Bamby Salcedo, community leader

Bamby Salcedo is the CEO and President of the TransLatin@ Coalition, the largest trans-lead organisation in the United States, with a mission to improve and enrich the lives of trans Latin@ women.

Her activism over 25 years has seen her champion issues across undocumented migrants, HIV-AIDS, youth incarceration, and of course, the LGBTQ community. Her leadership is powerful to behold, and I hope you enjoy this conversation.

We discuss music by Mercedes Sosa, GIT, and Madonna.

You can follow Bamby on Instagram here, and the TransLatin@ Coalition here, where you can donate to support their incredible work.

Listen to all previous guest choices in one handy Spotify playlist, Selections from Tracks of Our Queers and follow the pod on Instagram.

Transcript

Bamby Salcedo
===

Andy Gott: [00:00:00] Hello. Welcome to tracks of our queers. My name is Andy Gott. And each episode, I chat to a fascinating queer person about one song, one album, and one artist that soundtrack their life. 

A couple of episodes ago. My guest Jeffrey Masters gave a shout out to pillar of queer community that he felt deserved a lot more attention for the tireless work she's contributed over the years in the pursuit of a better quality of life for trans Latina women. 

Bamby Salcedo is this episode, his tracks of Aquia, his guest, and it was a privileged to receive an hour of her precious time. The wisdom from her 25 years of activism fuels her role as the CEO of the trans Latina coalition. The largest trans-lead organization in the United States today. And her leadership it's powerful to behold. 

I strongly recommend seeking out the documentary LA Queenceñeira. Uh, moving depiction of Bambi's plans to hold her own [00:01:00] quincenera as a trans woman approaching the milestone age of 50. 

Producing this podcast is very much a one queer band and listen to contributions, go a huge rate and keeping the lights switched on and the show at free. If you're interested in supporting me, you can do so by buying me a coffee through the link in the show notes. Alternatively leaving a rating or review is also greatly appreciated and it's a free and easy way to help the podcast reach new listeners. Thank you very much in advance for your support. 

Over to Bambi.

Bamby Salcedo, welcome to Tracks of Our Queers.

Bamby Salcedo: Thank you so much for the opportunity to be here with you, have this conversation, and obviously shout out to the beautiful and amazing audience that is listening to

Andy Gott: Absolutely. you picked some beautiful selections for us to discuss later on, but first of all, I just love a general sense ofwhat is the kind of music that's playing in the [00:02:00] background when you close your eyes and you cast your mind back to childhood, what is playing in your family home?

Bamby Salcedo: well, you know, I, I have to say that my childhood was very hard. music was one of those things that Um, always uplifted my spirit, in those difficult times. one particular, track, it was like, back then it was LPs, like back in the 80s, right?

there was a, A TV show or festival that used to play on TV that was,called Juguemos a Cantar, which translates to, Let's Play to Sing. and there was a compilation of, different children who would sing songs. about life itself and their own experiences. And, just watching the show and seeing the competition, cause it was a competition, um, [00:03:00] was very uplifting to me.

And,there was this one song, Si Yo Fuera Presidente, which means If I was a president, this song talks about, if this child was a president would do things differently, right? That there would be no wars, that they, you know, that everybody would be mandated to like love all children, you know? And being that I was a child, It was a hopeful song, you know, it was like, um, something that, was just beautiful and something to look forward to the future. 

despite the multiple challenges that I was experiencing.

Andy Gott: did you feel seen by the children on that TV show? Did you feel almost like,like they were your friends or something to aspire to [00:04:00] be what was your connection with those kids on the TV show? 

Bamby Salcedo: it was, just seeing the fact that they had this platform where they had the opportunity to showcase their art and, their singing and their music. it was something that, was helping me to see the possibilities of the future.

Andy Gott: Speaking of the future, you grew up in Mexico, but then you moved to the United States. Was it around the age of 17?

Bamby Salcedo: Yes. I was 16 when I came to the United States, and I turned 17 over here.

Andy Gott: So what prompted you to take that plunge and move to the US?

Bamby Salcedo: as I mentioned, I have many different challenges When I was a child, I grew up in a, very poor household, with a single mother. My father had, left my mother before I was born, and so I grew up without a father, but my mother got together with another person who was very abusive, and so, you know, I, I had so [00:05:00] many questions,I felt different as a child and I, you know, being that I was the second born in my family, I, I born, You know, as a boy, there was a lot of expectations.

and obviously I had so many questions and I couldn't be myself. I guess my alternative to seeking the love and the support that I needed was to find refuge in drugs. I started using drugs. When I was about eight years old, and I essentially grew up on the streets. even though I was trying to do good and I was going to school and all of that.

I also, my solution to forget about my reality was to hide, And drugs. so I started sniffing glue, early on, and because of that, and the people who I was hanging out with, I started being institutionalized starting at 12 years old. and so from 12 to 16, I [00:06:00] was in and out of correctional facilities, and, my mother didn't really know what to do with me, 

I had the opportunity to meet my father when I was 15. He was living already in the United States and he came to Guadalajara, Guadalajara, which is where I'm from he offered if I wanted to come to the United States when I get out. so when I got out, I reached out to him and He told me to come through I came to the United States to start another chapter of my life.

Which wasn't, a very good life that I came to get at that time. Because when I got here, he had already formed his family, right? so he had all the children and his wife and so I wasn't welcome there either. my refuge being that I knew what drugs were and everything else.

I started experimenting with heavier drugs here. I was also exploited as a minor. I was working at [00:07:00] a tortilla factory and didn't have the opportunity to go to school like many other minors. and so I started using drugs and I started like shooting up. and then when I turned 19, I came to live in Los Angeles.

and in Los Angeles also back in the 80s, that's when I started my transition. back then there was no kind of support for us. So anything and everything that you would need, you would find it on the streets. there was, a lack of opportunities for people like myself, who had recently started transitioning and was very androgynous and, you know, trying to find my place.

again, my only solution was to refuge myself on drugs, to cope with my reality, and And, you know, to be engaged in the street economy and all of that led me to be incarcerated for about, 15 years of my life in and out of prison. until I finally reformed my life.

Andy Gott: what a journey from that time in your life [00:08:00] to now being the president and CEO of the Trans Latina Coalition. your wide ranging activism within and for the trans community. Overlaps with multiple communities and issues including migration, HIV, AIDS, youth incarceration, like you mentioned.

Of course the LGBT community, the Hispanic American community. How did your journey to activism begin? Was there a specific moment?

Bamby Salcedo: well, I, I want to say that, you know, for me to sort of like be able to reform my life. I had to get into rehab, uh, and, because I did have the privilege to get clean and find a different way of life, I also felt that, I had a responsibility, right?and so, I think it just started, showing up in my life and was things that were alsointersecting with my life, 

For instance, I remember, you know, when before I [00:09:00] got clean, one time before I got out of prison the last time, There was a support group that started at an organization for trans women so I started organizing my friends, to come to this support group, to find a different way of life.

Because again, back then it was just the streets, right? Like basically we were children of the night, right? Like during the day you sleep and at night you would come out To make money, to do whatever you needed to do, and so that's how I started, organizing my friends, to come to this support group.

and then it took me another trip to prison. I didn't know that, you know, when I was organizing my friends, it was a form of activism, right? but then when I got out the last time and I was able to get into rehab, I spent seven months in this treatment facility and then from there I went to a transitional housing program.

and when I was in this transitional housing program, there was [00:10:00] a, an employment opportunity for a trans woman to do outreach around HIV prevention. I applied for the position and I was very lucky that I was able to get that position. And, just seeing that I had this privilege, right?

Like, for the, you know, that I had this employment. And understanding that with that also, came with a responsibility. and also because I, I was able to see life in a different way. the experiences I had lived and survived were the same experiences that members of my community were also currently experiencing.

And so because I had the privilege to, to be at a different position, I understood that I also, had a responsibility to do anything that I could to support and uplift the livelihood of our community. but there was, something that was very pivotal in [00:11:00] my life, which was the murder of Gwen Araujo.

I'm not sure if you know who Gwen Araujo was, but Gwen Araujo was a 17 year old trans girl who, was brutally beaten up. And, bury it alive. And, choose murder. this happened in 2002. and, that obviously enraged me, right? Because, she was so young. And, I just couldn't understand why, I was able to, to survive, right? and she didn't have the opportunity, right? And so that's how I kind of like started radicalizing my organizing and my mobilizing a community and really thinking of, you know, what is our future going to look like? and so, that's how, you know, we started like protesting and You know, doing different things also because, you know, the police was horrible towards, [00:12:00] you know, members of our community.

Again, I wasn't in that space anymore, but it was what I experienced, right? and so that's how I started organizing my friends. And, the people who I stood up in the corner with,and Now I was going to, bring condoms and having conversations about being safe 

But also, at the same time, building the leadership of not just myself, but of all of our community. and that's how everything started and then eventually I started going to school because, there were different times to where I would go to meetings and I would bring my friends to meetings to talk about our issues 

and they were here ,but wouldn't listen, I saw that there were less than more to people who Had those letters after the names. that's when I decided that I also needed to go to school, it took me forever. But finally got a master's degree.

now, [00:13:00] I'm academic and I do research I understand how systems work, always finding ways to influence change in those institutions that have marginalized us So, I guess in a nutshell, I don't consider myself an activist.

You know, other people think of me as an activist. I consider myself more of a servant to the people. I understand that what I do is a combination of everything organizing, mobilizing activism, strategizing, you know, I'm a strategist now.

Andy Gott: Yes. I couldn't help but reflect on how heartbreaking that pivotal moment was to, transform your life and give you that fire to go on to do what you've done. But also, the responsibility that you felt for others. Is also a powerful perspective shifter, right?

It feels like sometimes the fog can clear when you feel that you are responsible for other people's journey and that can so often push people on that [00:14:00] path to Becoming a leader and becoming someone who other people look up to and you also had decades of experience and wisdom to Back up what you were saying and how you were guiding these people.

that was an incredible story to hear. Thank you for sharing

Bamby Salcedo: Thank you. it has been really hard, Because now I do have that analysis. I have, the knowledge now, not just the street knowledge, but also the academic knowledge. And so I bring a unique combination. it's been over 25 years since I've been doing work in community.

so I definitely, bring a perspective that it's important into the work we're doing, not just as an organization, but Through our organization, doing work to build the infrastructure development that needs to happen in the broader trans movement.

Andy Gott: And it's a long term process. Right. I listened to an interview you gave about five years ago where you were talking about, grants you had just received for the Trans Latina Coalition. there was a five year plan that you were [00:15:00] discussing and you had some bold objectives. I'd love to check in with you in 2024 and hear from you on what the coalition's current goals are.

What is your mission coming up?

Bamby Salcedo: there's so many beautiful things happening, I can officially say that the TransLatina Coalition is now the biggest trans led organization in the United States. we are a multi million dollar, multi purpose, multi service space, for our community. we are an organization that functions with two arms, 

we believe in the empowerment of our community through service provision. you can't organize, or develop the leadership of people if people are struggling with basic things like food and housing and, Access to employment or healthcare, so that's one.

And the other one is that we also influence change in the institutions that have marginalized us for many years. we have, a strategic plan that we developed in 2022 to 2027, so [00:16:00] we did it in 2021, so it was 2022 to 2027, and, you know, we are set to create spaces that are, Trans-lead, 

And our vision really is to foster, leaders, to understand that our future leaders are the ones who are gonna, take us to a better place within our society, there are 50 beautiful and amazing trans, gender non conforming, intersex, and cis people who work at our organization who are part of the LGBTQ plus community.

42 of us are trans, gender non conforming, or intersex identified. there are about six, cis people who are also part of the LGBTQ community, who are working with us, and, we have a plan for the future of our people, 

We believe that as an organization, we are the reflection of the possibilities of our people. last year we got [00:17:00] a loan for. 4. 6 million and we were able to purchase a 21, 000 square foot space. we are in the process of building a state of the art center, which is going to cost us 35 million, which we have 20 of them secure already.

so right now I'm in the fundraising process of that. this space is going to show other members of our community that we are able to create, that we are able to realize, the dreams that many of us have had for many years. that's where we are.

That's the direction we're going. we want to build, healthy, trans, gender non conforming, sex people, if we're able to address our social conditions, then we are able to have, longitude in life, 

we're able to assert ourselves into the tapestry of our society.

So, yeah, we're doing so [00:18:00] many different things.

Andy Gott: So many things and it sounds like you've got some funds to raise and so if there's any Sugar daddies or sugar mummies listening to the podcast right now You can email Bamby and we'll share the link in the episode notes. Please just fling them five million dollars I'm sure there's someone out there with that money in their back pocket

Bamby Salcedo: every little penny helps, we're also creating our own content, and trying to monetize from YouTube, so, please go to our YouTube page and subscribe and see the beautiful stories that we are putting together, about the work that we're doing, Recently, we are turning 15, that's a beautiful description on a one minute video of who we are as an organization and what we've done.

please, check it out and support in whatever way possible. But I also want to say that there are other translate groups and organizations all over the world that are popping up, we do the work [00:19:00] because nobody's able to do it for us, so, please do support other trans led organizations and groups in whatever way you're able to.

because it is important. It's important that we foster the leadership of trans people all over the world.

Andy Gott: 100%. Uh, because this is a music themed podcast, I just wanted to call out a lovely fact that I learned. Was, it true that one of your first grants was actually from the Elton John AIDS Foundation?

Bamby Salcedo: That was actually our very first official grant. that we received in January of 2016. So, our organization started in 2009, but for six years we were doing volunteer work. it wasn't until, the Elton John AIDS Foundation believed in our work. That wouldn't have happened if the person who was working there at that time, his name was Matt, 

Saw, the work that we were doing and wanted to contribute so yeah, we started being fiscally [00:20:00] sponsored by another organization. And through that we were able to, to receive 75, 000. from the Elton Janisse Foundation to provide case management services to trans women who were getting released from immigration detention.

So essentially what we did was connect people to other social services. that was our first program that we had. so in just, again, I guess eight years now? So, we have been able to build a multiplicity of services, a, you know, and have become the biggest translator organization in the United States, but it wouldn't have happened if there wasn't because someone believed in us, right, yeah.

Andy Gott: Yeah. before we move into your musical selections, there was one last thing I'd love to talk to you about. a couple of weeks ago, I watched your recent documentary, I know you've had a couple of documentaries, but your most recent one, L. A. Quinceañera, there were so many beautiful moments in that film we could [00:21:00] discuss, but, I would love you to describe to our listeners how you developed the concept of a quinceañera.

Bamby Salcedo: so So that came to be, so initially it was just going to be a celebration of my 50th birthday. I came up with this concept of Queen Señora because, in Latin America traditionally when a young woman turns 15, right, it's like entering into womanhood, 

that's why it's called Quinceañera. it's like a ball that people, you know, it's like a party, like a celebration, the Quinceañera, the young girl, has a court of 14, They're called damas and chambelanes, 

the accord of, young woman and young man, and so that's traditionally what it is, right? But for me, the significance of that was, Marcela Romero, a dear friend and a social justice warrior, [00:22:00] who is the leader of La Red La Trans, a trans woman from Argentina.

she said that, the life expectancy of trans women is 35 years old. Right? So, 35 to 50 is 15, right? So that was that linkage. but also for me, because I had had the privilege and the opportunity to overcome, to surpass 35 years old, now to be 50. And so that's how I got this concept and for me, my court, instead of being 14, there were 49 women who have influenced my life in some kind of way, including my mother, including my little niece, including, just women in my life.

so it was beautiful, but mine was a ceremony was like an indigenous ceremony, really going back to my roots, typically, for the traditional quinceanera, they have a mass celebration. I didn't [00:23:00] want to do that. it was more of a spiritual.

celebration. And so that's how that came to be. But, you know, this theme or concept of the celebration, but, um, Pedro Pera, the director of La Quinceanera, had included me in one of his films. he thought it was. a beautiful theme and a beautiful celebration that needed to be documented so he offered to film this story of how I have come to be, La Quinceanera.

so yeah, that's how it is, it's, a description of. how I got to, end with the culmination of that celebration.

Andy Gott: it's a very powerful depiction of community and these people Coming together to support you and to lift you up andlike you said a reflection on a life of hard work and a lot of challenges and This beautiful triumphant at the age of 50 It's an amazing film and i'll share links [00:24:00] To it in the episode show notes so people can watch the film.

okay, so this entire podcast purpose is to figure out and understand the relationship that queer lgbt people have with Music you've picked some wonderful choices, so let's get into them Bamby, what did you pick and why

Bamby Salcedo: I think one of the songs that I talked about at the beginning of this conversation sort of like speaks to my childhood. Bye. Another one that I picked was, a song that has had, a lot of significance in my life particularly, after my 50th birthday, understanding that I have, You know, made it to be 50, and I'm now 54, and so, a beautiful song that just always reminds me of, you know, the life that I have, it's by Mercedes Sosa, which is, Gracias a la Vida, 

[00:25:00] Life has given me so much, for me, I cannot focus on, what I have survived, But rather, how I can overturn those horrible experiences into opportunities, And not just for me, but also for my community, for all of us. Gracias a la Vida is a song that keeps me grounded.

That keeps me in gratitude, Because I have to live in gratitude every single day, because as a trans woman it's not easy to navigate this world, particularly with all the violence that we experience, and everything that is happening, specifically here in the United States, understanding that they are, 400 pieces of legislation in different states across the United States, really targeting trans people.

for me, I hope I could, in different ways, um, you know, support our community. what helps me really is, living [00:26:00] gratitude and be grateful for what life has given

me, and then the other one is by a rock band. the band is called Git, Git sings this song called Es Por Amor, this song essentially, like, always, gives me the strength, right?to understand that everything that I do is with love, 

with love I can face the world. With love, I can walk my path with grace, right? From one side to the other, um, doesn't matter what I find along the way, as long as I do everything with love, then everything else will be fine, so yeah, those [00:27:00] are things or songs actually that. have carried me, through the years. I also want to share, one particular, song that was very also pivotal in my life. I was very young, recently arrived in the United, here in Los Angeles. and, you know, it was like a prayer that Madonna, I had just released, and I didn't speak English at that time, but I remember that, it was a cassette tape that I bought and I had like my Walkman and the, and the cover of the cassette tape.

there was the lyrics. And so I was saying to like a prayer not even knowing what I was saying. And that's how I started, losing my tongue but also that song, when I was walking on the boulevard and, you know, [00:28:00] um, when I was selling my body and, you know, it was, it was that song that uplifted me and carried me through the night.

but that was. pivotal for me to be able to learn English.

Andy Gott: Right.

Bamby Salcedo: there's definitely significance, 

Andy Gott: in these selections you find a lot of strength and they keep you uplifted. do you have a spiritual practice Bamby?

Bamby Salcedo: Oh, for sure! my spirituality is what has carried me all of, all of these years. I, there's certain things that I practice every single day. like, you know, I have a great relationship and communication with who I call my higher power, my creator. so I communicate, throughout the day.

every night when I lay my head, I reflect on my day and try to do things better the following day. I [00:29:00] sleep with water next to me and, every morning when I wake up, the first thing I do is drink water and ask my creator to cleanse my mind and heart and allow me to do things the way they wanted me to do, you know, and to just be a good person, to do whatever will that may be for that day.

So I try to live by today and, those are some of my daily practices, but I also believe in energy, I try to have great energy, my home, my work, and be in harmony with others. I know that as long as I'm okay with me, And with others, then everything is, fine.

Andy Gott: absolutely. And music is so, intertwined with spirituality which is why I wanted to ask you that based on, the songs that you've Do give you such strength and power Back to Madonna. That's a really powerful story that you shared about being on the boulevard and not only it giving you that strength but [00:30:00] also a practical way for you to Learn English.

Bamby Salcedo: For

Andy Gott: think that's fierce that Madonna is also an English teacher without even knowing it. you picked the album Like a Prayer for your selection and that was released in 1989, which is really that time that you were in making your, your life in Los Angeles, right?

Bamby Salcedo: Yes. I landed in Los Angeles in 1988. So soon after a break came out,

Andy Gott: Were you aware of Madonna, while you were still living in Mexico when you were younger? 

Bamby Salcedo: I was, I remember when I was, in Mexico, I used to be part of a, group of queer kids, and we were, dancers. And I remember that we danced to True Blue then. 

Andy Gott: Amazing. the song, Like a Prayer, is itself, of course, this, huge, enormous song, but it's transgressive [00:31:00] in its nature. When it was released, it was, of course, the definition of controversy, deeply collected to Madonna's own, spirituality and faith. I'd love to know more about how that song specifically made you feel when you were drawing strength from it.

Bamby Salcedo: I was early in my transition, and there was this relationship. Madonna was sort of like challenging, challenging societal views, right? About religion and, you know, and the video, you know, like a cross burning this saying coming alive like just different things, right.

that were, controversial. And so I, you know, being that was where I was trying to find my. self in my way within our society, right? I also felt like I was challenging society, [00:32:00] trying to be who I was, despite the fact that I didn't have opportunities for employment, or even, access to health care.

when I went to get, health care services, I was literally discriminated and denied health services. I was told that they didn't provide services for people like me, so in my opinion, it was that relationship, right? Like that she was challenging society through her music, and I was challenging society through my presence.

Andy Gott: Absolutely, just by living your truth the album, Like A Prayer, contains many incredible Madonna songs. Do you have any other favourites from the album?

Bamby Salcedo: Well, certainly express yourself, I mean, I got all of the amazing songs that were popular. I felt so connected with, you know, Cherish also was, you know, one of the songs that [00:33:00] was super amazing, but, express yourself was one of like, yes, this is me. Who I'm going to be, and this is what I'm going to be, despite, other people, just being myself and expressing myself was, this relationship that I had with that particular album and, a super Madonna fan.

Andy Gott: So what's your relationship like with Madonna today 30 years after this album

Bamby Salcedo: yeah, I mean, obviously a lot of respect and admiration, for who she is and what she has brought to the world and my own personal life, her being a beacon of hope for many of us, right?

including myself, including many members of the LGBT community. Madonna, to me and many of us, she continues to be the queen, 

Andy Gott: The last thing I wanted to mention about this album is you [00:34:00] have made enormous contributions to the awareness of HIV AIDS activism and support and just connecting people with those medical services that you yourself were denied. And I think it's, interesting to reflect that when the Like A Prayer album came out, it arrived with a card insert inside the album, which served as that first point of education for many people in discussing AIDS as an equal opportunity disease.

it stated very clearly that people with AIDS deserve compassion and support, not violence and bigotry. These things many of us take for granted today, but back then were radical things to say for the biggest pop star in the world. was that on your radar back then? Noting the connection between the album and Madonna's messaging about HIV AIDS?

Bamby Salcedo: Definitely. Right.I mean, back in the, eighties and early nineties, AIDS was one of the things that impacted the L-G-B-T-Q community. [00:35:00] and even today, trans women are the population that have the highest incidence of HIV, 

the highest incidence of infection of HIV. But, being bold as she was, and really, put that message out, was beautiful and amazing, and it gave, a type of validation to many of us, in the middle of the controversy, right, because many of us, didn't have an other alternative but to be a sex worker, and to be prone to infection, it definitely spoke volumes I, myself, one of the persons who has been impacted by HIV, youIt was not only validating, but it was affirming that our existence, really matter.

Andy Gott: Absolutely. Bamby, I'm sure you have good days and not so good days at work, but while I can close my laptop and tell myself that I'm not in the business of saving lives, your work often directly can. And, you know, perhaps the [00:36:00] bad days for you can sometimes maybe relate to genuine life or death in the work that you do for your community.

So my question for you is, you've already talked a little bit about spirituality and music, but how do you take care of yourself? To ensure that you can continue to show up day after day for the people who need you.

Bamby Salcedo: the things that are simple, that are really meaningful in my life, they allow me to continue to be doing this work nonstop for over 25 years. it's really to be grateful, Every single day to be humble, and to also be a kind person, I've known many people who are bitter because of their experiences that they have survived, 

I believe in energy, And so the energy that I project is the energy that I will get. And so, all of that is part of me taking care of myself. I think it's also important to say that through my healing processes, I have written a couple of pieces.

[00:37:00] I have done a couple of paintings. right now, I'm writing my memoir, and so all of those things have allowed me to heal from my wounds, 

Andy Gott: Yes,

Bamby Salcedo: to navigate the world in a positive way, right? I'll be wrong if I say that some of the things that happen, do not impact me because they do, right?

over the years, I don't know how many, you know, funerals I have arranged for my friends, right? but, being grounded, being grateful. understanding that I, I do have a purpose, right? I try to do things the best possible way every day of my life. I try to be of service to my people.

I, Take time off, you know, twice a year. I seclude myself. I come together with my higher power and get ready. 

so this is what helps me, to envision and to, you know, [00:38:00] to have a direction of my life, you know?

Yeah. So all of those things are things that help

Andy Gott: I can't imagine the strength it would have taken over the years and the resilience and also the trauma from having to Organize those funerals that you mentioned for people you love But perhaps the work you've done over the last 25 years whether directly or indirectly has also perhaps prevented many more of those happening too and I think you do an enormous amount of work for so many people so many of those people would want you to take care of yourself first as well

Bamby Salcedo: Yes. I, I am And people take care of me too. The work that I do, I don't do it alone, It's a collective effort, And what I mean by that is not just people who work with us at the organization, but also people who, have invested in us, 

Like, Matt from the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and people like yourself and others, who people say are [00:39:00] allies, but want to say they are, you know, social justice warriors who understand what needs to happen and they contribute to that. it's, what we have done is, I haven't done it myself.

It's, it's all of us.

Andy Gott: Wonderful. Well, that's a great place to wrap up. Bamby Salcedo, you are queer and thank you very much for your tracks.

Bamby Salcedo: Yes, thank you so much for the opportunity to share space with all of you.

Andy Gott: You can follow Bamby and the TransLatina Coalition at links and this episode show notes as well as the documentary LA Queenceñeira. Tracks of our queers is presented and produced by me. Andy Gott entirely on unseated Gadigal and Ngarigo Aboriginal land. You can email me your thoughts@anytimerecommendationsorgayramblingstotracksofourcareersatgmail.com. See you next time.