Nancy Armstrong and E. J. Zita

Interviewed By

Lisa McClain, Boise State University

Biography

Longtime partners Nancy Armstrong and Dr. E.J. Zita reflect on their lives as a lesbian couple rooted in rural Idaho. Armstrong, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and nurse practitioner, and Zita, a physicist and former elected official, share their journeys through military service, activism, and queer community building. They discuss preserving the 125-year-old Armstrong-Zita Ranch, negotiating LDS Church norms, and navigating neighbors, community, and visibility in politically conservative Idaho. Their story blends family legacy, public service, and LGBTQ advocacy, offering a powerful testament to resilience, rural pride, and love grounded in place.

Keywords

LGBTQ+, LDS/Mormon Church, rural, activism, Idaho history, oral history, military history

Interview Date

1-31-2025

Files

Interview Duration

01:14:47

City

Robin, 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 | Oral History | United States History