Putsata Reang

Putsata Reang is an author and journalist whose writings have appeared in a variety of national and international publications, including the New York Times, The Guardian, Ms, The Seattle Times, and the San Jose Mercury News. She was born in Cambodia, and raised in rural Oregon, surrounded by berry farms where she and her family hustled as pickers and sorters to earn their middle class existence. She learned to deftly navigate between her two cultures – American and Cambodian – but being gay was a sudden gust to her balancing act. Her memoir explores the glades of displacement felt by children of refugees, and the overlay of emotional exile that comes with being gay.

Putsata has lived and worked in more than a dozen countries including Cambodia, Afghanistan, and Thailand. She is an alum of Hedgebrook writers residency and serves as an alum board member of the Mineral School artist residency.

Putsata received 2018 GAP Award funding for her memoir about growing up gay in a refugee family in rural Oregon. The book highlights the LGBTQ immigrant experience while exploring themes of inherited trauma, displacement, and identity.

Artist Trust thanks the Amazon Literary Partnership for underwriting this award through Artist Trust’s Corporate Partnership program. For information about supporting Washington State artists, visit here.