Angela Randall, a lesbian Latina from Donna, Texas, talks about her experience of coming out. She recounts growing up in a racially segregated valley, dealing with homophobia, and discovering her Black ancestry through an Ancestry DNA that connected her family's history to the Underground Railroad and a legal battle over land in South Padre Island. She also emphasizes the importance of the significance of family and community in her life, particularly in Dallas's LGBTQ+ scene. - Edited ...
Feb 25
50 min
In this episode of Jotxs y Recuerdos, Julian Toscano (J.T. Mexican Boyfriend), a DJ from Rio Grande City, shares his experiences growing up in both northern Minnesota and the Rio Grande Valley. J.T. not only reflects on his journey of coming out as trans but also on the issues of surveillance, law enforcement, and the hyper-militarization of the border region. This oral history also touches on the significance of music to his identity, spirituality, and role as a DJ, where he curates soundtra...
Sep 12, 2025
1 hr 29 min
In this episode of Jotxs y Recuerdos, Carmen Castillo, a queer musician and artist from Reynosa, Tamaulipas/ McAllen, Texas, discusses her journey through various musical genres, including punk, hip hop, and ska. She also shares her experiences of coming out, dealing with misogyny, and the importance of community support in the Rio Grande Valley. Carmen emphasizes the role of music in advocating for social causes, such as her corrido for Bekah Hinojosa, a local environmental activist. She spe...
May 22, 2025
1 hr 5 min
Michael Jones is a Black gay artist and poet with a background in philosophy from the northeast but relocated to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) in 2006, where he discovered both creative freedom and a sense of belonging. In this episode, he reflects on his childhood, recalling moments like impersonating Diana Ross. He delves into his cruising experience at Archer Park, explores his intersecting identities, addresses the absence of Black queer representation along the border, and discusses his ar...
Feb 5, 2025
1 hr 9 min
In this episode of "Jotxs y Recuerdos," host Alexandra Salazar interviews Kandi Kasket (also known as Roxanna), a non-binary/asexual Latina. Kandi discusses her journey of self-discovery, including her experiences with asexuality and drag, and the challenges she faced in coming out. She emphasizes the importance of queer spaces and representation, particularly in the Rio Grande Valley. Roxanna also highlights her work with "Drag Out HIV" to raise awareness about HIV and promote safe sex. ...
Jan 22, 2025
37 min
Esteban Silva, a queer Latino from Pharr, Texas, discusses his journey growing up in the Rio Grande Valley, where he faced challenges hiding his identity due to religious and societal pressures. He recounts a pivotal moment at age seven when his mother explained that same-sex marriage contradicts the Bible. Despite support from teachers, he felt isolated and struggled with his identity. Esteban came out accidentally during his first day at college and found acceptance in Oklahoma, where he pu...
Jan 22, 2025
44 min
Kimberly Sanchez, is a trans woman from San Juan, Texas. She aspires to become a physical therapist, motivated by her mother's 1999 accident. Kimberly shares how she came out at 17, initially hiding her identity due to bathroom access issues and misgendering. However, because of her supportive mom she was able to live her truth. In the tail end of the episode, Julie Sanchez, Kimberly's mom offers advice to other parents with queer and trans children. She says, "I would say that it is kind of ...
Jan 22, 2025
26 min
Anel Flores, a queer/lesbian Chicana story maker, discusses her inception and impact of La Otra Taller Nepantla Artist Residency, held February 2021 in Arroyo City, a town in the Rio Grande Valley. Inspired by Gloria Anzaldua's 1995 residency, Flores paid homage to the nurturing environment for artists to create freely. Anel re-created the residency to provide a safe, supportive space for queer, BIPOC artists. In this episode, residency fellows shared their experiences, highlighting the impor...
Jan 22, 2025
1 hr 30 min
Noe Gonzalez-Schwenneker, a queer woman from Pharr, Texas discusses what it is was like being queer along the border. Noe describes various queer spaces in the Rio Grande Valley (Montrose, Trade Bar, and Jackie O's), including bars across the border in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. She also speaks on how the Orlando shooting impacted her. Towards the end of the episode, Noe's wife, Davia, a lesbian from Montana, shared her experience of coming out later in life and finding happiness in Houston...
Jan 22, 2025
34 min
Dolissa Medina is a filmmaker, home-maker, writer, and organizer whose art practice centers around queer world mending in borderland spaces. Exploring themes of belong and home, she’s been making experimental films for the past 25 years inspired by the places she’s lived: San Francisco, Berlin, and her hometown of Brownsville, Texas. In this episode, she reflects on coming of age in Brownsville, a city along the border region and the importance of preserving meaningful stories. Follow...
Jan 22, 2025
57 min
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