In this episode we recap all our episodes in 2024. Over the past eleven months we have had the opportunity to talk to members of the LGBTQ community, their family and allies. Our topics have ranged from the political to the practical and while some of the conversations have been serious, we managed to find humor and heart in each interview.  Enjoy our year-end recap and look for new episodes of Queer Onda El Paso in 2025!

For more information visit www.queeronda.com

Gay men's attitudes about safe sex have changed over time and are influenced by the availability of new treatments and prevention methods.
 
In the LGBTQ community, different generations have grown up with varying views about gay sexual culture. For example, men who came of age in the 1970s experienced an open sexual culture, while men who came of age in the era of safe sex and ‘mandatory’ condom use may have   slightly different issues involving their sexual behavior. Most recently, younger generations have more relaxed attitudes about safer sex due to new ways to treat and prevent HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is widely accepted by gay men at risk of HIV who may see it as relief form their anxiety about sex.  In this episode we look at some of these generational differences and talk to Sergio Flores, HIV Education Specialist for the City of El Paso.

For more information visit www.queeronda.com

October is LGBTQ History Month. It is when we commemorate the milestones of our community to honor the people who have helped to get us to where we are for us to celebrate Pride in June.  There is perhaps no better icon in El Paso to talk to about our community's history than Gilbert Salazar.  Gilbert was a visible member of the gay community when being queer in El Paso was risqué and, in some ways, more exciting. He tells us about the early days of the bar scene and how he came up to be crowned the first-ever Miss Old Plantation which was an historic gay bar both locally and renown throughout the state of Texas.

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As we approach the gayest holiday of the year, we talk about why Halloween is so ghoulishly celebrated in the LGBTQ community and we also share info on a couple of wicked events coming our way this month.

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 While queer rights have leapt forward over the past decade, we are currently once again facing multiple threats to our very existence. Our fight for equality remains an ongoing struggle.

Some politicians have targeted LGBTQ rights. Republicans often use fear tactics to vilify trans and queer people to motivate their voters. We must counteract these measures by voting and encouraging our friends and loved ones to vote with our rights in mind, as well. Our guest in this episode is Wesley Lawrence, the founding member of the Stonewall Democrats in El Paso. He is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and serves as the State Democratic Executive Committeeman for Congressional District 23. Wesley is also running for the City Council District 4 seat.  We talk to Wesley about national, state, and local political issues.

For more information visit www.queeronda.com

Unlike many other migrants, queer migrants often lack eligible family members to sponsor them on the other side leading to heightened risks of detention and increased rates of violence within detention facilities.

In  this episode we talk to Jennifer Babaie who is the Director of Advocacy and Legal Services at Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center here in El Paso. She is joined by Gabriela Lopez who is a legal assistant at the organization.

For more information visit www.queeronda.com

For more information visit www.queeronda.com

In this final spotlight, we turn to our own Izzy Mora, Ceci Marquez and Ted Escobedo as they talk about how, through working on the Queer Onda podcast, they have learned about the  many types of family people can create. Including theirs.  

For more information visit www.queeronda.com

For more information visit www.queeronda.com

The relationship between mother and child is perhaps one of the strongest bonds two people can share. In this episode we continue our spotlight on families as we talk to Melissa and Paul Urenda. They share their story about how Paul first came out as gay but still was not completely sure about his identity. It was his mother Melissa who suggested that Paul had a ‘feminine soul’ and that insight helped Paul to later come out as transgender. Their story is an inspiring one filled with love, understanding and compassion.  

For more information visit www.queeronda.com