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Being part of the planning committee truly changed my perspective on LGBTQ+ matters in the East Coachella Valley. I’d always thought all the LGBTQ+ events were out of reach, happening too far away for me to be a part of. When ECV Pride came around, I began to realize that I had more of a community close to home.

How could I ever forget the moment my sister confessed she liked girls? We were between classes — I was in third grade, and she was in fourth. I remember accepting her just as she was. In my innocence, there was no judgment. I simply accepted her truth. Without hesitation. Without questions. Without judgment. Just acceptance and love.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mother’s Day just so happens to be in May as well, so I am going to share a story about my mom and the topic of mental health.

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month—a time to recognize the people who help bring our mission to life every single day. At The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert, volunteers are more than helpers; they are co-creators of the vibrant, welcoming community we envision—where LGBTQ+ people can thrive and live authentically in supportive, inclusive spaces.

I read a great post on Instagram this week that was a beautiful reminder and validated so many of my current feelings. Trey (@whatsonemorepothos) said “trans people do more than die” and called for a collective response rooted in abolition where we look inside of ourselves and between us interpersonally to change beliefs and behaviors. Anyone consuming media of any kind right now knows that we are witnessing violent attacks and attempted erasure of our trans histories and identities.

We all have parts. These parts are sometimes the voices in our head offering guidance, sometimes they are the behaviors we wish we didn’t have like overindulging in sweets or lashing out at those we love. Sometimes there are parts in conflict with one another, part of me wants to go to the gym but another part of me is quite comfortable here on the couch binging Netflix. Some parts we like and others we loathe.

Deciding to move to a new state is a big decision and if you are a member of the transgender community there can be many more additional layers to consider. Beyond the usual factors one needs to consider whether the state they are moving to is trans-affirming. A supportive environment can make a huge difference in your well-being, so here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing to relocate.

As we brace for an administration threatening mass deportations and rollbacks of LGBTQ+ rights, I ground myself in my lineage of resilience.

When I say resilience, I don’t mean some vague optimism. I mean the very real resilience of my people – queer, trans, people of color, women, immigrants, and more. I often say that the world we know today was not made for us, as queer and trans people. And yet, my people have endured unkind worlds and fought for their rights.

There are many things in this world we need to feel secure about, but it does not dawn on the average person that there are neighbors, family and friends who are not food secure, and they would never know. It is second nature to say, “I’m going home to eat;” “Let’s go out and eat tonight,” “Where are we eating tonight?” For many, those questions are NEVER or rarely posed.