Oral History Interview: Matt Rightmire (1283)

Abstract

In this interview with Tiffany Schroeder, Matt Rightmire discusses his experiences being gay in Eau Claire and Medford in Wisconsin. Although there was a "rural mentality," he says the area is more open-minded than it is given credit. Matt discusses coming out, what it was like to be gay at UW-Eau Claire when he started attending the university in 1998, bullying experiences in elementary and middle school, the shifting tide/attitudes towards LGBTQ+ folk in Medford, and how schools and universities can be more accepting of LGBTQ+ students. Matt also discusses what it was like to know fellow LGBTQ+ students and how those interactions shaped his own coming out. From 2003-2005, Rightmire organized Pride in Eau Claire. He speaks of the events offered and of the struggles of maintaining it, also discussing the struggling LGBTQ community center in Eau Claire. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the UW-Madison Archive LGBTQ+ Civil Rights Project of the UW-Madison Archives’ Oral History Program.