Bay Windows, New England’s Largest LGBT Newspaper, July 17, 2003

“Interview with Katchi Lessard ” 

Compiled by Rudy Kikel

What kind of name is that? “I’m Brazilian, and Lessard is French, from my ex-husband. My first name, Katchi, is Brazilian for Kate.”

Birthday: “April 25, 1962”

Sign: “I’m a Taurus.”

Have you heard anything about Taurus that seems true of you? “Down to earth, sensitive, and they say that Taurus is very sensual.”

Aren’t all Brazilians supposed to be? “Most of them. The way they walk, the way they dance.”

Current residence: “Lawrence, Mass. I’ve been here in America for 17 years.”

Ethnic roots: “My grandfather on my father’s side is German; his wife is African; on my mother’s side, we’re Portuguese and Italian and native Brazilian Indian.”

Religion: “Spiritual”

Were you raised anything else? “I was raised Catholic.”

Occupation: “I’m a realtor for Keller Williams in Andover, Mass.”

Is there an email number people can reach you at? “Yes: Katchidat@aol.com”

Points of origin: “I was born in Belo Horizone, Brazil. ‘Beautiful Horizons’ is what that means. I’m the oldest of two. I have a brother a year younger than me.

Even if there were only two children in the family, my grandfather and his 11 brothers and sisters lived on the same street, which means my extended family was humungous.

Growing up like that, family is very important to me.

I was the first woman in my whole family to go to college. Instead they all did high school and got married.

My family had a soccer team representing the neighborhood, and in the whole league I was the only girl. My father and uncles were all professional soccer players. From my house, I could look over a fence and watch professional soccer games being played, we were so close to the field.

Professional soccer didn’t exist for women then, so I switched in high school to volleyball. I played through my high school and college years.

I graduated from the Faculdade de Ciencias Humanas (The University of Human Science) in Belo Horizonte in 1985, and in ’86 I decided to come to America. I grabbed my suitcase, my endless curiosity, and came. At the time I didn’t speak one word of English.

Because of that I did a lot of jobs in which I didn’t have to talk, that were mostly physical and visual, like assembling electronic boards.

My first two years were very hard. I spent the first six months crying a lot. Learning to speak English, I felt like a baby again.”

Did you have any friends here? “Anyone who spoke Portuguese would be my friend.

I was here five years when I met Ronny, the man I would marry. With him I had Christopher, my son, who is 10 years old now. After being married to Ronny for six years, I started to have different feelings towards women. I was 35 years old at this point.

I didn’t come out until I was 37.

When I came out to my husband, the first two months were very hard. Then he came to me and said he was gay also. Now we’re both out, we live next door to each other, we are still friends, and we are raising our son Christopher together.

After I learned the language, and got my degree, I started working for the Dept. of Social Services, first as a social worker, then as a Domestic Violence Specialist for the Northeast. After that I did some personal coaching, and then decided to go into the business world, to entirely change my profession. That was only six months ago. Now I’m a realtor, and I love my job. I sometimes think I was born to be a realtor. Being a realtor I can integrate all my different skills: I’m coaching, mediating, counseling.”

I know you’re involved with 'Camp' Camp. How did that come about? “When I came out I had no community. I didn’t want to just be in bars. I wanted somewhere to be able to have a good conversation, make friends. Online I was looking to meet lesbians, and online I found ‘Camp’ Camp, ‘a summer camp for GLBT adults.’ It happens one week a year. This year it’s August 18-24, in Kezar Falls, Maine.

Last year we had 200 campers and staff, from 24 states and 12 foreign countries, the range of ages is from 23 to 63, with most in the later 20s and middle 40s. 45% were women, 55% were men. And 80% were single."

You’ll do it again this year? “For the 3rd time. I can’t imagine my vacation without ‘Camp’ Camp. They’re great people. There are a lot of activities, but the people make the place. Some people have been coming for seven years, from the time it was founded.”

What’s the big appeal? “It’s so peaceful and friendly; it’s like magic – there’s no other word for it. You have to live it in order to know what I’m talking about.

In 10 years, I dream “of seeing my son growing strong and healthy, emotionally and physically – and ready to take his place in the world.”

Do you have a partner? “No”

Are you looking? “Too busy. I hope she will find me. I hope she has a sense of humor, is easy-going and someone who takes care of herself as a whole – emotionally, physically, spiritually. And has to like being around kids, including the kid inside of herself.”

What are you busy with? “Work, motherhood, mostly work – because I’m building my business. But also dance: I’m passionate about dance. And the time I spend in the gym (the club’s in Lowell) is the only personal time I have, really.”

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