support group for Transgender individuals. There she found a thriving community of trans women to offer her support and began to rebuild her life., In this interview, Bieler also discusses her dream job, changing her legal documents, her daughters, and her ideas for making the LGBTQ+ community more inclusive., Interview Notes Trigger warning for discussion of mental illness and suicide., UNO Libraries' Archives & Special Collections
View this Object: https://library.unomaha.edu/_audio/UNO-0240_Marcy-Bieler.html
Abstract/Description: Marcy Bieler, LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 13, 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska. Bieler shared information about growing up in Kansas, knowing she was transgender at a young age, coming out as trans to her ex-wife, her relationship with her daughter, facing discrimination in rural Iowa, and joining River City Gender Alliance.
Subject(s): Queer Omaha Archives
Sexual minorities -- Nebraska -- Omaha
Interviews
Oral histories (document genres)
Tag: audio
Tag: LGBTQIA+
Tag: Oral History
Date Created: 2017-12-13
Title: LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Marcy Bieler.
View this Object: https://library.unomaha.edu/_audio/UNO-0240_Marcy-Bieler.html
Type of Resource: sound recording
Date Created: 2017-12-13
Physical Form: Mp3
Language: English
Abstract/Description: Marcy Bieler, LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 13, 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska. Bieler shared information about growing up in Kansas, knowing she was transgender at a young age, coming out as trans to her ex-wife, her relationship with her daughter, facing discrimination in rural Iowa, and joining River City Gender Alliance.
Abstract/Description: Biographical Sketch: Marcy Bieler, born in Leadville, Colorado, is a white trans woman living in Irwin, Iowa. Growing up in Kansas as the daughter of a welder and nurse, Bieler is an active member of the River City Gender Alliance and outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. She is the proud mother of two teenage daughters.
Abstract/Description: Interview Summary: Marcy Bieler, LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 13, 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska. Bieler was born in Leadville, Colorado to Edith and Henry Bieler and grew up in a working-class family as one of six children in Kansas. At a young age, Bieler knew she was a girl, but was not in an environment where she could safely express her identity. Sporting long hair as a child, strangers would see Bieler as a little girl, which infuriated her father and he forced her to cut her hair. Bieler was often called "fag" or "gay" by other kids during her childhood and adolescence, and frequently got in fights with other students.
Abstract/Description: In 2002, Bieler married her girlfriend and together they had one daughter. Bieler eventually came out to her wife, and though she took it well at the time, it became clear to Bieler that her wife was punishing her for being transgender. She was eventually outed by her wife to her entire community without her consent and lost her home. Living in rural Iowa, Bieler struggled with employment due to discrimination against transgender individuals. She has also faced inappropriate treatment while receiving medical care.
Abstract/Description: Falling into serious depression and seeing no way out, Bieler contemplated suicide. After hitting rock bottom, Bieler sought out a therapist to help her regain control of her life and accept her identity. With therapy to help her recover her life, Bieler joined River City Gender Alliance, an Omaha-based support group for Transgender individuals. There she found a thriving community of trans women to offer her support and began to rebuild her life.
Abstract/Description: In this interview, Bieler also discusses her dream job, changing her legal documents, her daughters, and her ideas for making the LGBTQ+ community more inclusive.
Abstract/Description: Interview Notes Trigger warning for discussion of mental illness and suicide.
Identifier(s): UNO-0240_Marcy-Bieler (UNO digital object identifier)
Note(s):

Digitized and published online by: UNO Libraries' Archives & Special Collections
Subject(s): Queer Omaha Archives
Sexual minorities -- Nebraska -- Omaha
Interviews
Oral histories (document genres)
Tag: audio
Tag: LGBTQIA+
Tag: Oral History
Held by: UNO Libraries' Archives & Special Collections
In Collections:

Statement on Harmful Material: Materials in UNO Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections are historical in nature and reflect the society in which they were produced. As such, they may contain racial, gender, sexual, religious, and other language and imagery that are offensive by today's standards. The documents, images, publications, and other materials have been retained in order to fully represent the materials in their original format. If the offensive text is not in the original, but in a finding aid, catalog record, or other description created by library employees, please contact Archives and Special Collections to bring this to our attention. Archives & Special Collections is guided by the core values of the Society of American Archivists. If you have questions about this statement or about Archives and Special Collections’ work, we welcome your feedback. Please contact us at unoasc@unomaha.edu or 402-554-6046.