Ella Bogenschuetz is a junior at the University of Minnesota studying nursing and gender, women and sexuality studies. A bisexual woman, she said she’s been able to form new relationships with peers who share her identity since coming to the University.
“My roommates and I recently did a painting and movie night which brought me a lot of joy. We each painted a different canvas while laughing at a funny movie. We are all women and three out of four of us are queer women.
We also have a lot of differences, but our personal identities bring us together. We can relate to each other on a deep level and so whenever we hang out together it’s a really joyful experience.
I feel a part of many different communities. I feel a part of women as a community, the nursing community, cross-country ski community, climbing community and the LGTBQ community, these are places I feel understood. The people in these communities have something in common with me and this allows us to be a safe space for each other.
I’m not part of any specific identity groups, but the climbing gym at the RecWell has LGBTQ climb nights as well as women climb nights and I often go to those. It’s a place to meet people who share an identity with me and share the love of climbing.
Coming to the U allowed me to find a lot more people who share the same identities as me and allowed me to find communities I could be myself in.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Interview conducted by Abbey Machtig.