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Fixmer-Oraiz, V (1978- )

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1978-

Biography

V Fixmer-Oraiz was born April 25, 1978 at the Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego to Gilda Payosing Oraiz bowman and James Allen. They graduated from Coronado High School in San Diego and completed coursework at several colleges California and North Carolina before earning an associates degree from Durham Technical Community College in 2008 and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina in 2010. During this period, Fixmer-Oraiz worked in food service, construction, and as a welder. In North Carolina, they began working as a drag performer, eventually becoming co-founder of a troupe of drag kings known as the Cuntry Kings, which operated for 10 years and toured nationally and internationally. Fixmer-Oraiz traveled to the Philippines from 2010-2011 as a Fulbright scholar, researching the impact of climate change on rural bamboo farmers. They completed a master’s degree in urban and regional planning at the University of Iowa in 2015. Fixmer-Oraiz then founded Astig Planning, a consultancy combining urban planning expertise with community organizing techniques. They have been involved with a number of community housing organizations, chairing the Housing and Community Development Commission and serving as vice president of the Johnson County Affordable Housing Commission. They were elected to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors in 2022 as the first biracial, transgender, and queer county supervisor in Iowa. Fixmer-Oraiz is married to Natalie Fixmer-Oraiz and they have two children.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

V Fixmer-Oraiz oral history collection

 Collection
Identifier: IWA1353
Scope and Contents The collection consists of one oral history interview with V Fixmer-Oraiz conducted in 2023. In the interview, Fixmer-Oraiz discusses their childhood, including growing up in a military family, living in Panama in 1989 during the US invasion, and coming out as gay in high school and the role played in their life by a supportive coach and teacher. The interview covers Fixmer-Oraiz’s educational path, including their experiences researching in the Philippines as a Fulbright scholar and a biracial Filipino American person. They discuss their urban planning career, with reference to Iowa water quality issues and the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm project. Fixmer-Oraiz also discusses their campaign and service as a Johnson County supervisor, including conflict between county and state-level regulations and their attempts to support LGBTQ+ rights at the county level, as well as how their identity as a nonbinary trans person affected their campaign. Fixmer-Oraiz discusses political...
Dates: 2023
Found in: Iowa Women's Archives

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