The Jesse Garcia Show

What started out as small gatherings among friends after the pandemic has grown to a successful group that’s changing the game of Queer living in the Rio Grande Valley. RGV Bears are organizing several communities in South Texas to create their own space and have fun while doing it. Leading the effort is Pedro Coronado, a longtime community activist who is ready to take it to the next level.

After researching his family history in Cuba, Marley Pulido got inspired to share all these forgotten Black Cuban stories left out of history books. He has taken on a self-funded mission to build a community archive that includes video, audio and images that will preserve the Black Cuban historical memory of the island and the diaspora.

Filmmaker Dolissa Medina teams up with Visual AIDS of New York to combine Latino Culture and Personal Stories to make an impact on World AIDS Day.

More than 20 years ago Shane Mendez Windmeyer launched Campus Pride, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building future LGBTQ leaders and creating safer, more LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities. Shane talks about the type of work that goes into rating higher education institutions and what red flags you should look for before you accept that admissions packet.

Meteorologist Mark Peña delivers the weather to DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia based on science and facts. We’ll talk about his Texas roots, how politics have crept into weather and why warnings by your local weather can save your life. Listen on Audible, Amazon, iTunes, Spotify & Soundcloud.

Meet the Latino overseeing the nation’s leading Transgender Equality organization, Executive Director Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen. For the last 20 years, National Center for Transgender Equality has advocated in DC. Now that fight has gone to state legislatures due to a historic number of anti-Transgender bills. Hear how Rodrigo and his staff work to ensure that Trans Lives are protected and safe.

In North Texas, a LGBTQ community advocate, the Resource Center, has taken on a new mission to take care of vulnerable LGBTQ seniors during their golden years. Learn how the center plans to help Queer elders live out their best lives.

Ben Garcia has spent his whole life working in museums and ensuring art and history are protected and accessible. Today, he is helping launch a brand new museum dedicated to the American LGBTQ+ experience. He shares what it will take to open the $26 million project, how the museum’s collection will be shared, and how your items can become part of our American history.

Meet the Latina working mom who is making sure the nation’s capital puts on the best Queer Brown Pride festival on a shoe string budget and volunteer power.

Episode 111 Meet the LGBTQ Icon Saving Public Education and American History in Texas Dr. Nancy Vera by Jesse Garcia

Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez has prepared her whole life for the bench. She worked in social services, education and as a lawyer representing families in need. Now she gets to help people find justice, and for a lucky few, a second chance by presiding over a Bexar County Court. Learn how she’s ready to help others achieve and what advice she has for those going into law.

Mayra Hidalgo Salazar is the Deputy Executive Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force. Originally from Costa Rica, Mayra’s 13-year journey as a queer and formerly undocumented woman laid the groundwork for her commitment to organizing — spearheaded by queer, immigrant youth of color. Get ready to learn about organizing for LGBTQ civil rights movement.

After years of advocating for the Latino community and preparing others to lead, Gay Latino Immigrant Jonathan Dromgoole is ready to run to represent all his communities in Northern Virginia.

National Association of Hispanic Journalists Executive Director Dave Peña talks about his organization’s work here and abroad to support the professional development of future and current journalists, plus we’ll talk about the Top 10 stories of 2022.

Meet Karla Cruz Godoy, a Queer Latina Warrior who made it to Survivor’s Season 43 Finale on CBS this fall. We’ll talk about her 20-day journey to outwit, outplay and outlast her fellow players. Karla will also share advice on getting and surviving on the show.

One small act of discrimination turned into a big opportunity for a policy wonk to become a historic Transgender Activist.

More than 11,000 migrants have been sent to the District of Columbia by Republican Governors on busses full of empty promises. While media comes and goes, Jennie Saldaña has kept welcoming migrants during this humanitarian crisis from day one. Learn their story today.

Learn in realtime what DC’s top scientist is doing to combat the Monkeypox Virus. Epidemiologist Dr. Anil Mangla shares with the JesseGarciaShow.com ways to protect yourself and treatment available for those sick with the virus.

LGBTQ Latinx Drag Queen Lady J Monroe is spreading self acceptance, literacy, and most importantly, love. But conservatives are labeling Drag Queen Storytellers as sinister predators who must be stopped. Hear her side of the story and learn how Drag is making the next generation smarter and kinder.

Imagine getting hired to write about social justice, inclusion and self identity at the largest newspaper in the United States. Reporter Marc Ramirez has taken on the challenge and has included the Latinx LGBTQ community in his front page stories. Thank you for being an ally, Marc!

Democracy Rising Co-Director Maria Perez is a leading expert on Ranked Choice Voting, an election model that is voter centric, eliminates negative attacks and saves taxpayers by avoiding costly runoffs.

On the podcast today, Comic Book Shop Owner Gabriel Mendez, a businessman who has loved comic books all his life and credits them for his literacy and imagination. We’ll talk about how comic book characters have shaped American pop culture and how their storylines are helping the next generation become more accepting of others.

Commissioner Roy De Los Santos talks about making history in Brownsville, Texas, by being becoming the first-ever openly gay elected official, how the city has progressed over the years, and his plans to modernize infrastructure.

Marilyn Sulay shares her journey as a businesswoman, inventor and entrepreneur who shattered glass ceilings in media and tech world but had to fight discrimination once folks learned she was transgender

Emmy Award Winning News Producer Johnny Cordoba shares his journey into the news business, tips for future journalists, and his thoughts about the year’s top stories