Nikora, Naoki (Interview and transcript)

Interview conducted as part of HST372 Queer Public Histories (Professor Tivia Collins). This interview features Naoki Nikora, a sophomore at Wake Forest University from Beloit, Wisconsin. Naoki, who uses he/him pronouns and identifies as gay, shares his personal journey, reflecting on his Asian and Black heritage, his late coming-out experience just two years ago, and the challenges he faced in accepting his identity. He discusses his perspective on Wake Forest's treatment of LGBTQ+ students, its history, and the sense of being othered on campus. The conversation also explores his experiences as a gay man in Winston-Salem, his hopes for a more inclusive future, and the advice he would offer to his younger self and other queer youth.