Bonnie Violet Quintana

Interviewed By

Lisa McClain, Boise State UniversityFollow
Seth Budd, Boise State University
Micah Hetherington, Boise State University

Biography

In this powerful interview, Bonnie Violet Quintana reflects on her journey as a transgender, queer chaplain, activist, and artist who has long been involved in LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS advocacy in Idaho and beyond. She shares how transitioning brought clarity, joy, and spiritual renewal, even as it created distance with her family. Quintana recounts founding Trans Joy Boise, organizing Idaho’s first large-scale Trans March, and integrating drag, spirituality, and community-building into her public work. Her story highlights resilience, faith, and the importance of chosen family, offering a vision of joyful authenticity and healing for queer and trans people in red-state America.

Keywords

LGBTQ+, transgender, genderqueer, Trans March, Trans Joy Boise, activism, a.l.p.h.a.

Interview Date

2-21-2025

Files

Interview Duration

1:22:06

City

Boise, ID

Rights Management

This material is copyrighted by Special Collections and Archives, Boise State University

Disciplines

Gender and Sexuality | History of Gender | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies