Interviewer
Baylee Hughes
Files
Abstract
This interview was conducted by Baylee Hughes with Cheyenne Gibson, an undergraduate student at Winthrop University, as part of the “Being LGBTQIA+ at Winthrop” Oral History Project. The project documents the voices and experiences of historically marginalized LGBTQIA+ students, former students, and employees of Winthrop University and seeks to address gaps in the historical record concerning LGBTQIA+ experiences on college campuses.
Gibson discusses her experiences as an LGBTQIA+ student at Winthrop, where she began her studies in August 2020 with a concentration in anthropology. She describes her decision to attend Winthrop, her experiences coming out to her family as a teenager, and the support she received from family and friends. She also discusses her experiences in high school, participation in a Gay-Straight Alliance, and the supportive environment she found at Winthrop. Gibson identifies an HMXP professor as particularly supportive and discusses her perception of Winthrop as a generally safe environment for LGBTQIA+ students. She also discusses the limited activity of LGBTQIA+ student groups and online communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The interview addresses the influence of Gibson’s identity on her academic interests in anthropology and sociology, particularly her interest in gender, sexuality, marriage, and family. She reflects on how her experiences have influenced her interactions with others and contributed to a greater sense of compassion toward people with different identities and backgrounds. Gibson discusses LGBTQIA+ inclusion in Winthrop and the surrounding area, noting progress while also identifying areas where she believes greater inclusivity is needed.
Gibson also discusses the need for greater representation of LGBTQIA+ history in the curriculum. She describes her interest in an LGBTQIA+ history course at Winthrop and notes that much of what she has learned about LGBTQIA+ history, including subjects such as Marsha P. Johnson and the Stonewall Riots, has come through her own research. She expresses support for greater normalization of different gender identities, sexualities, and pronouns and emphasizes the importance of compassion and understanding toward people with different identities.
Publication Date
2021
Unique Identifier
OH 716
Format
MP3: M4A; MP4;
Length
00:10:08
Restrictions
Open under the rules and regulations of the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections at Winthrop University
Series
LGBTQ
Recommended Citation
Gibson, Cheyenne, "Interview with Cheyenne Gibson - OH 716" (2021). Winthrop University Oral History Program. OH 716.
https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/oralhistoryprogram/785