September 04, 2026 | Amy Luettgen

Noah Johnson: living his own historic truth

As a rising LGBTQ historian, Noah is connecting the next generation with their hidden heritage

Noah Johnson

Noah Johnson is a public history graduate student at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (UWEC.)

Born in Eau Claire and raised across several Wisconsin communities -- including River Falls and Chippewa Falls -- Noah spent his high school years at Chippewa Falls High School before pursuing both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at UWEC. He is also a volunteer intern with the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project working on archives for the organization.

Noah’s journey toward recognizing his identity as a bisexual trans man began in early elementary school through early childhood crushes. By the time he was in middle school, as online platforms and identity labels became increasingly popular among his peer group, he explored various terms before coming out as a bisexual trans man during his freshman year of high school.

While navigating mixed reactions from extended family, Noah found strong initial support from his paternal grandparents, whose progressive values provided an encouraging foundation during his youth.

“I’m a trans man but as a young kid I had a crush on a girl in my class. I heard a love song which used her name and I remember thinking that she was really pretty and had little kid crush thoughts. I brought it up to my parents and they didn’t seem to pay any attention to it. My grandma just told me my crush was perfectly ok and if I liked girls it was also ok.”

Coming of age in the Chippewa Valley, Noah initially sought community through online groups and social media platforms during middle and high school. Reflecting on those spaces, he notes both the vital peer connections they offered and the risks involved for young people navigating anonymous online environments.

Noah emphasizes keeping yourself safe and being aware that not everyone you meet online has your best interests at heart.

“Most of the online spaces I was in initially were places to share memes or play video games with someone else. I did join Google Plus and I do feel I was very heavily groomed there. I felt pressured to talk about sexual things and to share images with adults."

"However, it can also feel like a safe space to talk with your peers about trans subjects or queer subjects. I have mixed feelings about child protection online as sometimes it is the only place for young people, especially in more rural areas, to feel comfortable having conversations but I also want to warn about anonymous online spaces. Stranger danger can be very real.”

Donald Trump was elected president when Noah was in middle school. The negativity of the MAGA-verse regarding LGBTQ folks, and about trans people in particular, encouraged Noah to not only become aware of the political climate but also to sow the seeds for future political engagement and involvement. He reflects that it also started him on his academic path of research queer related issues.

During high school, Noah came out to his family with the labels bisexual and transgender man after years of experimenting with labels. While some family members were hesitant to support or believe the identity would “last long term”, his paternal grandparents were by his side from the beginning, which was a very positive factor as he was transitioning.

Unfortunately, Noah did not find the community he was looking for when he joined the high school Gay Straight Alliance.

“The GSA was more of a social group but it was also kind of depressing. It just seemed like an opportunity for people to complain. People said we would live in a world where we would never be accepted. I had suggested we make it a more happy and supportive environment and that did not happen so I just left.”

While Noah feels his parents do not share his political viewpoint, he is quick to reiterate that his paternal grandparents have always been supportive.

“They are super super liberal and they just seemed glad that I was different from my parents who are politically uneducated, conspiracy theorists. Their support has been important to me and I think pushed me into thinking about political action.”

Noah did find a supportive teacher when he was in high school after taking the teacher’s course. They saw Noah’s humanity and that was a very different vibe than what Noah was getting from many of the other teachers in the school.

“Some of the teachers treated me like a well put-together young man and were not judgemental about my identity.”

Noah’s undergrad years provided physical queer-affirming spaces, starting with living on UWEC’s "Rainbow Floor" dormitory community, which offered a supportive environment to build lifelong friendships. At UW-Eau Claire, Noah connected with Dr. Pam Forman in the Sociology Department. Dr. Forman served as his faculty research mentor for his project on transmasculine pregnancy, helping him build academic confidence and supporting his personal and professional growth.

Noah reflects that Dr Forman has always provided him with useful feedback and personal support. As an historian, Noah’s work centers on preserving and highlighting LGBTQ history in the Midwest. His academic achievements and research include his Master’s thesis researching AIDS activism in Wisconsin. He also emphasized Wisconsin’s significant role in LGBTQ rights and history. Noah has also written and presented research on transmasculine pregnancy at national and regional conferences.

On a personal note, he had the opportunity to participate in UWEC’s Civil Rights pilgrimage through the American South and completed a six-month study abroad program in Australia, ending with a celebratory trip with friends to Bali. All of these experiences have enriched Noah’s life and expanded his universe from an academic and personal growth perspective. Noah speaks candidly about the challenges of bi-erasure and bi-phobia, noting how romantic relationships can lead to false assumptions about an individual's identity. He emphasizes that relationship status does not alter underlying attraction and advocates for greater solidarity across multi-sexual and broader LGBTQ communities.

Currently, Noah is dating a cisgender gay man. He finds that people make assumptions about his identity based upon his partner.

“I’ve had three serious relationships in my life. It seems every single time depending upon whom I am dating people make assumptions and think I am gay or straight. Due to my current relationship people will just say I’m a gay man. My relationships don’t erase the fact that I am a bi man.”

He also reflects upon how difficult it can be when connecting with the larger LGBTQ community. It is often said to bi people that they should not bring their straight partner (or dissimilar gender partner) to Pride.

“If I’m in a relationship with a woman, am I not allowed to be at Pride? I think this can also be tied to misogyny against bi women and that is just gross. A lot of people may not feel that way but it still does not help the situation [of bi people not feeling welcome at Pride celebrations]”

When asked what he loves about being bi, Noah is quick to point out how seen and celebrated he feels by the bisexual pride flag. He loves that he is able to express and be visible by wearing and sharing his bi colors.

"The fact that a collection of people can share the same label, maybe not the exact same experiences, but we are under the same label. We can see each other and feel we are in community. I can have my bi flag out or paint my nails in bi colors and people can immediately know my identity. It is just such a beautiful flag.”

Noah would like to see people come together regardless of the label they use. He feels everyone, regardless of identity or label, have more in common than anything that divides them. Division is not beneficial and during a time when it seems the political environment is anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ it is important to support each other.

“I remember in middle school how people would fight about labels. We need to stop being hung up on little details. I have a friend who identified as gay for 13 years and recently came out as bi. He was insecure about whether people would take him seriously as a bi person. People should be able to be comfortable with their own journey.”

When asked what he is most proud of Noah said there were two big things that stood out.

“Being a queer historian, studying queer history, and studying queer ancestors. It feels like there is hope there as I learn more about their stories. Right now, I am writing my thesis on AIDS activism in Wisconsin. I know from digging into the archives that Wisconsin is not only a state with queer history but the first state to pass an anti-discrimination law protecting LGBTQ people in the workplace and housing. Studying Wisconsin queer history has been very empowering. “

In his freshman year in college, Noah was able to participate in a Civil Rights pilgrimage. He was able to step out of a ‘box’ he had been in and learn so much about civil rights history, visit beautiful museums learning about African-American history. In addition, Noah had the opportunity to study abroad in Australia. This was another experience which broadened his perspective. Another important accomplishment for Noah was presenting his work on transmasculine pregnancy at three conferences. He attended conferences in Washington DC, Madison and Eau Claire sharing the research he had done.

Noah sees himself as having grown significantly as a person due to his studies and research.

“These were opportunities I never thought I would have. I thought I might be a college dropout like my parents. There is nothing wrong with that but I am thankful for how much my world has been broadened by my educational opportunities.”

When asked what advice he would offer younger queer youth, Noah emphasizes patience and self-compassion.

"No need to rush on figuring yourself out—not just your sexuality label, but the way you express that, too... Take your time. I’ve also learned that I can express my own identity in different ways, in different settings, and in different environments. That doesn’t mean I’m necessarily closing part of myself away but that I accept my own fluidity"

What does the future holds for the community? Noah remains optimistic.

He encourages folks to know their queer history and feel affirmed and inspired by that knowledge. He suggests looking for support such as he had with his research mentor, Dr Pam Foreman at UWEC. Supportive people do exist and it is important to seek them out.

As a queer historian and researcher, Noah has accomplished a great deal in a very short time. It is clear that he knows where he is going and has the focus and energy to maintain his path.