Interview of iele paloumpis

iele is a nonbinary dance artist and end-of-life doula from Chicago. They describe growing up in the conservative Greek Orthodox Church, surviving domestic abuse, and homelessness, before leaving Chicago to attend a small women’s college. After college, they moved to Philadelphia, where they encountered a diverse queer community and came into their nonbinary identity, before moving to New York for more stable work as a dancer. They discuss the anti-trans policies of women’s colleges, their experience as a disabled and chronically ill person, housing insecurity, sex work, and their journey to becoming a doula, herbalist, and mystic.

Date of Interview:

March 6, 2019

Location of Interview:

Iele's Apartment

Place of birth:

Chicago, Illinois

Pronouns:

they/them

Interviewed by

Kamryn Wolf

Summary by

Steven Saada