WEBVTT 00:00:01.700 --> 00:00:03.000 So thinking too about, 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:03.480 you said your 00:00:03.480 --> 00:00:04.960 grandmother was a seamstress. 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:05.000 00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:05.720 Mm-hmm. 00:00:05.720 --> 00:00:06.480 What would be one 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:07.160 of your most 00:00:07.160 --> 00:00:08.780 memorable, um, 00:00:09.920 --> 00:00:11.960 gowns or your favorite, 00:00:11.960 --> 00:00:13.459 um, you know, 00:00:13.460 --> 00:00:14.880 costume that you wore, 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:16.000 or, or even 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:17.920 like maybe your loudest 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:18.800 moment as an 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:20.240 entertainer? 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:21.420 Well, the crazy thing 00:00:21.420 --> 00:00:22.099 is that, like 00:00:22.100 --> 00:00:22.900 I said, my grandmother 00:00:22.900 --> 00:00:23.720 was a seamstress, 00:00:23.720 --> 00:00:24.440 and I remember that 00:00:24.440 --> 00:00:25.240 she had these 00:00:25.240 --> 00:00:27.520 beautiful velour 00:00:27.520 --> 00:00:28.720 curtains that she used 00:00:28.720 --> 00:00:30.040 to put up, 00:00:30.040 --> 00:00:31.340 you know, during the 00:00:31.340 --> 00:00:32.860 holidays or just 00:00:32.860 --> 00:00:34.720 different events throughout the 00:00:34.720 --> 00:00:35.540 year. And I 00:00:35.540 --> 00:00:37.420 remember that she had 00:00:37.420 --> 00:00:38.700 given me these 00:00:38.700 --> 00:00:41.160 orange curtains, and 00:00:41.220 --> 00:00:42.520 I remember taking them 00:00:42.520 --> 00:00:43.220 to my friend 00:00:43.220 --> 00:00:44.780 Ashley and asking her 00:00:44.780 --> 00:00:45.320 to make me 00:00:45.320 --> 00:00:46.050 a gown 'cause I 00:00:46.050 --> 00:00:46.800 had seen a 00:00:46.800 --> 00:00:48.260 video, um, 00:00:49.400 --> 00:00:50.680 actually a magazine cover 00:00:50.680 --> 00:00:51.670 where it was 00:00:51.670 --> 00:00:53.040 an orange velour with 00:00:53.040 --> 00:00:54.000 beautiful stones and 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:54.580 it kinda had a 00:00:54.580 --> 00:00:55.800 peace sign. So 00:00:55.800 --> 00:00:56.920 she mimicked that for 00:00:56.920 --> 00:00:58.100 me. And I-- 00:00:58.100 --> 00:00:59.040 that was the first 00:00:59.040 --> 00:01:00.000 dress that I 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:01.380 ever owned. I don't 00:01:01.380 --> 00:01:02.050 know what happened 00:01:02.050 --> 00:01:02.460 to it, but I 00:01:02.460 --> 00:01:03.240 remember being so 00:01:03.240 --> 00:01:04.060 proud of it because 00:01:04.060 --> 00:01:04.680 it was something 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:05.460 that my grandmother had 00:01:05.460 --> 00:01:06.380 given me and 00:01:06.380 --> 00:01:06.980 that my best friend 00:01:06.980 --> 00:01:07.700 had sewn for 00:01:07.700 --> 00:01:08.580 me, so I was 00:01:08.580 --> 00:01:09.480 pretty excited about 00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:10.760 that. Mm. 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:12.980 Kind of weird, right? 00:01:12.980 --> 00:01:13.140 [laughs] 00:01:13.140 --> 00:01:13.500 No, not at all. 00:01:13.500 --> 00:01:14.120 [laughs] 00:01:14.120 --> 00:01:15.210 Now that I think 00:01:15.210 --> 00:01:16.020 about it. 00:01:16.020 --> 00:01:16.760 It's, it's really like 00:01:16.760 --> 00:01:17.300 you and your 00:01:17.300 --> 00:01:18.760 identity shining through in 00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:19.200 moments- 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:19.460 Mm-hmm 00:01:19.460 --> 00:01:19.780 ... of your life 00:01:19.780 --> 00:01:21.080 experience, so, which 00:01:21.080 --> 00:01:21.900 is exactly what we're 00:01:21.900 --> 00:01:23.740 hoping to, to 00:01:23.740 --> 00:01:25.400 capture. Um, do you 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:26.200 all have any 00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:27.440 thoughts and questions that 00:01:27.440 --> 00:01:28.100 you might think 00:01:29.740 --> 00:01:31.500 might spur some conversation? 00:01:31.500 --> 00:01:31.500 00:01:34.340 --> 00:01:34.840 It's like how to 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:36.460 phrase it, right? 00:01:36.460 --> 00:01:37.060 [laughs] Yeah. 00:01:44.020 --> 00:01:45.620 I think anything bad, 00:01:45.620 --> 00:01:47.340 dark moments for 00:01:47.340 --> 00:01:48.870 the community, things that, 00:01:48.870 --> 00:01:49.420 that I think 00:01:49.420 --> 00:01:50.600 we should explore through 00:01:50.600 --> 00:01:52.040 perspectives of everyone 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:53.120 as well. I know 00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:53.900 that we're talking 00:01:53.900 --> 00:01:56.020 post HIV AIDS epidemic 00:01:56.020 --> 00:01:56.940 and really kind 00:01:56.940 --> 00:01:58.510 of how everyone responded 00:01:58.510 --> 00:01:59.300 to, I think, 00:01:59.300 --> 00:02:01.460 rebuilding from that. Um, 00:02:01.460 --> 00:02:02.660 but even through 00:02:02.660 --> 00:02:03.360 the, I mean, right, 00:02:03.360 --> 00:02:04.640 Trump administration, things 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:05.240 like that, all that 00:02:05.240 --> 00:02:05.740 sort of stuff 00:02:05.740 --> 00:02:06.860 has been detrimental to 00:02:06.860 --> 00:02:08.340 everyone's psyche and 00:02:08.340 --> 00:02:10.009 life experience. But, you 00:02:10.009 --> 00:02:10.800 know, what other 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:12.820 moments, um, 00:02:12.820 --> 00:02:15.220 impacted the community and 00:02:15.220 --> 00:02:15.720 the work that 00:02:15.720 --> 00:02:16.900 you were doing? Um, 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:17.300 I mean, it 00:02:17.300 --> 00:02:17.800 could have been, not 00:02:17.800 --> 00:02:18.480 that the indoor 00:02:18.480 --> 00:02:19.820 closed, but you know, 00:02:19.820 --> 00:02:20.600 something that would 00:02:20.600 --> 00:02:21.400 have been as significant 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:22.060 as that. Maybe 00:02:22.060 --> 00:02:22.660 there was a place 00:02:22.660 --> 00:02:23.100 that was an 00:02:23.100 --> 00:02:24.300 anchor where everybody did 00:02:24.300 --> 00:02:25.660 perform and then 00:02:25.660 --> 00:02:26.640 that place, you know, 00:02:26.640 --> 00:02:27.500 closed down and 00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:28.190 it sort of created 00:02:28.190 --> 00:02:29.000 a bit of 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:29.790 a, a chasm that 00:02:29.790 --> 00:02:30.760 people had to 00:02:30.760 --> 00:02:32.260 adjust and redirect, and 00:02:32.260 --> 00:02:33.280 that's what sent 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:34.680 people in different directions 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:35.420 or things like 00:02:35.420 --> 00:02:35.820 that. 00:02:35.820 --> 00:02:36.420 Well, the, the... what 00:02:36.420 --> 00:02:37.760 I can remember 00:02:37.760 --> 00:02:38.840 i- is that, um, 00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:41.300 in '94, um, 00:02:41.300 --> 00:02:43.130 when I transitioned, 00:02:43.130 --> 00:02:45.079 that's when the 00:02:45.080 --> 00:02:47.140 administration kind of 00:02:47.140 --> 00:02:48.880 changed their policy 00:02:48.880 --> 00:02:50.460 on, uh, legal name 00:02:50.460 --> 00:02:51.959 changes and living 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:52.860 a- as a transgender 00:02:52.860 --> 00:02:54.140 woman to where 00:02:54.140 --> 00:02:55.450 it was no longer 00:02:55.450 --> 00:02:57.260 a mental illness 00:02:57.260 --> 00:02:58.200 and it was an 00:02:58.200 --> 00:02:59.480 opportunity to live 00:02:59.480 --> 00:03:00.980 and thrive. So I 00:03:00.980 --> 00:03:02.070 remember Ann Richards 00:03:02.070 --> 00:03:03.120 was governor, and I 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:05.000 remember that I 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:06.290 changed my name legally, 00:03:06.290 --> 00:03:06.980 and I wanna 00:03:06.980 --> 00:03:08.290 say that I was, 00:03:08.290 --> 00:03:09.340 I'm assuming, one 00:03:09.340 --> 00:03:10.430 of the first ones 00:03:10.430 --> 00:03:10.860 here in the 00:03:10.860 --> 00:03:12.660 Coastal Bend to actually 00:03:12.660 --> 00:03:13.299 get a chance 00:03:13.300 --> 00:03:14.260 to kind of live 00:03:14.260 --> 00:03:15.040 your life, you 00:03:15.040 --> 00:03:16.820 know, as a woman. 00:03:16.820 --> 00:03:17.549 I, I didn't 00:03:17.549 --> 00:03:18.800 think that was possible 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:19.460 before, and a 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:20.350 lot of people didn't 00:03:20.350 --> 00:03:21.420 get that luxury. 00:03:21.420 --> 00:03:22.580 I think that, you 00:03:22.580 --> 00:03:23.500 know, being trans 00:03:23.500 --> 00:03:24.580 was looked at pretty 00:03:24.580 --> 00:03:25.100 much as an 00:03:25.100 --> 00:03:26.609 illness. It wasn't that 00:03:26.609 --> 00:03:27.400 you could do 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:28.340 anything you set out 00:03:28.340 --> 00:03:29.540 to do. And 00:03:29.540 --> 00:03:30.540 I've been pretty lucky. 00:03:30.540 --> 00:03:31.140 I think that 00:03:31.140 --> 00:03:32.000 everything I've set out 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:32.600 to do, I've 00:03:32.600 --> 00:03:34.240 done. I don't think 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:34.799 that I've had 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:35.820 a lot of hardships. 00:03:35.820 --> 00:03:36.299 I mean, I, 00:03:36.300 --> 00:03:37.080 I'm pretty sure I 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:38.660 have, but I 00:03:38.660 --> 00:03:39.300 don't think that they 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:40.440 outshine the good 00:03:40.440 --> 00:03:41.549 and the opportunities that 00:03:41.549 --> 00:03:42.820 I've had. I 00:03:42.820 --> 00:03:44.100 know that we've had 00:03:44.100 --> 00:03:44.460 a lot of 00:03:44.460 --> 00:03:45.460 bars closed. We've had 00:03:45.460 --> 00:03:45.859 a lot of 00:03:45.860 --> 00:03:47.700 tragedies. Um, 00:03:48.800 --> 00:03:49.580 I know that I've 00:03:49.580 --> 00:03:50.680 been working with 00:03:50.680 --> 00:03:52.380 the Texas Riviera Empire 00:03:52.380 --> 00:03:54.100 for 26 years 00:03:54.100 --> 00:03:55.500 and, um, sometimes I'm 00:03:55.500 --> 00:03:57.780 really, really involved 00:03:57.780 --> 00:03:58.580 and other times it's 00:03:58.580 --> 00:03:59.020 just take a 00:03:59.020 --> 00:03:59.760 back seat and help 00:03:59.760 --> 00:04:00.300 them how I 00:04:00.300 --> 00:04:02.020 can. But I remember 00:04:02.020 --> 00:04:03.600 their work being 00:04:03.600 --> 00:04:05.580 instrumental in 00:04:05.580 --> 00:04:07.470 change. I remember that 00:04:07.470 --> 00:04:08.260 they were doing 00:04:08.260 --> 00:04:09.520 some amazing work for 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:10.340 everybody, you know, 00:04:10.340 --> 00:04:11.160 people that were dying 00:04:11.160 --> 00:04:12.700 in our community, 00:04:12.700 --> 00:04:14.240 people that were, um, 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:16.479 being attacked, people 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:17.800 that were being, um... 00:04:17.800 --> 00:04:20.100 I, I just, 00:04:20.100 --> 00:04:21.300 I just remember 00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:22.220 their work being so 00:04:22.220 --> 00:04:23.780 amazing. Even now, 00:04:23.780 --> 00:04:25.000 I'm so impressed with 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:25.500 the work that 00:04:25.500 --> 00:04:27.060 they do because, you 00:04:27.060 --> 00:04:27.940 know, it's hard. 00:04:27.940 --> 00:04:29.460 It's hard to run 00:04:29.460 --> 00:04:30.820 an organization now. 00:04:30.820 --> 00:04:32.750 I'm, I'm surprised that 00:04:32.750 --> 00:04:33.840 Katana and I 00:04:33.840 --> 00:04:34.710 have been with the 00:04:34.710 --> 00:04:35.560 Trans Alliance for 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:36.840 10 years because we 00:04:36.840 --> 00:04:37.800 haven't always had 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:38.650 support, you know? It's 00:04:38.650 --> 00:04:39.400 actually been an 00:04:39.400 --> 00:04:41.580 uphill battle, but, uh, 00:04:41.580 --> 00:04:42.360 we love it, 00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:43.060 you know. And I- 00:04:43.060 --> 00:04:44.330 people always say, 00:04:44.330 --> 00:04:44.920 "Oh, you know, you 00:04:44.920 --> 00:04:46.000 had so many 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:47.320 people against you." I 00:04:47.320 --> 00:04:47.820 don't think we 00:04:47.820 --> 00:04:48.420 ever looked at it 00:04:48.420 --> 00:04:48.940 like that. I 00:04:48.940 --> 00:04:49.520 think we looked at 00:04:49.520 --> 00:04:49.960 it as we 00:04:49.960 --> 00:04:50.800 have so many people 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:52.140 that are working 00:04:52.140 --> 00:04:53.660 with us. So 10 00:04:53.660 --> 00:04:54.660 years is amazing, 00:04:54.660 --> 00:04:55.720 and we're hoping that 00:04:55.720 --> 00:04:56.760 for another 10. 00:04:56.760 --> 00:04:57.220 You know, we never 00:04:57.220 --> 00:04:58.180 know. We'll see 00:04:58.180 --> 00:04:59.080 what happens. 00:04:59.080 --> 00:04:59.640 Do you feel there's 00:04:59.640 --> 00:05:00.620 been progress in 00:05:00.620 --> 00:05:01.560 the community over the 00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:03.640 last 30 years? 00:05:03.640 --> 00:05:05.700 Oh, most definitely. Most 00:05:05.700 --> 00:05:06.840 definitely. 00:05:06.840 --> 00:05:07.720 Is it safer? 00:05:09.880 --> 00:05:11.090 Well, you know, I 00:05:11.090 --> 00:05:13.240 think technology is 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:15.020 a double-edged sword. I 00:05:15.020 --> 00:05:15.620 think we can 00:05:15.620 --> 00:05:16.900 highlight our successes, and 00:05:16.900 --> 00:05:17.520 I think we 00:05:17.520 --> 00:05:19.680 can create visibility, but 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:20.580 then also we 00:05:20.580 --> 00:05:21.760 can also put ourselves 00:05:21.760 --> 00:05:23.320 at jeopardy because 00:05:23.320 --> 00:05:24.760 people know what you're 00:05:24.760 --> 00:05:25.780 doing, where you're 00:05:25.780 --> 00:05:26.660 at, and what you've 00:05:26.660 --> 00:05:27.560 got going on. 00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:30.000 Do I feel like 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:31.300 we're safer now? 00:05:33.980 --> 00:05:36.280 Honestly, yes, 00:05:36.280 --> 00:05:38.700 because we're 00:05:38.700 --> 00:05:41.140 stronger. But 00:05:41.140 --> 00:05:43.080 for a trans 00:05:43.080 --> 00:05:43.880 woman, it is a 00:05:43.880 --> 00:05:45.100 little scary, especially 00:05:45.100 --> 00:05:45.500 when you have an 00:05:45.500 --> 00:05:46.420 administration that is 00:05:46.420 --> 00:05:47.860 trying to demonize us 00:05:47.860 --> 00:05:48.800 when all we're 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:49.420 trying to do is 00:05:49.420 --> 00:05:50.300 just bring change 00:05:50.300 --> 00:05:51.430 for our community, you 00:05:51.430 --> 00:05:53.220 know, pretty much. 00:05:54.960 --> 00:05:55.880 That's a serious question. 00:05:55.880 --> 00:05:56.180 00:05:56.180 --> 00:05:57.159 Yeah. [laughs] 00:05:57.160 --> 00:05:58.130 What do you think 00:05:58.130 --> 00:05:59.780 your, like, interaction 00:05:59.780 --> 00:06:00.840 with the focus 00:06:00.840 --> 00:06:03.144 group-Like city 00:06:03.144 --> 00:06:04.084 and a, as an 00:06:04.084 --> 00:06:05.424 entity and the, 00:06:05.424 --> 00:06:06.264 the mayor and just, 00:06:06.264 --> 00:06:07.364 and a- across 00:06:07.364 --> 00:06:08.304 the generations and city 00:06:08.304 --> 00:06:09.804 councils, have you 00:06:09.804 --> 00:06:10.884 felt that there's been 00:06:10.884 --> 00:06:12.344 like, kind of 00:06:12.344 --> 00:06:14.014 piggybacking off Jonathan's question, 00:06:14.014 --> 00:06:15.164 have you felt 00:06:15.164 --> 00:06:16.964 that the Corpus Christi 00:06:16.964 --> 00:06:17.923 as a community 00:06:17.924 --> 00:06:19.584 has gotten better over 00:06:19.584 --> 00:06:20.444 time? Has it 00:06:20.444 --> 00:06:22.104 been stagnant, or has 00:06:22.104 --> 00:06:23.244 it declined? 00:06:23.244 --> 00:06:24.264 Or even periods of 00:06:24.264 --> 00:06:25.644 targeting the community 00:06:25.644 --> 00:06:26.574 and going after them- 00:06:26.574 --> 00:06:26.704 00:06:26.704 --> 00:06:26.794 Um- 00:06:26.794 --> 00:06:27.334 ... or periods of 00:06:27.334 --> 00:06:28.264 support? 00:06:28.264 --> 00:06:28.944 I am actually not 00:06:28.944 --> 00:06:29.544 talking about the 00:06:29.544 --> 00:06:30.804 LGBT community. I'm talking 00:06:30.804 --> 00:06:30.984 about Corpus- 00:06:30.984 --> 00:06:32.144 In general. Yep 00:06:32.144 --> 00:06:32.834 ... in general. 00:06:32.834 --> 00:06:33.784 Oh, all right. 00:06:33.784 --> 00:06:35.744 Yeah. Um, I honestly 00:06:35.744 --> 00:06:36.364 think that there 00:06:36.364 --> 00:06:37.624 has been progression. I've 00:06:37.624 --> 00:06:39.064 been, um, fortunate 00:06:39.064 --> 00:06:39.733 enough to work with 00:06:39.733 --> 00:06:41.004 Pride Corpus Christi 00:06:41.004 --> 00:06:42.484 to bring a, um, 00:06:42.484 --> 00:06:44.604 proclamation for an 00:06:44.604 --> 00:06:46.004 LGBT day in my 00:06:46.004 --> 00:06:47.504 hometown of Robstown, 00:06:47.504 --> 00:06:48.324 which I'm pretty proud 00:06:48.324 --> 00:06:49.464 of. I have 00:06:49.464 --> 00:06:51.244 worked with Paulette Guajardo 00:06:51.244 --> 00:06:52.924 on projects. I 00:06:52.924 --> 00:06:54.524 have worked with a 00:06:54.524 --> 00:06:55.464 lot of people, 00:06:55.464 --> 00:06:56.624 and I think that 00:06:56.624 --> 00:06:57.384 being raised by 00:06:57.384 --> 00:06:58.184 my grandmother, I think 00:06:58.184 --> 00:06:58.844 it's about how 00:06:58.844 --> 00:06:59.644 you walk into a 00:06:59.644 --> 00:07:00.724 room. I think 00:07:00.724 --> 00:07:01.464 if you walk into 00:07:01.464 --> 00:07:02.264 a room and 00:07:02.264 --> 00:07:03.424 your only conversation is 00:07:03.424 --> 00:07:04.064 about being a 00:07:04.064 --> 00:07:05.494 trans woman, then it's 00:07:05.494 --> 00:07:06.044 gonna be a 00:07:06.044 --> 00:07:07.464 difficult room to conquer. 00:07:07.464 --> 00:07:08.244 But if you 00:07:08.244 --> 00:07:08.904 walk in with a 00:07:08.904 --> 00:07:09.823 smile and you 00:07:09.824 --> 00:07:11.064 say hello to everyone, 00:07:11.064 --> 00:07:11.944 and you pay 00:07:11.944 --> 00:07:13.144 attention to what's going 00:07:13.144 --> 00:07:13.564 on in the 00:07:13.564 --> 00:07:14.904 room, and you engage 00:07:14.904 --> 00:07:16.664 in conversation, I 00:07:16.664 --> 00:07:17.264 think that you can 00:07:17.264 --> 00:07:17.764 get a lot 00:07:17.764 --> 00:07:18.464 done. And I've been 00:07:18.464 --> 00:07:20.084 very fortunate to 00:07:20.084 --> 00:07:20.744 work with a lot 00:07:20.744 --> 00:07:21.704 of people, and 00:07:21.704 --> 00:07:23.204 I think that I've 00:07:23.204 --> 00:07:24.304 also been fortunate 00:07:24.304 --> 00:07:25.364 to progress in who 00:07:25.364 --> 00:07:26.404 I am. I 00:07:26.404 --> 00:07:27.764 think it's important to 00:07:27.764 --> 00:07:28.284 be the best 00:07:28.284 --> 00:07:29.864 representation of yourself, because 00:07:29.864 --> 00:07:31.364 they paint such 00:07:31.364 --> 00:07:32.384 a bad picture of 00:07:32.384 --> 00:07:33.284 a trans woman, 00:07:33.284 --> 00:07:34.104 and then they meet 00:07:34.104 --> 00:07:34.564 you and they're 00:07:34.564 --> 00:07:35.544 like, "Oh, you're nothing 00:07:35.544 --> 00:07:36.144 like I thought 00:07:36.144 --> 00:07:36.784 you were gonna be." 00:07:36.784 --> 00:07:39.264 And I'm just 00:07:39.264 --> 00:07:40.544 myself. You know, I'm 00:07:40.544 --> 00:07:41.604 just trying to 00:07:42.844 --> 00:07:43.964 save one person at 00:07:43.964 --> 00:07:46.344 a time. [laughs] 00:07:46.344 --> 00:07:46.724 I have one more 00:07:46.724 --> 00:07:48.124 question too. So 00:07:49.844 --> 00:07:51.004 I guess, like today 00:07:51.004 --> 00:07:51.944 can be like 00:07:51.944 --> 00:07:54.244 super gloomy with our 00:07:54.244 --> 00:07:55.684 political climate and 00:07:55.684 --> 00:07:56.604 with everything like that. 00:07:56.604 --> 00:07:57.763 What's something you 00:07:57.764 --> 00:07:59.224 do to stay positive 00:07:59.224 --> 00:08:00.684 and to have 00:08:00.684 --> 00:08:01.864 hope? 00:08:01.864 --> 00:08:03.464 Well, I entertain, I 00:08:03.464 --> 00:08:04.624 surround myself with 00:08:04.624 --> 00:08:05.384 people that I know 00:08:05.384 --> 00:08:06.804 care about me, 00:08:06.804 --> 00:08:07.604 that have my best 00:08:07.604 --> 00:08:09.384 interest, and I 00:08:09.384 --> 00:08:10.424 also try to promote 00:08:10.424 --> 00:08:11.123 other people who 00:08:11.123 --> 00:08:11.653 are on the same 00:08:11.653 --> 00:08:13.004 path. You know, 00:08:13.004 --> 00:08:13.654 I think that if 00:08:13.654 --> 00:08:15.204 we work together, 00:08:15.204 --> 00:08:16.574 we're stronger, and I 00:08:16.574 --> 00:08:17.304 think that we're 00:08:17.304 --> 00:08:17.904 all on the same 00:08:17.904 --> 00:08:18.744 mission, and that 00:08:18.744 --> 00:08:19.374 is to make sure 00:08:19.374 --> 00:08:20.564 that every human 00:08:20.604 --> 00:08:21.504 being is safe, not 00:08:21.504 --> 00:08:22.504 just the LGBT 00:08:22.504 --> 00:08:24.404 community. Um, I don't 00:08:24.404 --> 00:08:25.324 just do work 00:08:25.324 --> 00:08:26.684 for the LGBT community. 00:08:26.684 --> 00:08:27.764 I work with 00:08:27.764 --> 00:08:29.564 youth. I work with, 00:08:29.564 --> 00:08:31.294 um, communities in 00:08:31.294 --> 00:08:33.054 schools, any organization that 00:08:33.054 --> 00:08:33.624 I can help, 00:08:33.624 --> 00:08:34.294 because I know what 00:08:34.294 --> 00:08:34.824 it's like to 00:08:34.824 --> 00:08:36.054 grow up disadvantaged. I 00:08:36.054 --> 00:08:37.264 mean, growing up 00:08:37.264 --> 00:08:38.334 in Robstown, there was 00:08:38.334 --> 00:08:39.484 no amenities. You 00:08:39.484 --> 00:08:40.354 know, you pretty much 00:08:40.354 --> 00:08:41.524 shared everything. It 00:08:41.524 --> 00:08:43.764 was pretty much... It 00:08:43.764 --> 00:08:44.664 was difficult, but 00:08:44.664 --> 00:08:45.644 there was love, and 00:08:45.644 --> 00:08:46.264 as long as 00:08:46.264 --> 00:08:47.684 there's love, love can 00:08:47.684 --> 00:08:48.344 help you get 00:08:48.344 --> 00:08:49.704 through anything in life. 00:08:49.704 --> 00:08:50.684 I've learned that. 00:08:50.684 --> 00:08:51.644 So I think I'm 00:08:51.644 --> 00:08:52.543 on a, a 00:08:52.544 --> 00:08:53.984 mission to spread love. 00:08:53.984 --> 00:08:55.984 I think that's 00:08:55.984 --> 00:08:56.504 what I'm up to 00:08:56.504 --> 00:08:57.244 nowadays. 00:08:59.764 --> 00:09:00.964 Katana, anything you would 00:09:00.964 --> 00:09:02.344 want to... I 00:09:02.344 --> 00:09:03.034 mean, you know Britney 00:09:03.034 --> 00:09:04.564 well, right? You've, 00:09:04.564 --> 00:09:05.184 I guess over the 00:09:05.184 --> 00:09:06.514 last decade- 00:09:06.514 --> 00:09:06.514 [clears throat] 00:09:06.514 --> 00:09:07.994 ... experiences together. Is 00:09:07.994 --> 00:09:08.564 there anything that 00:09:08.564 --> 00:09:09.464 you didn't touch on 00:09:09.464 --> 00:09:10.284 that I think 00:09:10.284 --> 00:09:12.284 would be an 00:09:12.284 --> 00:09:14.164 important thread to follow? 00:09:14.164 --> 00:09:14.164 00:09:22.884 --> 00:09:23.324 Do you think you 00:09:23.324 --> 00:09:24.464 could expand more 00:09:24.464 --> 00:09:25.344 on like the hidden 00:09:25.344 --> 00:09:27.244 door not allowing 00:09:27.244 --> 00:09:28.244 like trans- 00:09:28.244 --> 00:09:28.264 Sure. 00:09:28.264 --> 00:09:29.424 Especially like trans people 00:09:29.424 --> 00:09:30.264 in there, trans 00:09:30.264 --> 00:09:31.704 women or, you know, 00:09:31.704 --> 00:09:33.204 entertainers as such, 00:09:33.204 --> 00:09:34.024 and then how like 00:09:34.024 --> 00:09:34.964 that change... Like 00:09:34.964 --> 00:09:36.124 where did the, where 00:09:36.124 --> 00:09:36.664 did it come 00:09:36.664 --> 00:09:37.614 from, the change of 00:09:37.614 --> 00:09:39.964 like allowing divas 00:09:39.964 --> 00:09:40.744 to come in and 00:09:40.744 --> 00:09:41.264 be a part 00:09:41.264 --> 00:09:42.924 of, of this scene? 00:09:42.924 --> 00:09:43.004 00:09:43.004 --> 00:09:44.424 Well, when I first 00:09:44.424 --> 00:09:45.223 came out, which 00:09:45.224 --> 00:09:46.304 was summer of '88, 00:09:46.304 --> 00:09:46.744 and when I 00:09:46.744 --> 00:09:48.304 started going out in 00:09:48.304 --> 00:09:50.444 '91, it was 00:09:50.444 --> 00:09:51.484 just that things were 00:09:51.484 --> 00:09:52.314 cliquish. You know 00:09:52.314 --> 00:09:52.904 what I mean? They 00:09:52.904 --> 00:09:53.604 had a leather 00:09:53.604 --> 00:09:54.684 bar, and that's what 00:09:54.684 --> 00:09:55.443 that was. It 00:09:55.444 --> 00:09:57.584 was for men. But, 00:09:57.584 --> 00:09:59.544 um, gay men 00:09:59.544 --> 00:10:01.003 really didn't like 00:10:02.084 --> 00:10:04.144 drag queens back in 00:10:04.144 --> 00:10:04.804 the day, and 00:10:04.804 --> 00:10:05.934 drag queens really didn't 00:10:05.934 --> 00:10:07.024 like trans women. 00:10:07.024 --> 00:10:07.384 You know what I 00:10:07.384 --> 00:10:08.824 mean? It wasn't-- 00:10:08.824 --> 00:10:09.604 And you weren't really 00:10:09.604 --> 00:10:10.444 a trans woman 00:10:10.444 --> 00:10:11.464 who did drag back 00:10:11.464 --> 00:10:12.384 in the day. 00:10:12.444 --> 00:10:12.884 If you were a 00:10:12.884 --> 00:10:13.704 trans woman, you 00:10:13.704 --> 00:10:14.624 kind of lived your 00:10:14.624 --> 00:10:15.484 life. You know, 00:10:15.484 --> 00:10:16.184 you went out and 00:10:16.184 --> 00:10:17.723 you worked or 00:10:17.723 --> 00:10:18.644 got married or did 00:10:18.644 --> 00:10:19.603 whatever you wanted 00:10:19.603 --> 00:10:20.663 to do, but you 00:10:20.663 --> 00:10:22.144 really weren't performers. 00:10:22.144 --> 00:10:22.684 You know, it wasn't 00:10:22.684 --> 00:10:24.284 till later that 00:10:24.284 --> 00:10:25.184 some of these trans 00:10:25.184 --> 00:10:26.244 women decided to 00:10:26.244 --> 00:10:28.464 become showgirls. But 00:10:28.464 --> 00:10:29.964 they, there was 00:10:29.964 --> 00:10:31.184 really no acceptance. You 00:10:31.184 --> 00:10:32.904 know, the gay 00:10:32.904 --> 00:10:34.784 men didn't understand drag 00:10:34.784 --> 00:10:36.164 queens, and drag 00:10:36.164 --> 00:10:37.644 queens didn't understand trans 00:10:37.644 --> 00:10:38.744 women. And I 00:10:38.744 --> 00:10:39.424 wanna say that it 00:10:39.424 --> 00:10:40.684 was probably about 00:10:40.684 --> 00:10:43.024 2000 where everybody 00:10:43.024 --> 00:10:43.764 kind of said, "You 00:10:43.764 --> 00:10:44.584 know what? It's 00:10:44.584 --> 00:10:45.904 an even playing field. 00:10:45.904 --> 00:10:46.584 You know, let's 00:10:46.584 --> 00:10:47.844 all work together. Let's, 00:10:47.844 --> 00:10:49.404 let's welcome these 00:10:49.404 --> 00:10:50.424 trans women onto our 00:10:50.424 --> 00:10:52.124 stage. Let's, you 00:10:52.124 --> 00:10:53.204 know, let's accept these 00:10:53.204 --> 00:10:54.504 drag performers, and 00:10:54.504 --> 00:10:56.444 let's celebrate these gay 00:10:56.444 --> 00:10:57.164 men." You know, 00:10:57.164 --> 00:10:58.464 we're all, you know, 00:10:58.464 --> 00:10:59.184 pretty much on 00:10:59.184 --> 00:11:01.004 the same boat, trying 00:11:01.004 --> 00:11:01.844 to find out 00:11:01.844 --> 00:11:02.804 who we are, how 00:11:02.804 --> 00:11:03.244 we can be 00:11:03.244 --> 00:11:04.504 better people, and how 00:11:04.504 --> 00:11:05.964 we can live, 00:11:05.964 --> 00:11:06.944 you know, in harmony. 00:11:06.944 --> 00:11:07.704 Because at the 00:11:07.704 --> 00:11:08.144 end of the day, 00:11:08.144 --> 00:11:08.564 we have to 00:11:08.564 --> 00:11:09.844 coexist together, you know, 00:11:09.844 --> 00:11:11.264 regardless of our 00:11:11.264 --> 00:11:12.724 differences. 00:11:12.724 --> 00:11:14.124 How did that parallel 00:11:14.124 --> 00:11:16.024 nationally as opposed 00:11:16.024 --> 00:11:16.684 to what was happening 00:11:16.684 --> 00:11:17.384 in Texas and 00:11:17.384 --> 00:11:18.024 what was happening in 00:11:18.024 --> 00:11:19.184 the Coastal Bend? 00:11:19.184 --> 00:11:20.104 Did it trickle its 00:11:20.104 --> 00:11:21.104 way down over 00:11:21.104 --> 00:11:21.824 time, or did it 00:11:21.824 --> 00:11:22.844 actually start at 00:11:22.844 --> 00:11:24.384 different points? 00:11:24.384 --> 00:11:26.004 Well, I remember that 00:11:26.004 --> 00:11:27.504 late '90s there 00:11:27.504 --> 00:11:29.704 was the phenomenon of, 00:11:29.704 --> 00:11:31.304 um, you know, 00:11:31.304 --> 00:11:33.014 Jerry Springer, all of 00:11:33.014 --> 00:11:34.124 those shows, and 00:11:34.124 --> 00:11:35.724 like National Geographic was 00:11:35.724 --> 00:11:37.924 actually televising trans 00:11:37.924 --> 00:11:40.044 women transitioning. 00:11:40.044 --> 00:11:41.304 So there was this 00:11:41.304 --> 00:11:42.204 kind of like... 00:11:44.344 --> 00:11:45.764 People got very interested 00:11:45.764 --> 00:11:47.204 in the drag 00:11:47.204 --> 00:11:49.284 performances, in the trans 00:11:49.284 --> 00:11:51.284 women and, um, 00:11:51.284 --> 00:11:52.804 drag performers as 00:11:52.804 --> 00:11:53.514 well, men that would 00:11:53.514 --> 00:11:55.044 transition into amazing 00:11:55.044 --> 00:11:56.654 performers, and I think 00:11:56.654 --> 00:11:57.664 that that's when 00:11:57.664 --> 00:11:58.894 we all realized that, 00:11:58.894 --> 00:11:59.444 hey, we're all 00:11:59.444 --> 00:12:00.284 in this together, you 00:12:00.284 --> 00:12:01.504 know? And most 00:12:01.504 --> 00:12:03.124 definitely, I would say 00:12:03.124 --> 00:12:04.324 late '90s is 00:12:04.324 --> 00:12:05.044 when all of that 00:12:05.044 --> 00:12:06.084 on a national 00:12:06.084 --> 00:12:07.604 level started opening up, 00:12:07.604 --> 00:12:08.524 and some of 00:12:08.524 --> 00:12:09.074 it was great, and 00:12:09.074 --> 00:12:09.544 some of it 00:12:09.544 --> 00:12:10.194 was bad. I mean, 00:12:10.194 --> 00:12:10.824 you saw some 00:12:10.824 --> 00:12:11.564 of that Jerry Springer 00:12:11.564 --> 00:12:13.316 stuff. It was-Too 00:12:13.316 --> 00:12:15.056 much. But there was 00:12:15.056 --> 00:12:16.276 some amazing shows 00:12:16.276 --> 00:12:17.916 that highlighted our successes, 00:12:17.916 --> 00:12:18.956 and that was 00:12:18.956 --> 00:12:20.056 pretty awesome because we 00:12:20.056 --> 00:12:21.416 were able to 00:12:21.416 --> 00:12:22.496 showcase who we were, 00:12:22.496 --> 00:12:23.896 you know, and 00:12:23.896 --> 00:12:24.516 that we could all 00:12:24.516 --> 00:12:25.356 work together. 00:12:26.556 --> 00:12:27.716 Were there instances over 00:12:27.716 --> 00:12:28.276 the years that 00:12:28.276 --> 00:12:30.186 you saw affirming and 00:12:30.186 --> 00:12:31.696 supportive faith communities 00:12:31.696 --> 00:12:32.876 in the Coastal Bend 00:12:32.876 --> 00:12:34.196 that played advocacy 00:12:34.196 --> 00:12:35.216 roles and stepped in 00:12:35.216 --> 00:12:35.916 to support? 00:12:37.116 --> 00:12:37.636 Well, I grew up 00:12:37.636 --> 00:12:39.256 Catholic, so when 00:12:39.256 --> 00:12:39.916 I grew up, I 00:12:39.916 --> 00:12:40.456 mean, you know, 00:12:40.456 --> 00:12:41.316 my grandmother was in 00:12:41.316 --> 00:12:42.056 church four days 00:12:42.056 --> 00:12:43.596 a week. So I 00:12:43.596 --> 00:12:45.256 remember I waited 00:12:45.256 --> 00:12:46.236 to transition when I 00:12:46.236 --> 00:12:47.176 turned 18 just 00:12:47.176 --> 00:12:48.016 out of respect for 00:12:48.016 --> 00:12:50.476 my family. And 00:12:50.476 --> 00:12:52.076 quite honestly, I, 00:12:52.076 --> 00:12:53.996 um, I felt that 00:12:53.996 --> 00:12:54.936 way. I, I 00:12:54.936 --> 00:12:56.565 felt well into my 00:12:56.565 --> 00:12:58.356 40s that people 00:12:58.356 --> 00:12:59.616 should transition when they're 00:12:59.616 --> 00:13:00.996 18 years old, 00:13:00.996 --> 00:13:01.576 you know, when you 00:13:01.576 --> 00:13:02.136 can make your 00:13:02.136 --> 00:13:04.236 own decisions. Until 00:13:04.236 --> 00:13:06.496 I started facilitating 00:13:06.496 --> 00:13:07.376 a sor- a support 00:13:07.376 --> 00:13:08.836 group, and I 00:13:08.836 --> 00:13:11.076 met trans 00:13:11.076 --> 00:13:13.336 kids, trans youth, and 00:13:13.336 --> 00:13:14.276 I was seeing 00:13:14.276 --> 00:13:15.336 that they were doing... 00:13:15.336 --> 00:13:15.856 I mean, they 00:13:15.856 --> 00:13:18.146 were normal kids just 00:13:18.146 --> 00:13:19.256 wanting to live 00:13:19.256 --> 00:13:21.066 their lives. And, uh, 00:13:21.066 --> 00:13:21.836 when we first 00:13:21.836 --> 00:13:23.016 started the Be Human, 00:13:23.016 --> 00:13:25.336 uh, concert, that 00:13:25.336 --> 00:13:27.076 project, the two 00:13:27.076 --> 00:13:28.816 individuals that were our 00:13:28.816 --> 00:13:30.716 poster children had 00:13:30.716 --> 00:13:31.756 come in as suicide 00:13:31.756 --> 00:13:33.796 attempts, and 00:13:33.796 --> 00:13:35.476 now they are college 00:13:35.476 --> 00:13:37.196 graduates. They are 00:13:37.196 --> 00:13:38.636 living their best lives, 00:13:38.636 --> 00:13:39.856 all because they 00:13:39.856 --> 00:13:41.946 had support as teenagers, 00:13:41.946 --> 00:13:42.416 you know, and 00:13:42.416 --> 00:13:44.256 they got to graduate 00:13:44.256 --> 00:13:45.496 as who they 00:13:45.496 --> 00:13:47.116 were, you know, and 00:13:47.116 --> 00:13:49.176 I love that. 00:13:49.176 --> 00:13:51.236 I love that people 00:13:51.236 --> 00:13:52.356 change. I didn't. 00:13:52.356 --> 00:13:53.256 In my 40s, I 00:13:53.256 --> 00:13:54.376 was still, in 00:13:54.376 --> 00:13:55.856 a way, very prejudiced 00:13:55.856 --> 00:13:58.316 and very narrow-minded 00:13:58.316 --> 00:13:59.036 as to how 00:13:59.036 --> 00:14:00.196 things should be. You 00:14:00.196 --> 00:14:01.016 know, I didn't 00:14:01.016 --> 00:14:02.736 think that people should 00:14:02.736 --> 00:14:04.316 transition till after 00:14:04.316 --> 00:14:06.056 they were 18. Uh, 00:14:06.056 --> 00:14:06.776 but like I 00:14:06.776 --> 00:14:07.696 said, once you meet 00:14:07.696 --> 00:14:08.316 somebody and you 00:14:08.316 --> 00:14:09.296 put a face behind 00:14:09.296 --> 00:14:10.366 it, you're like, 00:14:10.366 --> 00:14:11.046 "Oh my God, these 00:14:11.046 --> 00:14:12.036 are just amazing 00:14:12.036 --> 00:14:13.836 kids that just want 00:14:13.836 --> 00:14:15.776 to thrive." And 00:14:15.776 --> 00:14:16.276 once you give them 00:14:16.276 --> 00:14:16.996 an outlet to 00:14:16.996 --> 00:14:19.396 thrive, they do some 00:14:19.396 --> 00:14:20.656 amazing work. I'm 00:14:20.656 --> 00:14:22.605 like... And I was, 00:14:22.605 --> 00:14:23.475 um, like I 00:14:23.475 --> 00:14:24.776 said, raised Catholic, so 00:14:24.776 --> 00:14:25.316 I always had 00:14:25.316 --> 00:14:26.346 that fear of like, 00:14:26.346 --> 00:14:27.156 "Oh my goodness," 00:14:27.156 --> 00:14:28.216 you know? But then 00:14:28.216 --> 00:14:28.856 I think once 00:14:28.856 --> 00:14:29.566 I got older and 00:14:29.566 --> 00:14:30.116 once I got 00:14:30.116 --> 00:14:31.956 more experienced, I never 00:14:31.956 --> 00:14:33.976 really lost faith 00:14:33.976 --> 00:14:34.676 in, um, 00:14:36.876 --> 00:14:38.256 in religion, but I 00:14:38.256 --> 00:14:39.096 also knew that 00:14:39.096 --> 00:14:39.656 I didn't need to 00:14:39.656 --> 00:14:40.265 go to church 00:14:40.265 --> 00:14:41.326 to do that. I 00:14:41.326 --> 00:14:41.836 could have a 00:14:41.836 --> 00:14:44.176 personal experience, you know, 00:14:44.176 --> 00:14:44.566 with, 00:14:48.156 --> 00:14:48.796 with my faith. 00:14:50.516 --> 00:14:52.796 Did you ever, um, 00:14:52.796 --> 00:14:54.015 have any interfacing 00:14:54.016 --> 00:14:54.976 with, like, the Loving 00:14:54.976 --> 00:14:56.295 Spoon or The 00:14:56.296 --> 00:14:57.436 Passage? 00:14:57.436 --> 00:14:58.916 The Loving Spoonful was 00:14:58.916 --> 00:15:00.096 actually 00:15:00.096 --> 00:15:02.136 before the Coastal Bend 00:15:02.136 --> 00:15:03.116 Wellness Foundation, and 00:15:03.116 --> 00:15:03.756 it was a group 00:15:03.756 --> 00:15:05.096 of women. I 00:15:05.096 --> 00:15:05.796 don't wanna say that 00:15:05.796 --> 00:15:06.576 they were lesbians 00:15:06.576 --> 00:15:07.456 'cause I don't know, 00:15:07.456 --> 00:15:08.036 but I know 00:15:08.036 --> 00:15:09.616 they were women that 00:15:09.616 --> 00:15:10.716 were feeding, 00:15:12.256 --> 00:15:14.536 um, people suffering from 00:15:14.536 --> 00:15:16.156 HIV and AIDS 00:15:16.156 --> 00:15:17.746 because their families and 00:15:17.746 --> 00:15:18.936 their employers were 00:15:18.936 --> 00:15:20.256 not... I mean, they, 00:15:20.256 --> 00:15:21.656 "We don't want 00:15:21.656 --> 00:15:22.996 you around us." So 00:15:22.996 --> 00:15:24.256 these women were 00:15:24.256 --> 00:15:25.236 raising... And I, I 00:15:25.236 --> 00:15:26.196 mean, I'm pretty 00:15:26.196 --> 00:15:26.976 sure there was men 00:15:26.976 --> 00:15:27.516 in there too, 00:15:27.516 --> 00:15:28.496 but I remember that 00:15:28.496 --> 00:15:29.316 the majority of 00:15:29.316 --> 00:15:31.356 those people were, um, 00:15:31.356 --> 00:15:33.476 women who were 00:15:33.476 --> 00:15:35.076 baking, who were, you 00:15:35.076 --> 00:15:36.596 know, providing shelter 00:15:36.596 --> 00:15:37.856 for these individuals, taking 00:15:37.856 --> 00:15:38.536 them to doctor's 00:15:38.536 --> 00:15:40.306 appointments, making sure that 00:15:40.306 --> 00:15:41.116 they had funeral 00:15:41.116 --> 00:15:43.006 expenses, and, and feeding 00:15:43.006 --> 00:15:44.396 them breakfast, lunch, 00:15:44.396 --> 00:15:45.566 and dinner. And those 00:15:45.566 --> 00:15:46.536 were some amazing 00:15:46.536 --> 00:15:47.236 people, and I think 00:15:47.236 --> 00:15:49.286 that's what opened 00:15:49.286 --> 00:15:50.076 the door for the 00:15:50.076 --> 00:15:51.216 Coastal Bend, uh, 00:15:51.216 --> 00:15:52.326 AIDS Foundation at that 00:15:52.326 --> 00:15:53.376 time, which is 00:15:53.376 --> 00:15:54.126 now the Coastal Bend 00:15:54.126 --> 00:15:55.616 Wellness Foundation, and 00:15:55.616 --> 00:15:57.456 that is a vital 00:15:57.456 --> 00:15:58.276 resource. I mean, 00:15:58.276 --> 00:15:59.456 they are doing some 00:15:59.456 --> 00:16:00.896 amazing work. I, 00:16:00.896 --> 00:16:03.126 I don't necessarily, um, 00:16:03.126 --> 00:16:04.716 use their services, 00:16:04.716 --> 00:16:05.416 but I know that 00:16:05.416 --> 00:16:06.316 lots of people 00:16:06.316 --> 00:16:07.496 in our community do, 00:16:07.496 --> 00:16:08.676 and that's why 00:16:08.676 --> 00:16:09.376 I try to raise 00:16:09.376 --> 00:16:10.176 money for them 00:16:10.176 --> 00:16:11.036 when I can and 00:16:11.036 --> 00:16:12.116 support them in 00:16:12.116 --> 00:16:14.256 any way possible. Regardless 00:16:14.256 --> 00:16:15.436 of who is 00:16:15.436 --> 00:16:16.936 in power or regardless 00:16:16.936 --> 00:16:17.515 of what is 00:16:17.516 --> 00:16:18.596 going on or whatever 00:16:18.596 --> 00:16:20.516 prejudices they have, 00:16:20.516 --> 00:16:21.896 I'm still gonna support 00:16:21.896 --> 00:16:23.856 everyone because a 00:16:23.856 --> 00:16:24.596 lot of my friends 00:16:24.596 --> 00:16:25.356 rely on those 00:16:25.356 --> 00:16:27.136 sources, you know, resources. 00:16:27.136 --> 00:16:28.996 I mean, 00:16:28.996 --> 00:16:30.335 100%, like they are 00:16:30.335 --> 00:16:31.636 living because of 00:16:31.636 --> 00:16:33.376 that. So... 00:16:33.376 --> 00:16:34.335 Speaking of some of 00:16:34.335 --> 00:16:35.656 the early advocates 00:16:35.656 --> 00:16:36.816 behind the Coastal Bend 00:16:36.816 --> 00:16:37.936 AIDS Foundation- 00:16:37.936 --> 00:16:38.196 Mm-hmm 00:16:38.196 --> 00:16:38.776 ... um, I did 00:16:38.776 --> 00:16:40.736 have personally, um, 00:16:40.736 --> 00:16:42.336 had interviewed many years 00:16:42.336 --> 00:16:44.116 ago Laura Yates. 00:16:44.116 --> 00:16:44.816 Mm-hmm. 00:16:44.816 --> 00:16:45.396 Um, and did you 00:16:45.396 --> 00:16:46.436 ever work with- 00:16:46.436 --> 00:16:46.876 I have 00:16:46.876 --> 00:16:47.456 ... Laura Yates? 00:16:47.456 --> 00:16:48.956 I have. Um, my 00:16:48.956 --> 00:16:50.556 earliest recollection was 00:16:50.556 --> 00:16:51.716 with Matt Stevens. I 00:16:51.716 --> 00:16:52.136 don't know if 00:16:52.136 --> 00:16:52.696 you know this or 00:16:52.696 --> 00:16:53.276 not, but he 00:16:53.276 --> 00:16:55.696 was actually w- uh, 00:16:55.696 --> 00:16:57.856 the president, the 00:16:57.856 --> 00:16:59.676 board president of the 00:16:59.676 --> 00:17:00.676 Coastal Bend AIDS 00:17:00.676 --> 00:17:02.296 Foundation, and that was, 00:17:02.296 --> 00:17:04.376 I believe, '89, 00:17:04.376 --> 00:17:06.176 '90. And he-- I 00:17:06.176 --> 00:17:06.956 remember he was 00:17:06.956 --> 00:17:08.456 doing some amazing works. 00:17:08.456 --> 00:17:10.936 And, uh, Laura 00:17:10.936 --> 00:17:12.336 Yates wor- Lori or 00:17:12.336 --> 00:17:13.176 Laura? 00:17:13.176 --> 00:17:13.856 I think it's Laura. 00:17:13.856 --> 00:17:14.056 00:17:14.056 --> 00:17:15.376 Laura worked under him, 00:17:15.376 --> 00:17:16.356 so that's how 00:17:16.356 --> 00:17:17.156 I met both of 00:17:17.156 --> 00:17:17.936 them. But they've 00:17:17.936 --> 00:17:18.976 done some amazing work, 00:17:18.976 --> 00:17:19.756 and she still 00:17:19.756 --> 00:17:21.136 does. I know he 00:17:21.136 --> 00:17:21.916 does Chile Con 00:17:21.916 --> 00:17:22.616 Chile, and I've had, 00:17:22.616 --> 00:17:23.316 I have had 00:17:23.316 --> 00:17:24.096 the opportunity to be 00:17:24.096 --> 00:17:25.676 on that show. 00:17:25.676 --> 00:17:26.676 I love Matt. I 00:17:26.676 --> 00:17:27.556 mean, he's just 00:17:27.556 --> 00:17:28.936 an amazing guy, and 00:17:28.936 --> 00:17:30.136 he's always been 00:17:30.136 --> 00:17:30.896 an advocate for as 00:17:30.896 --> 00:17:31.336 long as I 00:17:31.336 --> 00:17:32.536 can remember, and he's 00:17:32.536 --> 00:17:33.556 done some amazing 00:17:33.556 --> 00:17:34.656 work. A lot of 00:17:34.656 --> 00:17:35.576 these people have. 00:17:35.576 --> 00:17:36.056 You know, there's so 00:17:36.056 --> 00:17:37.856 many people that 00:17:37.856 --> 00:17:39.196 are silent or in 00:17:39.196 --> 00:17:39.976 the background, but 00:17:39.976 --> 00:17:41.076 they're doing some amazing 00:17:41.076 --> 00:17:42.576 work. Pride Corpus 00:17:42.576 --> 00:17:43.946 Christi celebrating their 10th 00:17:43.946 --> 00:17:45.716 year, and that-- 00:17:45.716 --> 00:17:46.836 and lately they have 00:17:46.836 --> 00:17:47.636 been doing some 00:17:47.636 --> 00:17:49.156 amazing work being visible 00:17:49.156 --> 00:17:50.595 with everything that's 00:17:50.596 --> 00:17:51.976 going on. Originally, Pride 00:17:51.976 --> 00:17:52.696 Corpus Christi was 00:17:52.696 --> 00:17:53.836 just kind of like, 00:17:53.836 --> 00:17:54.696 you know, only 00:17:54.696 --> 00:17:55.736 the parade, and now 00:17:55.736 --> 00:17:57.336 it's 365 days 00:17:57.336 --> 00:17:58.336 a year. You know, 00:17:58.336 --> 00:17:58.926 they're out there 00:17:58.926 --> 00:17:59.756 reaching out to our 00:17:59.756 --> 00:18:01.516 community and helping 00:18:01.516 --> 00:18:02.796 our community, so I 00:18:02.796 --> 00:18:04.056 thank Pride Corpus 00:18:04.056 --> 00:18:05.366 Christi for that, and 00:18:05.366 --> 00:18:06.056 so many other 00:18:06.056 --> 00:18:07.296 organizations that are stepping 00:18:07.296 --> 00:18:08.256 up to help 00:18:08.256 --> 00:18:09.016 not only the trans 00:18:09.016 --> 00:18:10.676 community, but people 00:18:10.676 --> 00:18:11.536 in need, you know, 00:18:11.536 --> 00:18:13.475 uh, churches, everything. 00:18:13.476 --> 00:18:14.066 You know, it's, it's 00:18:14.066 --> 00:18:14.836 bigger than just 00:18:14.836 --> 00:18:16.436 the LGBT community. I 00:18:16.436 --> 00:18:17.036 always say that. 00:18:21.188 --> 00:18:22.908 About the reemergence of 00:18:22.908 --> 00:18:24.548 Pride within Corpus 00:18:24.548 --> 00:18:25.468 Christi a little bit. 00:18:25.468 --> 00:18:25.608 00:18:25.608 --> 00:18:25.768 Oh, that's a great 00:18:25.768 --> 00:18:26.688 question. Yeah, 'cause 00:18:26.688 --> 00:18:27.988 there was a Pride 00:18:27.988 --> 00:18:28.847 back then- 00:18:28.848 --> 00:18:29.038 Yeah 00:18:29.038 --> 00:18:29.317 ... in a way, 00:18:29.317 --> 00:18:30.028 and then came 00:18:30.028 --> 00:18:30.908 back in 2016. 00:18:30.908 --> 00:18:31.528 And when we're saying 00:18:31.528 --> 00:18:32.108 back then, are 00:18:32.108 --> 00:18:33.548 we talking, like, '70s 00:18:33.548 --> 00:18:34.148 back then? 00:18:34.148 --> 00:18:35.348 I wanna say '70s, 00:18:35.348 --> 00:18:35.528 um- 00:18:35.528 --> 00:18:36.658 Yeah. I wonder if 00:18:36.658 --> 00:18:37.588 there's anybody around 00:18:37.588 --> 00:18:38.068 that might be able 00:18:38.068 --> 00:18:38.748 to talk to 00:18:38.748 --> 00:18:39.308 that. 00:18:39.308 --> 00:18:39.968 Yeah, I think I 00:18:39.968 --> 00:18:40.768 know some people 00:18:40.768 --> 00:18:40.908 that- 00:18:40.908 --> 00:18:41.098 You do? Okay 00:18:41.098 --> 00:18:41.468 ... would be able 00:18:41.468 --> 00:18:42.038 to do that. 00:18:42.038 --> 00:18:42.398 [sniffs] 00:18:42.398 --> 00:18:42.908 'Cause yeah, I mean, 00:18:42.908 --> 00:18:43.408 like, I had 00:18:43.408 --> 00:18:45.108 no idea. [sniffs] 00:18:45.108 --> 00:18:45.608 Was there one in 00:18:45.608 --> 00:18:46.268 the '90s as 00:18:46.268 --> 00:18:46.748 well? 00:18:46.748 --> 00:18:47.868 Yes. 00:18:47.868 --> 00:18:47.958 Yeah, I thought so. 00:18:47.958 --> 00:18:47.958 00:18:47.958 --> 00:18:48.818 Mm-hmm. 00:18:48.818 --> 00:18:49.188 Yeah. Was it, like, 00:18:49.188 --> 00:18:50.887 '93? 00:18:50.888 --> 00:18:51.588 I th- I thought 00:18:51.588 --> 00:18:52.868 it was '96. 00:18:52.868 --> 00:18:53.587 '96. 00:18:53.588 --> 00:18:54.468 That's a good year. 00:18:54.468 --> 00:18:55.488 [laughs] 00:18:55.488 --> 00:18:55.888 That's what I was 00:18:55.888 --> 00:18:56.408 wanting to ask 00:18:56.408 --> 00:18:58.138 you. [laughs] 00:18:58.138 --> 00:18:59.448 Yeah. Uh, well, you 00:18:59.448 --> 00:19:01.868 know, I joined 00:19:01.868 --> 00:19:03.588 CCLGBT in 00:19:03.588 --> 00:19:05.348 May of 00:19:05.348 --> 00:19:06.268 2016, 00:19:07.768 --> 00:19:09.728 and then in June, 00:19:09.728 --> 00:19:12.068 the Orlando tragedy 00:19:12.068 --> 00:19:14.468 happened. So I 00:19:14.468 --> 00:19:16.928 knew that 00:19:16.928 --> 00:19:18.008 as a performer, that 00:19:18.008 --> 00:19:18.728 that could have 00:19:18.728 --> 00:19:20.828 been, you know, very 00:19:20.828 --> 00:19:22.828 well been us. 00:19:22.828 --> 00:19:24.768 So our amazing 00:19:24.768 --> 00:19:26.448 president, uh, Liz Robledo, 00:19:26.448 --> 00:19:28.108 said, "Let's do 00:19:28.108 --> 00:19:30.208 something." [coughs] Excuse me. 00:19:30.208 --> 00:19:31.428 "Let's do something, 00:19:31.428 --> 00:19:32.248 you know, to bring 00:19:32.248 --> 00:19:33.308 some visibility." I 00:19:33.308 --> 00:19:34.248 think that everybody... 'Cause 00:19:34.248 --> 00:19:35.528 everyone was so 00:19:35.528 --> 00:19:36.938 scared and so shocked. 00:19:36.938 --> 00:19:39.368 Like, I think 00:19:39.368 --> 00:19:40.708 you could, like, literally 00:19:40.708 --> 00:19:41.668 tell that everything 00:19:41.668 --> 00:19:43.128 just kinda stood still. 00:19:43.128 --> 00:19:45.308 So, um, three 00:19:45.308 --> 00:19:47.368 days we got, uh, 00:19:47.368 --> 00:19:49.408 a vigil together. 00:19:49.408 --> 00:19:50.148 We were able to 00:19:50.148 --> 00:19:51.188 get, at that 00:19:51.188 --> 00:19:52.248 time, the mayor, which 00:19:52.248 --> 00:19:53.468 was, uh, Nelda 00:19:53.468 --> 00:19:55.648 Martinez, and the DA, 00:19:55.648 --> 00:19:56.428 which was Mark 00:19:56.428 --> 00:19:58.668 Gonzalez. And, um, 00:19:59.688 --> 00:20:01.208 we put together this 00:20:01.208 --> 00:20:03.647 vigil 00:20:03.648 --> 00:20:04.908 with over 500 people, 00:20:04.908 --> 00:20:07.108 and then, um, 00:20:07.108 --> 00:20:08.448 I think it 00:20:08.448 --> 00:20:10.208 just made people breathe. 00:20:10.208 --> 00:20:11.188 You know, people 00:20:11.188 --> 00:20:11.808 f- there was that 00:20:11.808 --> 00:20:13.188 sense of unity, 00:20:13.188 --> 00:20:14.988 and m- and the 00:20:14.988 --> 00:20:15.728 majority of those 00:20:15.728 --> 00:20:17.608 people were allies. So 00:20:17.608 --> 00:20:18.748 then on the 00:20:18.748 --> 00:20:19.968 26th of that same 00:20:19.968 --> 00:20:21.208 year, in June 00:20:21.208 --> 00:20:23.668 of, um, 2016, we 00:20:23.668 --> 00:20:25.287 had our first 00:20:25.288 --> 00:20:27.588 Pride downtown. And 00:20:27.588 --> 00:20:28.588 basically what we wanted 00:20:28.588 --> 00:20:29.228 to do with 00:20:29.228 --> 00:20:31.288 that was just basically 00:20:31.288 --> 00:20:32.768 show that downtown 00:20:32.768 --> 00:20:34.648 supported, you know, the 00:20:34.648 --> 00:20:37.028 community. And then, 00:20:37.028 --> 00:20:38.508 uh, 2017 it went 00:20:38.508 --> 00:20:39.228 to the Solomon 00:20:39.228 --> 00:20:41.168 Ortiz Center, uh, and 00:20:41.168 --> 00:20:42.168 that was under 00:20:42.168 --> 00:20:43.748 Sarah Lydia, which she 00:20:43.748 --> 00:20:44.768 did some amazing 00:20:44.768 --> 00:20:45.988 work too. And then 00:20:45.988 --> 00:20:47.828 2018, I believe 00:20:47.828 --> 00:20:48.488 that's when it became 00:20:48.488 --> 00:20:49.888 a nonprofit, and 00:20:49.888 --> 00:20:51.048 they changed the name 00:20:51.048 --> 00:20:52.488 to, uh, Pride 00:20:52.488 --> 00:20:54.768 Corpus Christi, and then, 00:20:54.768 --> 00:20:55.608 uh, they did 00:20:55.608 --> 00:20:56.888 that for two years. 00:20:56.888 --> 00:20:58.928 And then 2020, 00:20:58.928 --> 00:21:00.948 the pandemic. So 00:21:00.948 --> 00:21:01.808 I think everything was 00:21:01.808 --> 00:21:03.368 at a standstill, 00:21:03.368 --> 00:21:05.507 uh, for 2020, 00:21:05.508 --> 00:21:07.978 2021, and then 2022 00:21:07.978 --> 00:21:09.328 I believe Pride 00:21:09.328 --> 00:21:10.468 kinda started getting back 00:21:10.468 --> 00:21:12.248 out there. And, 00:21:12.248 --> 00:21:13.368 uh, I've been working 00:21:13.368 --> 00:21:14.588 with Pride, uh, 00:21:14.588 --> 00:21:16.678 since 2024. I, I 00:21:16.678 --> 00:21:17.187 did work with 00:21:17.188 --> 00:21:18.688 them in 2021, but 00:21:18.688 --> 00:21:19.148 it was just 00:21:19.148 --> 00:21:20.298 kinda behind the scenes, 00:21:20.298 --> 00:21:21.048 you know? I 00:21:21.048 --> 00:21:21.808 really don't like being 00:21:21.808 --> 00:21:22.168 in front of 00:21:22.168 --> 00:21:22.988 the camera. I mean, 00:21:22.988 --> 00:21:23.868 I think even 00:21:23.868 --> 00:21:24.628 though people think, "Oh, 00:21:24.628 --> 00:21:25.928 she loves it," 00:21:25.928 --> 00:21:26.608 I really like to 00:21:26.608 --> 00:21:27.728 get things done 00:21:27.728 --> 00:21:28.888 more behind the scenes. 00:21:28.888 --> 00:21:29.728 I like bossing 00:21:29.728 --> 00:21:30.798 people around, you know, 00:21:30.798 --> 00:21:32.628 having fun. But, 00:21:32.628 --> 00:21:35.028 um, 2021 we 00:21:35.028 --> 00:21:35.888 were able to work 00:21:35.888 --> 00:21:36.628 with the Palmera 00:21:36.628 --> 00:21:38.318 Project, and I had 00:21:38.318 --> 00:21:38.648 a lot of 00:21:38.648 --> 00:21:39.608 fun helping them with 00:21:39.608 --> 00:21:42.068 that. Um, 2022, 00:21:42.068 --> 00:21:43.328 um, I think 00:21:43.328 --> 00:21:43.888 we had our own 00:21:43.888 --> 00:21:44.748 stuff going on 00:21:44.748 --> 00:21:46.668 because, uh, as trans 00:21:46.668 --> 00:21:48.108 advocates, there's always 00:21:48.108 --> 00:21:49.928 something going on with 00:21:49.928 --> 00:21:50.668 Trans Day of- 00:21:50.668 --> 00:21:51.877 Gender Day of Visibility, 00:21:51.877 --> 00:21:53.188 you know, uh, 00:21:53.188 --> 00:21:54.578 Transgender Day of Remembrance, 00:21:54.578 --> 00:21:55.408 and then the, 00:21:55.408 --> 00:21:56.948 the stuff that happens 00:21:56.948 --> 00:21:57.888 locally, you know, 00:21:57.888 --> 00:22:00.128 to our trans siblings. 00:22:00.128 --> 00:22:00.648 So we have 00:22:00.648 --> 00:22:01.228 to be there for 00:22:01.228 --> 00:22:01.788 them. You know, 00:22:01.788 --> 00:22:02.868 that's why the Coastal 00:22:02.868 --> 00:22:04.508 Bend Trans Alliance 00:22:04.508 --> 00:22:05.468 is so important to 00:22:05.468 --> 00:22:06.848 us, because we 00:22:06.848 --> 00:22:07.648 never know what's gonna 00:22:07.648 --> 00:22:08.828 happen to anybody 00:22:08.828 --> 00:22:09.628 here, so we wanna 00:22:09.628 --> 00:22:10.788 be prepared to 00:22:10.788 --> 00:22:11.828 help them, to support 00:22:11.828 --> 00:22:12.668 them, support their 00:22:12.668 --> 00:22:14.228 families, and make sure 00:22:14.228 --> 00:22:15.228 they're okay. You 00:22:15.228 --> 00:22:15.907 know, because it is 00:22:15.907 --> 00:22:16.908 difficult for the 00:22:16.908 --> 00:22:18.848 families when someone gets 00:22:18.848 --> 00:22:20.208 hurt or murdered 00:22:20.208 --> 00:22:21.668 or is missing or, 00:22:21.668 --> 00:22:22.008 you know. 00:22:23.248 --> 00:22:24.088 Can you talk a 00:22:24.088 --> 00:22:25.467 bit about the 00:22:25.468 --> 00:22:26.688 Trans Day of Remembrance 00:22:26.688 --> 00:22:27.308 and Trans Day 00:22:27.308 --> 00:22:28.868 of Visibility and sort 00:22:28.868 --> 00:22:29.628 of the importance 00:22:29.628 --> 00:22:30.428 of that as well 00:22:30.428 --> 00:22:31.068 as, you know, 00:22:31.068 --> 00:22:32.958 individuals or organizations like 00:22:32.958 --> 00:22:34.028 Grace Church- 00:22:34.028 --> 00:22:34.628 Mm-hmm 00:22:34.628 --> 00:22:34.798 ... and, um, that 00:22:34.798 --> 00:22:35.988 have supported and 00:22:35.988 --> 00:22:37.468 really affirmed the mission 00:22:37.468 --> 00:22:38.308 of that work, 00:22:38.308 --> 00:22:39.798 even Evangeline Reyes and- 00:22:39.798 --> 00:22:39.868 00:22:39.868 --> 00:22:40.207 Mm-hmm 00:22:40.207 --> 00:22:40.567 ... things of that 00:22:40.567 --> 00:22:41.127 sort. 00:22:41.127 --> 00:22:43.348 So, um, uh, 00:22:43.348 --> 00:22:45.408 Evangeline Reyes is working 00:22:45.408 --> 00:22:46.608 with, uh, Trans 00:22:46.608 --> 00:22:49.028 Visionary, which is a 00:22:49.028 --> 00:22:50.748 organization that helps 00:22:52.148 --> 00:22:54.208 trans individuals, uh, coming 00:22:54.208 --> 00:22:54.668 out of the 00:22:54.668 --> 00:22:56.448 prison systems or 00:22:56.448 --> 00:22:58.388 people that are 00:22:58.388 --> 00:22:59.568 coming out of addiction 00:22:59.568 --> 00:23:00.068 or people that 00:23:00.068 --> 00:23:00.688 are just coming off 00:23:00.688 --> 00:23:02.228 of hard times. 00:23:02.228 --> 00:23:03.028 Uh, she's doing some 00:23:03.028 --> 00:23:04.128 amazing work. I'm 00:23:04.128 --> 00:23:05.108 very proud of her. 00:23:05.108 --> 00:23:06.528 And, uh, some 00:23:06.528 --> 00:23:07.158 of the churches that 00:23:07.158 --> 00:23:07.728 have helped us 00:23:07.728 --> 00:23:08.258 have been, of course, 00:23:08.258 --> 00:23:09.568 All Saints, uh, 00:23:09.568 --> 00:23:11.688 Unitarian Universalist, 00:23:11.688 --> 00:23:12.988 Grace Church. 00:23:14.028 --> 00:23:16.248 Um, I mean, we... 00:23:16.248 --> 00:23:17.608 I've... We... This 00:23:17.608 --> 00:23:18.528 is the crazy thing. 00:23:18.528 --> 00:23:19.388 We have had 00:23:19.388 --> 00:23:20.478 so much support. I 00:23:20.478 --> 00:23:21.008 don't think that 00:23:21.008 --> 00:23:22.208 anybody has ever turned 00:23:22.208 --> 00:23:23.267 us away or 00:23:23.268 --> 00:23:24.068 said, "Oh, I can't 00:23:24.068 --> 00:23:24.778 do this," or, 00:23:24.778 --> 00:23:25.758 "I won't do this." 00:23:25.758 --> 00:23:27.288 I think everything 00:23:27.288 --> 00:23:28.128 that we've attempted to 00:23:28.128 --> 00:23:28.728 do we've been 00:23:28.728 --> 00:23:30.508 successful in doing. I 00:23:30.508 --> 00:23:31.328 don't really find 00:23:31.328 --> 00:23:32.348 out till later that 00:23:32.348 --> 00:23:32.728 a lot of 00:23:32.728 --> 00:23:33.688 those people really didn't 00:23:33.688 --> 00:23:34.468 like us, but 00:23:34.468 --> 00:23:35.288 they were just doing 00:23:35.288 --> 00:23:36.848 it because, you 00:23:36.848 --> 00:23:37.848 know, they wanted to, 00:23:37.848 --> 00:23:39.028 I guess, be 00:23:39.028 --> 00:23:40.008 part of the movement, 00:23:40.008 --> 00:23:40.988 but they didn't 00:23:40.988 --> 00:23:42.328 necessarily like me as 00:23:42.328 --> 00:23:43.327 a person. So 00:23:43.328 --> 00:23:44.008 that was a little 00:23:44.008 --> 00:23:45.368 disheartening, you know, 00:23:45.368 --> 00:23:46.448 to find out later. 00:23:46.448 --> 00:23:47.888 But, you know, 00:23:47.888 --> 00:23:48.718 you're not gonna always 00:23:48.718 --> 00:23:49.608 be everybody's cup 00:23:49.608 --> 00:23:50.828 of tea, but as 00:23:50.828 --> 00:23:51.368 long as you 00:23:51.368 --> 00:23:52.908 respect each other, you 00:23:52.908 --> 00:23:54.328 can work together. 00:23:54.328 --> 00:23:55.128 So... And like I 00:23:55.128 --> 00:23:55.767 said, it's bigger 00:23:55.768 --> 00:23:56.868 than me and anybody 00:23:56.868 --> 00:23:57.738 else. It's about 00:23:57.738 --> 00:23:59.168 the big picture. It's 00:23:59.168 --> 00:24:00.808 about our future, 00:24:00.808 --> 00:24:01.588 you know, our, our 00:24:01.588 --> 00:24:03.528 youth. Um, what, 00:24:03.528 --> 00:24:04.848 what's gonna happen next? 00:24:04.848 --> 00:24:06.448 Who's going to 00:24:06.448 --> 00:24:07.368 take the torch and 00:24:07.368 --> 00:24:08.288 keep going and 00:24:08.288 --> 00:24:09.168 keep going and keep 00:24:09.168 --> 00:24:09.708 going? 00:24:11.048 --> 00:24:11.448 So it kind of 00:24:11.448 --> 00:24:12.708 brings me to, 00:24:12.708 --> 00:24:14.328 um, a moment to 00:24:14.328 --> 00:24:14.898 talk a little 00:24:14.898 --> 00:24:16.248 bit about the '90s. 00:24:16.832 --> 00:24:17.712 Um, for you, when 00:24:17.712 --> 00:24:18.492 you look back 00:24:18.492 --> 00:24:18.902 on- 00:24:18.902 --> 00:24:18.912 Mm-hmm 00:24:18.912 --> 00:24:20.132 ... Britney Andrews, what 00:24:20.132 --> 00:24:20.712 would you say 00:24:20.712 --> 00:24:21.842 your legacy that you'll 00:24:21.842 --> 00:24:23.132 leave behind is? 00:24:23.132 --> 00:24:24.112 And even with the 00:24:24.112 --> 00:24:24.552 time that you 00:24:24.552 --> 00:24:25.242 have left that you're 00:24:25.242 --> 00:24:26.572 working towards, what 00:24:26.572 --> 00:24:27.252 would you hope when 00:24:27.252 --> 00:24:28.192 someone looks back 00:24:28.192 --> 00:24:29.992 and, and thinks about 00:24:29.992 --> 00:24:30.682 you and the, 00:24:30.682 --> 00:24:31.312 the mark that you 00:24:31.312 --> 00:24:32.492 left on the 00:24:32.492 --> 00:24:33.592 Coastal Bend, what would 00:24:33.592 --> 00:24:34.812 you hope that 00:24:34.872 --> 00:24:36.712 they see and recognize? 00:24:36.712 --> 00:24:37.292 00:24:37.292 --> 00:24:37.932 Well, like I said, 00:24:37.932 --> 00:24:38.772 the first 40 00:24:38.772 --> 00:24:39.512 years of my life 00:24:39.512 --> 00:24:40.092 I was pretty 00:24:40.092 --> 00:24:41.692 selfish, so I don't 00:24:41.692 --> 00:24:42.172 think a lot 00:24:42.172 --> 00:24:43.292 of people really liked 00:24:43.292 --> 00:24:44.342 me, you know? 00:24:44.342 --> 00:24:45.612 But, uh, I think 00:24:45.612 --> 00:24:46.372 I was focusing 00:24:46.372 --> 00:24:47.682 more on myself. But 00:24:47.682 --> 00:24:48.912 the last 13 00:24:48.912 --> 00:24:49.912 years have been about 00:24:49.912 --> 00:24:50.892 advocacy, have been 00:24:50.892 --> 00:24:52.221 about change, have been 00:24:52.221 --> 00:24:54.172 about empowerment, about 00:24:54.172 --> 00:24:55.902 visibility. So I'm hoping 00:24:55.902 --> 00:24:57.772 that my legacy 00:24:57.772 --> 00:24:58.492 will leave 00:25:00.212 --> 00:25:02.552 hope. Um, 00:25:03.692 --> 00:25:04.302 I hope that it 00:25:04.302 --> 00:25:05.632 will inspire people 00:25:05.632 --> 00:25:06.772 to do better regardless 00:25:06.772 --> 00:25:07.252 of where you're 00:25:07.252 --> 00:25:08.022 from or what you've 00:25:08.022 --> 00:25:09.272 been through, and 00:25:09.272 --> 00:25:10.112 that they don't make 00:25:10.112 --> 00:25:10.992 the mistakes that 00:25:10.992 --> 00:25:11.572 I did. I, I 00:25:11.572 --> 00:25:12.832 mean, I'm all 00:25:12.832 --> 00:25:15.012 about, you know, um, 00:25:15.012 --> 00:25:17.352 making sure 00:25:17.352 --> 00:25:18.492 that people do not 00:25:18.492 --> 00:25:19.312 get caught up 00:25:19.312 --> 00:25:21.292 in anything that's illegal 00:25:21.292 --> 00:25:22.051 as far as, 00:25:22.052 --> 00:25:23.832 like, body modifications, that, 00:25:23.832 --> 00:25:24.802 you know, that 00:25:24.802 --> 00:25:26.302 they do everything correctly, 00:25:26.302 --> 00:25:27.252 that they get 00:25:27.252 --> 00:25:28.582 doctors to see them 00:25:28.582 --> 00:25:29.452 and, you know, 00:25:29.452 --> 00:25:30.792 don't take, you know, 00:25:30.792 --> 00:25:32.312 HRT, you know, 00:25:32.312 --> 00:25:33.652 on your own outside 00:25:33.652 --> 00:25:35.112 of a doctor. 00:25:35.112 --> 00:25:36.472 Uh, that's why we 00:25:36.472 --> 00:25:37.912 focus on making 00:25:37.912 --> 00:25:38.582 sure that the women's 00:25:38.582 --> 00:25:39.252 and men's health 00:25:39.252 --> 00:25:41.092 services, that, uh, the 00:25:41.092 --> 00:25:42.252 wellness foundation and 00:25:42.252 --> 00:25:43.942 any other vital 00:25:43.942 --> 00:25:45.712 resources are available to 00:25:45.712 --> 00:25:46.652 these people because 00:25:46.652 --> 00:25:47.712 I've made every mistake 00:25:47.712 --> 00:25:48.812 possible, you know? 00:25:48.812 --> 00:25:49.582 And, but I'm still 00:25:49.582 --> 00:25:50.392 around, so 00:25:51.952 --> 00:25:52.572 that's a good thing. 00:25:52.572 --> 00:25:52.572 00:25:55.692 --> 00:25:56.332 Did you attend the 00:25:56.332 --> 00:25:58.612 1996 Pride? 00:25:58.612 --> 00:26:00.202 I did not because, 00:26:00.202 --> 00:26:00.792 uh, for a 00:26:00.792 --> 00:26:02.432 long time I was, 00:26:02.432 --> 00:26:04.632 uh, stealth. You 00:26:04.632 --> 00:26:05.192 know, I think when 00:26:05.192 --> 00:26:06.512 I transitioned, I 00:26:06.512 --> 00:26:07.372 thought that I wanted 00:26:07.372 --> 00:26:09.092 to live my 00:26:09.092 --> 00:26:10.212 life, you know, with 00:26:10.212 --> 00:26:11.852 a partner and, 00:26:11.852 --> 00:26:13.462 and, you know, have 00:26:13.462 --> 00:26:14.612 a job and, 00:26:14.612 --> 00:26:15.472 and have all of 00:26:15.472 --> 00:26:16.692 that. I didn't 00:26:16.692 --> 00:26:18.792 reemerge back into the 00:26:18.792 --> 00:26:20.632 scene, uh, till 00:26:20.632 --> 00:26:23.042 about '99. When, '99 00:26:23.042 --> 00:26:23.512 is when I 00:26:23.552 --> 00:26:24.892 came back and said, 00:26:24.892 --> 00:26:25.932 "I wanna perform. 00:26:25.932 --> 00:26:26.652 I miss it. I 00:26:26.652 --> 00:26:27.992 miss my people. 00:26:27.992 --> 00:26:29.132 I miss my tribe." 00:26:29.132 --> 00:26:30.412 But for a 00:26:30.412 --> 00:26:32.332 while, um, I wanna 00:26:32.332 --> 00:26:33.412 say '96 to 00:26:33.412 --> 00:26:34.812 '99, I was kind 00:26:34.812 --> 00:26:36.592 of stealth and 00:26:36.592 --> 00:26:37.412 living my life as 00:26:37.412 --> 00:26:38.132 a female in 00:26:38.132 --> 00:26:40.022 a relationship and, and 00:26:40.022 --> 00:26:41.072 seeing what that 00:26:41.072 --> 00:26:41.861 was like. And I, 00:26:41.861 --> 00:26:43.171 I loved it, 00:26:43.172 --> 00:26:44.612 but I missed performing. 00:26:44.612 --> 00:26:45.252 I, I think 00:26:45.252 --> 00:26:46.272 that I will perform 00:26:46.272 --> 00:26:47.092 till my last 00:26:47.092 --> 00:26:47.382 day. 00:26:47.382 --> 00:26:48.752 Anything 00:26:48.752 --> 00:26:50.792 else? 00:26:54.152 --> 00:26:55.212 What would you say 00:26:55.212 --> 00:26:56.332 if you had 00:26:56.332 --> 00:26:58.132 any, like, regrets, what 00:26:58.132 --> 00:26:58.532 would be your 00:26:58.532 --> 00:26:59.692 biggest regret, but what 00:26:59.692 --> 00:27:00.652 is also your 00:27:00.652 --> 00:27:02.592 biggest accomplishment to date 00:27:02.592 --> 00:27:04.201 in your, in 00:27:04.201 --> 00:27:04.852 your eyes? 00:27:04.852 --> 00:27:07.132 Hmm. Uh, 00:27:07.132 --> 00:27:07.912 I think that 00:27:07.912 --> 00:27:09.772 my biggest regret would 00:27:09.772 --> 00:27:12.012 have been rushing 00:27:12.012 --> 00:27:13.432 through everything. I think 00:27:13.432 --> 00:27:14.212 because I wanted 00:27:14.212 --> 00:27:16.452 instant gratification, I went 00:27:16.452 --> 00:27:17.012 and did the 00:27:17.012 --> 00:27:19.192 underground silicone. I did, 00:27:19.192 --> 00:27:20.492 uh, you know, 00:27:20.492 --> 00:27:22.532 self-medication through hormones. I 00:27:22.532 --> 00:27:23.701 didn't necessarily take 00:27:23.701 --> 00:27:25.452 the right path. Um, 00:27:25.452 --> 00:27:26.632 I can't change 00:27:26.632 --> 00:27:28.072 that, but now I 00:27:28.072 --> 00:27:29.572 am doing things 00:27:29.572 --> 00:27:30.352 to the best of 00:27:30.352 --> 00:27:31.492 my ability and 00:27:31.492 --> 00:27:33.432 I'm empowering people, keeping 00:27:33.432 --> 00:27:34.732 them away from, 00:27:34.732 --> 00:27:36.172 uh, illegal, like I 00:27:36.172 --> 00:27:36.932 said, anything that's 00:27:36.932 --> 00:27:37.872 illegal as far as 00:27:37.872 --> 00:27:40.132 silicone injections, 00:27:40.132 --> 00:27:41.912 um, uh, 00:27:41.912 --> 00:27:44.292 self-medicating, um, 00:27:44.292 --> 00:27:45.792 survival work, anything like 00:27:45.792 --> 00:27:46.232 that. If I 00:27:46.232 --> 00:27:47.042 can keep them from 00:27:47.042 --> 00:27:48.572 doing that, and 00:27:48.572 --> 00:27:49.652 not that survival work 00:27:49.652 --> 00:27:50.872 is bad, but 00:27:50.872 --> 00:27:51.712 I also think that 00:27:51.712 --> 00:27:53.052 today if you 00:27:53.052 --> 00:27:54.832 have a phone, there's 00:27:54.832 --> 00:27:55.452 a way for 00:27:55.452 --> 00:27:56.292 you to, you make 00:27:56.292 --> 00:27:57.032 money, you know, 00:27:57.032 --> 00:27:58.032 through a job, you 00:27:58.032 --> 00:27:58.752 know, whatever that 00:27:58.752 --> 00:28:00.132 may be. So I 00:28:00.132 --> 00:28:00.732 think that there's 00:28:00.732 --> 00:28:02.272 a lot more opportunities 00:28:02.272 --> 00:28:04.032 for people to 00:28:04.032 --> 00:28:05.822 not necessarily make mistakes, 00:28:05.822 --> 00:28:06.612 not get in 00:28:06.612 --> 00:28:08.032 trouble, and be on 00:28:08.032 --> 00:28:08.532 the up and 00:28:08.532 --> 00:28:09.172 up. You know, you 00:28:09.172 --> 00:28:10.352 don't have to 00:28:10.352 --> 00:28:12.112 do things behind closed 00:28:12.112 --> 00:28:13.652 doors to survive. 00:28:15.092 --> 00:28:16.572 And then greatest accomplishment? 00:28:16.572 --> 00:28:17.132 00:28:17.132 --> 00:28:17.782 Ooh. 00:28:17.782 --> 00:28:20.132 [laughs] 00:28:20.132 --> 00:28:20.592 Huh. 00:28:22.472 --> 00:28:22.932 Uh, 00:28:25.022 --> 00:28:26.472 never been asked that. 00:28:26.472 --> 00:28:27.692 Uh, greatest accomplishment 00:28:27.692 --> 00:28:28.772 to me would probably 00:28:28.772 --> 00:28:29.972 be my perseverance. 00:28:29.972 --> 00:28:30.552 You know, the fact 00:28:30.552 --> 00:28:31.092 that, like I 00:28:31.092 --> 00:28:32.882 said, over 30 years 00:28:32.882 --> 00:28:33.532 in the business 00:28:33.532 --> 00:28:34.532 and I'm still relevant, 00:28:34.532 --> 00:28:35.232 and I, I 00:28:35.232 --> 00:28:36.352 would probably say that 00:28:36.352 --> 00:28:36.792 I'm at the 00:28:36.792 --> 00:28:38.912 height of my, of 00:28:38.912 --> 00:28:40.252 my story, of 00:28:40.252 --> 00:28:41.552 who I am, and 00:28:41.552 --> 00:28:42.352 I've been very 00:28:42.352 --> 00:28:43.692 blessed to meet a 00:28:43.692 --> 00:28:44.512 lot... have met 00:28:44.512 --> 00:28:45.272 a lot of amazing 00:28:45.272 --> 00:28:45.892 people, like I 00:28:45.892 --> 00:28:47.592 said, Jim Brown, uh, 00:28:47.592 --> 00:28:49.252 Marcus Lozano, and 00:28:49.252 --> 00:28:50.772 now Michael Quintana. Those 00:28:50.772 --> 00:28:51.732 people believed in 00:28:51.732 --> 00:28:52.752 me when I didn't. 00:28:52.752 --> 00:28:54.932 So I think 00:28:54.932 --> 00:28:56.372 the longevity for me 00:28:56.372 --> 00:28:57.092 is my biggest 00:28:57.092 --> 00:28:59.312 accomplishment, definitely. 00:29:01.512 --> 00:29:02.382 Let's stop it for 00:29:02.382 --> 00:29:02.662 a sec.