Iowa natives Nia and Katie Chiaramonte were featured in the Hulu documentary ‘We Live Here: The Midwest.’
DES MOINES, Iowa – Nia and Katie Chiaramonte look back on their childhood with fond memories.
The two met in second grade at Des Moines Christian School, and both women say they grew up in conservative homes with strong religious values.
“Growing up in one place, you’ve created this whole community around who you are, an identity that you present to the world,” Nia told Local 5. “Most people knew us since we were seven years old.”
Best friends for years, the duo began dating during their junior year of high school. After finishing college, starting a family, and returning to the Des Moines metro, they became very involved in their local church.
But that all changed in 2018, when Nia came out as transgender.
“At that time, we were leaders in the church,” Nia said. “When I go to the gas station, to the supermarket and they stare at me, of course, as if I were tough.”
“I think Nia coming out changed people’s idea of us, which in turn makes it hard to be yourself,” Katie added.
Many church members were accepting of Nia’s queer identity, but she says the church system as a whole was not fully supportive.
Nia and Katie decided to leave the church and found a new sense of community through One Iowa, an advocacy group for LBGTQ+ Iowans. Ultimately, after raising the idea of leaving Iowa entirely, they decided that a fresh start for themselves and their five children might be beneficial.
“I had really lost my identity without gaining a new one or finding a new community. So I had fallen apart and was waiting to be put back together,” Katie said.
The family of seven now lives in Maryland, which they say has become an “enclave” for families looking to leave other states.
“Moving here, I realized that every day was a fight in Iowa. Just like there are legislative issues, people see themselves as trans people, and that went away when we got here,” Nia told Local 5.
His story has now been publicized nationally. The Chiaramontes are one of five families Hulu is featuring in “We Live Here: The Midwest,” a documentary that looks at the lives of LGBTQ+ people living in the Midwest.
Although they no longer live in Iowa, both women have fond memories of their home state and visit frequently.
They also recently published a new book, “Embracing Queer Family,” and will be hosting a presentation at Beaverdale Books in July.
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