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Liberatory Politics: A Chicana Trans Woman’s Run
In Episode 30 of Queer Storytime, Stevie sits down with Valentina “Vale” Mendoza — a Chicana trans woman, former Wall Street transactional attorney, founder of MeVale, P.C., and a 2026 grassroots congressional candidate running in New Jersey’s 7th District. With a bold platform rooted in economic, racial, and social justice, Vale represents a new generation of political leadership: unapologetically queer, deeply community-grounded, and unwilling to compromise people’s humanity for political convenience.
Stevie opens the episode with a grounding invitation — a reminder to breathe, to reset, and to reconnect with our bodies in a moment when the nation is gripped by fear, fascism, and political instability. From there, this conversation moves between the personal and the political with intention: Vale speaks candidly about growing up the daughter of working-class immigrants, navigating transition, overcoming corporate disillusionment, and finding her purpose through survival, recovery, and community.
Together, Stevie and Vale unpack major questions facing the country today:
- What does liberation actually mean — spiritually, politically, and materially?
- Is the U.S. Constitution a living document meant to evolve?
- How do we move people out of fight-or-flight long enough to talk about policy?
- Where has the Democratic Party abandoned its values — and why is performative allyship a threat?
- Why is democratic socialism resonating with new generations of voters?
- How can economic, racial, and social justice be pursued as interconnected goals?
- What qualifications should be required for elected office?
- What does genuine representation look like for queer, trans, disabled, working-class, and immigrant communities?
Vale brings forward a vision for systemic change: worker empowerment, class consciousness, dismantling billionaire influence, addressing disability inequities, and building economic systems that honor human dignity rather than extract from it. She also offers sharp reflections on the political center drifting rightward — and why rhetoric from so-called allies harms vulnerable communities as much as overt hate.
As the episode moves into its reflective closing, Vale and Stevie explore purpose, identity, joy, community, and the spiritual dimensions of political work. Vale shares a message for queer and trans youth, a warning for legislators targeting LGBTQ+ lives, and a truth many of us know intimately: trans people become experts at transformation because our survival demands it.
This episode is essential listening for anyone navigating despair in today’s political climate — and for those seeking grounded, intersectional, justice-driven leadership directly from the communities most impacted.
🔗 QST Resources & Links:
- Support Queer Trans Thriving Mutual Aid Collective's 2025 Rainbow Care Fund on GiveButter
- Find QSTs Website Home at FutureDrStevie.com
📣 Spread the Word, Leave A Review, & Follow QST:
If this episode resonated with you, Stevie encourages you to share it widely! This will also help QST expand to an even bigger audience globally. We would also appreciate you leaving a written/star review to help us build our collective effort to liberate queer and trans people globally.
✨ Join the QST Podcast Community & Get In-Touch:
Looking to see everything happening in our community? Come reach out, connect, and celebrate queer & trans joy together! You can find all QST resources here: https://beacons.ai/qstpodcast
Host: Stevie Inghram, M.S., YT, AWC, NMS-4 (She/They)
#QueerStorytime #TransInPolitics #VoteValli #QueerLiberation #TransRightsAreHumanRights #DemocraticSocialism #QueerPodcast #LGBTQPolitics #TransVoices #ChicanaPride #SocialJusticeNow #ProtectTransKids #AbolishFascism #GrassrootsPower #QueerLeadership #EconomicJustice #RacialJustice #ClassConsciousness
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/queer-story-time-the-podcast/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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By Stevie InghramIn Episode 30 of Queer Storytime, Stevie sits down with Valentina “Vale” Mendoza — a Chicana trans woman, former Wall Street transactional attorney, founder of MeVale, P.C., and a 2026 grassroots congressional candidate running in New Jersey’s 7th District. With a bold platform rooted in economic, racial, and social justice, Vale represents a new generation of political leadership: unapologetically queer, deeply community-grounded, and unwilling to compromise people’s humanity for political convenience.
Stevie opens the episode with a grounding invitation — a reminder to breathe, to reset, and to reconnect with our bodies in a moment when the nation is gripped by fear, fascism, and political instability. From there, this conversation moves between the personal and the political with intention: Vale speaks candidly about growing up the daughter of working-class immigrants, navigating transition, overcoming corporate disillusionment, and finding her purpose through survival, recovery, and community.
Together, Stevie and Vale unpack major questions facing the country today:
- What does liberation actually mean — spiritually, politically, and materially?
- Is the U.S. Constitution a living document meant to evolve?
- How do we move people out of fight-or-flight long enough to talk about policy?
- Where has the Democratic Party abandoned its values — and why is performative allyship a threat?
- Why is democratic socialism resonating with new generations of voters?
- How can economic, racial, and social justice be pursued as interconnected goals?
- What qualifications should be required for elected office?
- What does genuine representation look like for queer, trans, disabled, working-class, and immigrant communities?
Vale brings forward a vision for systemic change: worker empowerment, class consciousness, dismantling billionaire influence, addressing disability inequities, and building economic systems that honor human dignity rather than extract from it. She also offers sharp reflections on the political center drifting rightward — and why rhetoric from so-called allies harms vulnerable communities as much as overt hate.
As the episode moves into its reflective closing, Vale and Stevie explore purpose, identity, joy, community, and the spiritual dimensions of political work. Vale shares a message for queer and trans youth, a warning for legislators targeting LGBTQ+ lives, and a truth many of us know intimately: trans people become experts at transformation because our survival demands it.
This episode is essential listening for anyone navigating despair in today’s political climate — and for those seeking grounded, intersectional, justice-driven leadership directly from the communities most impacted.
🔗 QST Resources & Links:
- Support Queer Trans Thriving Mutual Aid Collective's 2025 Rainbow Care Fund on GiveButter
- Find QSTs Website Home at FutureDrStevie.com
📣 Spread the Word, Leave A Review, & Follow QST:
If this episode resonated with you, Stevie encourages you to share it widely! This will also help QST expand to an even bigger audience globally. We would also appreciate you leaving a written/star review to help us build our collective effort to liberate queer and trans people globally.
✨ Join the QST Podcast Community & Get In-Touch:
Looking to see everything happening in our community? Come reach out, connect, and celebrate queer & trans joy together! You can find all QST resources here: https://beacons.ai/qstpodcast
Host: Stevie Inghram, M.S., YT, AWC, NMS-4 (She/They)
#QueerStorytime #TransInPolitics #VoteValli #QueerLiberation #TransRightsAreHumanRights #DemocraticSocialism #QueerPodcast #LGBTQPolitics #TransVoices #ChicanaPride #SocialJusticeNow #ProtectTransKids #AbolishFascism #GrassrootsPower #QueerLeadership #EconomicJustice #RacialJustice #ClassConsciousness
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/queer-story-time-the-podcast/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy