Archives West Finding Aid

This oral history interview with Franklin Tokam-Powell was conducted by Rachel Ramirez on April 30, 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Tokam-Powell discusses his early life in Cameroon, including his family and education. He talks about feeling like he was different and being bullied; his close relationship with one of his older sisters; and his experience as a Jehovah's Witness. He discusses how he realized as a teenager that he was gay and that he would have to leave Cameroon, where homosexuality was criminalized. He talks about moving to Ukraine to attend the Ternopil Ivan Puluj National Technical University, including the culture shock he experienced, learning Ukrainian and Russian, and joining a band as a vocalist. He then talks about touring with his band in China in 2009; moving to China after earning his bachelor's degree in 2012; and moving to South Korea to study public policy at the KDI School of Public Policy and Management in Sejong City. He also talks about passing as straight, being outed to his family, and their subsequent rejection. He discusses becoming ill while in China, and his determination to live life as himself after he recovered. He talks about his experience in South Korea, including the racism he experienced, and how he met his future husband, Tristan Powell. He talks about the process of applying for a fiancé visa to the United States, his marriage to Powell, and his life and career in Oregon. He closes the interview by discussing his current relationship with his family; describing the political situation and the roots of homophobia in Cameroon; and his thoughts on American politics at the time of the interview in 2017.