1 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha and welcome to Stephane 2 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:19,959 Speaker 1: never told your production by Heart Radio. Welcome, Welcome, welcome, 3 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: and for today's women around the world, we've got a 4 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: good one. However, I have a question first Anny, Okay, 5 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: I was just wondering, as it is Pride month this month, 6 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 1: and we've talked about your sexual orientation and just kind 7 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 1: of overall your journey in this. Can you kind of 8 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,879 Speaker 1: talk about at the beginning of your journey when you 9 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: started questioning just kind of your sexual identity and why 10 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: that was something that you explored. Yes, and that is 11 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: a very good question because I think for a lot 12 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 1: of people, but especially in my case, things sort of 13 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: happen organically and you don't understand them at the time, 14 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: and if you don't have the terminology or even um 15 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: you don't see you representation of a certain thing, then 16 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: you might not only try to fit into what you 17 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: think you should be or how you think you should 18 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: be just because that's all you know, but you you 19 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:26,479 Speaker 1: might not even realize that you're going through these things 20 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: until you look back later. So that was very much 21 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 1: my experience where I didn't realize, as we've spoken about before, 22 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 1: there were so many ways to identify. But that being said, 23 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: when in seventh grade, I was on a one of 24 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 1: those notorious field shows where you go away for like 25 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: the weekend, you know, and it's it's like rife with 26 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 1: drama and you know who kissed who and who's doing 27 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: what with whom, and it's it's the time when you're 28 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: an adolescent and those kind of questions are happening anyway, 29 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: where you're starting to feel like this interest in people 30 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 1: I had previously. I know, I've shared the story many times. 31 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: Realized that I liked both male and female fictional characters, 32 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:17,239 Speaker 1: like I would feel flutters and more in my stomach 33 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: that I couldn't explain. But I told my friend I 34 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: thought it was orgasms and she was like, it's definitely 35 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: not well, and I was like, well, it's something. And 36 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: I feel the same for both Scully and Molder. So 37 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:32,519 Speaker 1: I think I pretty early on, because bisexual was the 38 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: term I was familiar with, thought okay, I'm interested in both. 39 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 1: And then on that trip to Jakol Island in seventh grade, 40 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: I had people where I was like, oh, I would 41 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: make out with her. I know who, I would make 42 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: out with him, And at the time, it was kind 43 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: of like, am I just excited by all these new 44 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: like these feelings and emotions, Maybe I'm not understanding them. 45 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 1: Later in high school it became much more. I felt 46 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: like I had to fit in by open wanting to 47 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: date with a dude and want to have sex with 48 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: that dude. So it was I wouldn't say I was 49 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 1: living a lie, but I would let people believe, like 50 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 1: I would make very sexual jokes and I would let 51 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:14,799 Speaker 1: people believe what they would from that. But I think 52 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: that was like, looking back, that does feel like that 53 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 1: was when I was first I was a sexual or 54 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: dimisexual or whatever it was. But I was trying so hard. 55 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 1: I didn't realize that I didn't know those were things, 56 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 1: but I was trying to be like fit into this 57 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,919 Speaker 1: straight existence and I really wanted that, like I That's 58 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: one thing I remember so clearly is I wanted it 59 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: because my friends sounded so happy about it, and it 60 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 1: just seemed like to fit in, you had to want that. 61 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 1: But this is a very long winded story to say. 62 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: I think pretty early on I just didn't have an 63 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: understanding or the tools or words um until looking back, 64 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: where I do kind of feel sad that I didn't 65 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: because I was trying. I did things I wish I 66 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: hadn't done because I thought I would fit in or 67 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: that I had to right. That may be sad, and 68 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: just so the y'all y'all know I did give any 69 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 1: heads up and as commission, So I don't want to 70 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: be like, how do you? Because I think it's really 71 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 1: important too. And we've talked about this many times about 72 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 1: what it looks like when you have that aha moment 73 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: of that's who I am. Oh my god, I've been 74 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: missing this piece of who I was, and um, I 75 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 1: love that we after we released the episode about the 76 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: A B C's of being Ace, and so many people 77 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: try me in about oh my god, I didn't know, 78 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: but that's me and just having that feeling of relief 79 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 1: and release and kind of identifying that that part of you. 80 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: And I think it's beautiful. As I have, I come 81 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: from a little older generation of trying to understand and 82 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 1: and being allies and trying to see what it was 83 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: and not just seeing it as a uh titles, and 84 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: I think that's for so long that's how I kind 85 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 1: of saw them as and just coming to the point 86 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: of saying how beautiful it is not only to be 87 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: able to for people to identify that way, but also 88 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 1: the fluidity of being able to just love and truly love. 89 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 1: And I love that concept in general and just loving 90 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: what that is and and as it is pride. We 91 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 1: we also want to keep talking about all the different 92 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: people who have come to this point and have been 93 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: such inspirations for others as well in any other ured 94 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 1: inspiration for so many um I think many of the 95 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: listeners would agree. And because of that, we wanted to 96 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: focus on someone who has won many awards in her 97 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: activism as well. Ash pushed to advocate for the rights 98 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 1: and justice for the trans and the LGBTQ plus community, 99 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: and especially those of color in the U S and 100 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: around the world, and we were talking about Ruby Corrado. Yes, so. 101 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: Ruby Corrado is an activist, advocate, and survivor. She was 102 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: originally born in El Salvador, where she fled at the 103 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 1: age of sixteen to the United State dates and it 104 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: has not been an easy road for her. She endured 105 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 1: her harassment, sexual assault, gun violence, and even incurceration. She 106 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: went through hard times, including having job loss, homelessness, and 107 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 1: continued harassment and physical violence, but she was able to 108 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: persevere and she continued to grow and learn more about herself. 109 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,359 Speaker 1: She came to understand the lack of community and help 110 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 1: for someone like her, that it didn't really exist, and 111 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 1: she wasn't able to start her transition until a bit 112 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: after she came to the United States and did so 113 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: after being able to safely access it right. And it 114 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 1: was actually after the death of trans woman Tyra Hunter 115 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: in nine who was refused treatment by the e m 116 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,359 Speaker 1: S at that time and so therefore died, and that 117 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 1: pushed Courado to start volunteering and start her journey as 118 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: an advocate for the l g b d Q ples community, 119 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:56,600 Speaker 1: and she has not slowed down at all, still active today. 120 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 1: She later started to work with the Coalition to Clarify 121 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: the d See Human Rights Act or later named DC 122 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: Chains Coalition, which pushed to include quote protections for gender 123 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: identity or expression to the DC Human Rights Act, which 124 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: took effect in March two thousand and six. And this 125 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 1: all took place after she became kind of a name 126 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: in the LGBTQ activism circle for her work and organizing 127 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: skills including organizing marches and vigils to five recognition and 128 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: justice for those who had been murdered, and it was 129 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: kind of after the death and the murder of Evangelista 130 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 1: that she started to really pick up and with the 131 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: experience and fierce passion and advocating for a community, Karado 132 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: has used all her past life traumas and experiences to 133 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: provide a safe space for others while experiencing sexual violence 134 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: and trafficking, homelessness, domestic violence, continued mis gendering that led 135 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: to more trauma within the incurse ration system as well 136 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: as healthcare systems, and overall lack of support. Through all 137 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: of that, Karada created the Casa Ruby and and from 138 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: their site quote, her drive and dream was to bring 139 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: resources to historic, clear, underserved, and under resource communities in 140 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: order to create more success stories for transgender and queer 141 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: folks Yea and she did this with a group of 142 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 1: friends and they have a long list of services offered, 143 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: everything from shelter to health services, to immigration services, to 144 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 1: domestic violence services as well as care for youths. And 145 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: their mission statement is pretty simple, to create success life 146 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: stories among transgender, gender, queer, gender, nonconforming, gay, lesbian, and 147 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: bisexual individuals and um They've gone global, starting with a 148 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 1: location in El Savador, as she states she is quote 149 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,319 Speaker 1: a Salvadorian who migrated, but a part of her stayed there, 150 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:40,439 Speaker 1: and she felt she wanted to fight for that community 151 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: and continue to bring services. Of course, she also talked 152 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: about her fear that they might be outed and they 153 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,200 Speaker 1: would have to flee as well, but more than anything, 154 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: she just wanted there to be a safe space for 155 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: that community and for her community there. But of course, 156 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: there are still many battles ahead, and in fact Groado 157 00:08:57,760 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: has been dealing with a whole new level of vitriol 158 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 1: and rets this past year. She stated in twenty that 159 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: she has been receiving many threats against her and her organization. 160 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 1: She said she thinks it's in part due to the 161 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: pandemic and how it has pushed everyone to become more 162 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:15,559 Speaker 1: on edge, and that it's causing people to lash out right. 163 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 1: She talked about the fact that not only has she 164 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 1: gotten personal threats, but threats against her organization, so they've 165 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 1: been on high alert um and she's no stranger to 166 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: the threats, including being sent many threats after events such 167 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: as the Pulse nightclub shooting. She said that she started 168 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 1: getting phone calls after that and there was an uptick 169 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 1: after the election when she didn't hold back in the 170 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: fact that you've had fears of the things to come 171 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:43,920 Speaker 1: with that administration and trying to actually advocate for her 172 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: community at that point in time, as there was a 173 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 1: lot of anti trans and currently and a lot of 174 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 1: anti trans laws trying to be pushed forward. So she's 175 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: definitely being seen and she's definitely been targeted, and yeah, 176 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: she has continued and will continue to work for the 177 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: better and for the activism of her community. As in fact, 178 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: she's actually stepping down because she was the CEO and 179 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: head of an executive leader of CASA Ruby, but she's 180 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 1: stepping down to allow for others, as she says, to 181 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: come and take her place. And she actually talked about 182 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 1: the fact that she feels that having a black trans 183 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:21,679 Speaker 1: woman come and lead after her, saying that this is 184 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:24,679 Speaker 1: a whole conversation about who's in leadership and why it's 185 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: important for everyone to be seen. And she has been 186 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 1: a fierce advocate for the brown and black communities within 187 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: the trans communities as well and about how they need 188 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 1: to be seen and be represented, and um, I love that. 189 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 1: As in fact, she's also talking about possibly getting into 190 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: politics with a consideration to run for the DC City 191 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 1: Council in three which will open up at that point 192 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:51,680 Speaker 1: in time, which would make her, I believe, the first 193 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: openly transgender council person in the city's second ever transgender 194 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 1: elected official, behind Monica Nameth who was appointed as a 195 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: advisory Neighborhood commission in so past. Your fingers would definitely 196 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: advocate for her. But yeah, she's not slowing down like 197 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 1: I said. She's going global, launching different businesses as well 198 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 1: on top of as these nonprofits that she just recently 199 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 1: launched Kossa Ruby's new pharmacy in DC um hoping to 200 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:27,559 Speaker 1: give more healthcare access as well for the transgender community. 201 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: So big things and not surprisingly, she's been awarded many, 202 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 1: many awards, yes, including the Capital Pride Engendered Spirit Awards 203 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: in eleven, Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance g l l 204 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: A Distinguished Service Award in twelve, the Activists of the 205 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: Year by the African American Prison Awards in twelve, the 206 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 1: DC Center Community Center Service Award, and Gay and Lesbians 207 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 1: Opposing Violence Community Service Award also in two thirteen, right 208 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:59,959 Speaker 1: and just recently this year, she was awarded the twenty 209 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,839 Speaker 1: twenty one Community Build Award by the National Center for 210 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 1: Transgender Equality, which is dedicated to the grassroots activists and 211 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 1: organizers who have put forward at collaboration and fuel the 212 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 1: transgender liberation movement. So congratulations to her, but obviously she 213 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:17,680 Speaker 1: has been a fierce voice and someone that we should 214 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: definitely look up to and look out for. Totally agreed 215 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 1: and as always, listeners, we love hearing suggestions for you 216 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:28,079 Speaker 1: for this segment or any other segment. We welcome them all. 217 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: Uh you can email those suggestions to us at stuffyr 218 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 1: mom Stuff at I hurt media dot com. You can 219 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: find us on Twitter at mom Stuff Podcast or on 220 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 1: Instagram at stuff I've Never Told You. Thanks as always 221 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,839 Speaker 1: to our super producer Christina, thank you and thanks to 222 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:43,079 Speaker 1: you for listening Stuff I Never Told You his protection 223 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 1: of I Heart Radio. For more podcast from I Hear 224 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 1: Radio is the I Hear Radio app, Apple podcast, or 225 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to your favorite shows.