Interview with Marlene Somers

Marlene Somers has lived nearly her entire life in Minneapolis, a life she describes as, “two lives at once,” fluctuating between presenting as female and male. Marlene is not out to anyone in her family, except her wife, who turns a blind eye to Marlene’s gender identity. During this interview, she talks at length about her ultimate ambivalence about coming out later in life or undergoing any medical transition. Marlene is retired, but previously she worked as a commercial pilot and served in the military. She was an avid collector of information about transsexuality, collecting 14 bags of newspapers, magazines and books which she eventually donated to the Tretter Collection.

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View At: https://umedia.lib.umn.edu/item/p16022coll97:114?facets%5Bcollection_name_s%5D%5B%5D=Transgender+...
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Item Information:

Identifier: 3n203z262
Collection: Audio and Video Clips and Transcripts
Institution: Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection, University of Minnesota
Creator(s): Somers, Marlene
Contributor(s): Jenkins, Andrea
Publisher: University of Minnesota Minneapolis Libraries
Date Created: Sep. 23, 2015
Genre: Oral Histories
Transcriptions
Subject(s): Caitlyn Jenner
Christine Jorgensen
Clark institute
Tretter Collection Autogynephilia
Places: Minnesota > Hennepin County > City of Minneapolis > Minneapolis
Topic(s): Children
Clothing
Coming out
Family members
Gender identity
Gender identity--Law and legislation
Gender realignment surgery
Grandchildren
LGBTQ+ relationships
Marriage
Military
Psychotherapy
Retirees
Sexuality
Sports
Transgender people
Transitioning (Gender)
Resource Type: Moving image
Text
Language: English
Related URL: https://umedia.lib.umn.edu/
Rights: Copyright undetermined
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