Michelle Guzman: never shy away from who you are

"I was always looking for some sort of permission to come out."

Michelle Guzman (she/her) is a fairly recent Milwaukee transplant after a childhood in Washington State and living from Alaska to New York due to a military marriage. 

After high school, she obtained a technical certificate in aviation maintenance and soon will be starting a new position at Jet Out, a charter business jet company. Michelle also works part-time as an instructor at MATC, in the same aviation maintenance program she graduated from, preparing the next generation of aviation mechanics.

Michelle is a proud steering committee member with Bi Plus Pride Milwaukee. Her association with Bi+ Pride Milwaukee began in 2018, not long after the organization started in person events and activities. For about a decade, she was also very active in the roller derby community, most recently playing for the Root River Rollers team.

When Michelle moved to Milwaukee she met Lexy Lunger, who was openly and proudly bisexual, and she finally felt empowered to fully own her authentic identity. Lexy's confidence and joy in her bisexuality inspired Michelle. Lexy is married to a man but was very certain in her bisexuality. It was not long until they both joined the Bi Pride Milwaukee community, which has been transformative.

“I felt that maybe I was an imposter, since I was married to a man. I think I was looking for some sort of permission to come out. Lexy was so supportive and then we found Bi Pride Milwaukee. I finally felt I could be as loud as I wanted to be about my bisexuality.”

Michelle has since come out to her very supportive parents. Michelle’s mom knew there were straight people and gay people, so Michelle’s coming out was an educational experience for her Mom, as well. It was an introduction to the fact that there were bisexual people and that they exist.

“I’m grateful that my openness has encouraged several close friends to also come out to me. While I've faced some bi-antagonism and bi-erasure, such as a family member suggesting my bisexuality was due to trauma, I've been incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by a loving, accepting community, both in my personal life and the larger LGBTQ sphere. I was in roller derby for about ten years and many of my derby friends were queer so it felt like a really supportive community for me.”

Being bisexual has brought Michelle immense joy, especially in raising her son, Tony, to be so open and accepting of all identities. She is proud to be openly bisexual and polyamorous, never shying away from who she is. While she admits there have been times she feels that she and her girlfriend of three years have been subject to fetishization, because of their relationship,  she finally feels like a valid member of the larger LGBTQ community.

“ At my first pride parade, my son, Tony, came as Pride Boy. He was dressed in pride gear and it is my favorite thing ever. Now he’s 13 and doesn’t want to dress up anymore, but he is still at Pride to support me. He doesn’t understand why anyone wouldn’t be open and accepting.”

When it comes to his mom having a boyfriend and a girlfriend,  Michelle laughs that Tony’s biggest concern is who is going to make dinner. As a mom, Michelle knows that teaching him acceptance for all people is one of her most important jobs as a parent.

Looking to the future, Michelle hopes to continue growing in her career, potentially even running her own aviation maintenance shop one day. 

And for the bi community, Michelle is excited to see it continue expanding and thriving, especially here in Milwaukee where the local group provides such a strong foundation. Overall, embracing her bisexuality has undoubtedly changed her life for the better, filling it with love, pride, and a wonderful sense of self-acceptance.