March 14, 2024 • 29 mins
As we peel back the layers of Ellie Perez's remarkable life, her voice carries the warmth and wisdom that only come from a true champion of the LGBTQ community. From her modest beginnings in Pacoima to steering the ship at the LGBTQ Center in Long Beach,
Ellie Perez's tale weaves through the struggles of identity within a traditional religious family, to the liberating embrace of her role as a beacon for Latinx LGBTQ advocacy. Her riveting narrative offers a rare glimpse into the transformative journey of self-discovery, punctuated by her son's transition and her own evolution from managing an auto parts store to inspiring change within the LA Unified School District.
In this heart-to-heart, you'll feel the pulse of a community as Ellie Perez recounts the creation of the Safe Spaces Alliance and the palpable excitement for the upcoming Trans Day of Visibility event. Every word serves as a reminder of the power of community, the importance of safe havens, and the unyielding spirit of activism. Through Eli's leadership, we're invited to celebrate the victories of inclusion and the ongoing fight for a world where everyone can show their true colors without fear. Join us and bear witness to a story that doesn't just speak to the LGBTQ community but resonates with anyone who believes in the triumph of love and acceptance over adversity.
Welcome to the RADIO QGLLU podcast, the show that TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT THE QUEER, GAY, AND LESBIAN LATINE COMMUNITY IS TALKING ABOUT.
https://www.glluarchive.com/multimedia/radio-qgllu-podcast
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Rita Gonzales (00:04):
Welcome to the Out Agenda.
Coming to an archivekpfkorg,I'm Rita Gonzalez.
On this month's segment ofRadio Q Glue, eduardo Archileta
and myself will be speaking withEli Perez, who is the Interim
Director at the LGBTQ Center inLong Beach.
(00:25):
Welcome to the Radio Q Gluepodcast, a show that takes a
deep dive in what the queer, gayand lesbian-Latin community is
talking about.
We'll explore the vibrant anddiverse conversations that
(00:47):
matter to our community.
Be ready for engageddiscussions, insightful
interviews and a celebration ofthe voices shaping our community
.
I'm Rita Gonzalez.
In today's episode we'retalking to Eli Perez.
She is the Interim ExecutiveDirector at the LGBTQ Center in
Long Beach.
(01:07):
She has an extensive resume andmany accomplishments, so we're
going to be talking to her rightnow.
Eli Perez, you have such anextensive background that it
would probably take two hours togo through it.
So Eduardo and I just want towelcome to the Radio Q Glue.
Tell us a little bit aboutyourself.
(01:28):
Who is Eli?
Ellie Perez (01:30):
Thank you so much.
I really appreciate thisopportunity and I'm just really
excited to be able to share mystory, but it really is just a
privilege and an honor to beable to talk to both of you.
Well, my name is Eli Perez.
I am the Interim ExecutiveDirector of the LGBTQ Center
Long Beach, and I am also theco-founder of the Safe Spaces
(01:51):
Alliance.
My story begins back in Pacoima,which is in the San Fernando
Valley.
I am a child of two Mexicanimmigrants, and they came to
this country, of course, likeeveryone else, seeking a better
life for themselves and creatinga family.
My parents worked really hardto make sure that we had
(02:12):
everything that we needed,always sacrificing themselves so
that we had a betteropportunity.
Going through the system inschool was quite a situation for
my mom because, although we hada school ride across the street
, she wanted us to be moreintegrated with other folks and
have more diversity.
It was really important to her,but also for us, to have the
(02:32):
opportunities the other kids hadin the more fluent
neighborhoods of Granada Hillsand Northridge.
Early on, I got involved withthe church.
At 16 years old, I became aborn-again Christian and I
enjoyed it because it gave me,the community that I needed the
(02:53):
support at that time.
As any young teenager withplenty of time and no real goals
, you need something to fillthat space or you get yourself
in a little bit of trouble.
For me, having that experiencewas really great.
I learned a lot of good things.
The only thing that I can sayfrom that experience really is
that I wasn't allowed or it wasnot permitted it's definitely
(03:18):
frowned upon to be a lesbian,knowing early on, very young age
, that there was somethingdifferent about me.
I just buried it and hit it andjust went along with what the
status quo was.
I got married at 18, part ofthe church, had my son at 21 and
eventually came out at 26, whenI started to get to know more
(03:42):
people than really just come toterms with.
Am I going to deal with this ornot?
Because praying it away has nothelped.
With that being said, I made thedetermination to seek out what
this was, what it is to be alesbian or what it is to maybe
potentially date a woman.
I had to do it.
I had to discover what thatreally was, that was inside of
(04:05):
me, that was trying to get out.
So I made the decision.
I moved on and I spent timeliving on my own, of course,
with my child.
I went through the process ofgetting divorced and
co-parenting with my ex-husband,who has been supportive.
So that was my experiencegrowing up and coming out, and,
(04:28):
early on, because I knew Ineeded the support of other
folks that looked like me, spokethe same language as me, were
potentially probably have thesame experience being, you know,
latina, I was able to findreally amazing folks through the
work that Latina QualityAlliance was starting to create.
So being part of them allowedme to eventually grow into a
(04:49):
role, to become one of the boardmembers, and from there my life
just in activism, really tookoff.
I started to see the need foradvocating for others because in
my home base I didn't get anysupport.
As you can imagine.
I'm in the church, I'm comingout, I'm getting divorced.
There were so many layers thatmy family just didn't know how
to navigate.
They just didn't have theknow-how.
(05:12):
Like what is this?
And, of course, there's a shameof it all right, like just the
demonization of who we are aspeople.
So, with that being said, beingpart of Latina Quality Alliance
really gave me that support.
It gave me the community.
It really helped to build me upas a person and really step
into accepting my own self,because a lot of the work is
(05:33):
internal and when you don't workon your own self and your own
traumas, then you tend to showit out and behave in a way
that's not conducive to buildinga community where people are
accepted and embraced for whothey are and their differences.
But yeah, love, love the workthat I was able to do with the
(05:53):
Latina Quality Alliance.
From there I moved into andmeanwhile, part of that, I was
manager at AutoZone for a coupleof years.
So I started as a manager atAutoZone.
Actually, it was called ChiefAuto Parts back then.
I'm not sure if y'all rememberthat I do, but it was Chief Auto
Parts, yeah, and I startedthere at 16 years of age and at
(06:14):
first they didn't want to giveme the job because, of course, I
was at church still.
So I show up in my dress likeit's normal to me, right?
I show up in a dress andthey're just kind of like you
want to work at an Auto Parts?
This is for my interview.
And I'm like, yeah, well, doyou have any experience?
I'm like, yeah, you know, I waswith my dad.
I was a tomboy so my dad taughtme a lot about cars.
You know I was the only onereally interested, so he would
(06:37):
teach me like, oh, you know thecar bird, it does this, and when
you hear this noise it meansthis.
So I was able to show thatexperience in my interview.
When they got past my dress andthey offered me the job and I
loved it.
It was really great to work in aplace that one allowed me to
grow but also gave me the toolsto learn more about Auto Parts,
and moving into the area ofbecoming an assistant manager at
(07:02):
18 really helped to empower meas a woman, latina and in Auto
Parts.
That's probably more seen nowthan back in the day.
But I would have situationswhen, you know, men would come
in and be like, oh, is Michaelhere?
And I'm like no, I'm here, Ican help you.
I don't know if you're going toknow about this alternator, and
it's like let me see thatalternator, so let me test it
(07:23):
for you and tell you what'sgoing on with that.
And you know, just having thoseconversations and always having
to really stand up for myselfand my knowledge and what I
could bring to the table startedvery early on for me, and one
of the areas I was able tothrive in was in that type of
leadership role where it wasjust kind of like, hey, no, like
you know, give me anopportunity to let me know, give
(07:44):
me an opportunity to let meshow you what I know.
So I was there for many yearsand I loved it.
I ended up eventually beingpromoted to a manager.
So I got promoted as a managerwhen I was 21 years old, and one
of the things that they sharedwith me is, like we were, we
wanted to promote you earlier,but you weren't 21 yet, so we
(08:04):
had to wait.
So when I turned 21 years old,after they had sent me to all
the classes, they gave me thekeys to my first store and it
was amazing.
It allowed me to really thriveand to bring folks on and give
them opportunities, because nowI was the one in charge and that
allowed me to open the doorsfor other women and other you
know, young folk that maybedidn't have experience, but I
(08:26):
knew we could teach them.
So for me, that's alwaysimportant and it's why I do the
work that I do is one givingpeople opportunities, advocating
for those that don't have avoice, but also giving them the
tools that they need to thrive,which is incredibly important in
any work that you do andadvocacy work or activism.
So after my stint there atAutoZone, when I returned from
(08:47):
my leave of absence after havingmy child, I came to find out
that I no longer was in amanagement position.
They had demoted me to a partsmanager, and that's part of the
reason why eventually I left,because I didn't understand why
that was.
I didn't know certain politics,in certain ways that women were
(09:09):
treated.
But I learned real quick when Ilost my management position and
from there I took a break anddecided to spend some time with
my son raising him.
And after three months of doingthat because I've been working
since I was 12 years old, I mean, I started selling socks at the
swap meet in San Fernando, so Ineeded to work.
I was like this is great, Ilove being a mom, but is this it
(09:31):
Like?
Is this where I'm going to be?
I'm like no, I don't think so.
So then I applied for a job at anon-public school in special
education and I was going forthe job of the manager of their
on-store Baskin Robbins becauseI've done management.
So when I applied, they're likewell, you don't really have a
(09:51):
lot of you know, knowledge inspecial education.
We're happy to teach you, butwe're going to have to wait on
this other part of themanagement part.
I'm like that's okay, I justneed a job.
So when I started working and Iwas still part of the church
during that time I was only, Iwas 22.
I was able to work there and Iloved it.
(10:11):
I loved working with the kids.
I was able to sit in the IEPmeeting to speak with the
parents.
This is where your child needsthis and this, and then also
we're translating for them.
And that's where I started tonotice more of the system really
wants you to hurry up and justsign the documentation so that
you get the needs or whatever itis.
But a lot of the parentsweren't understanding because of
the language barrier.
And I would step in and sayhold on, dr X, y and Z, can you
(10:37):
please allow me to translatethis for the parent before we
have them sign, because they'renot understanding.
And I just didn't find it to be.
I always had this thing likenot on my watch, like if I know
about something.
I'm not going to allow that tohappen.
So we moved on to being able toallow that to happen.
So it was great and I juststarted to notice more of that
(10:58):
happening around me.
As I started to grow and reallygetting outside of the church
culture, I started to noticemore and more of that.
So eventually, when I and thenthat was the job that I had
before I came out, so it's alittle convoluted, but so when I
came out, that job actuallyallowed me to really, because I
started to meet other peoplethat were gay and I thought,
(11:21):
okay, well, they seem fine andno one's lifting an eyebrow at
them and they're in a safeenvironment.
And then I thought, okay, Ican't, I can't do this anymore,
I'm going to, I'm going to comeout.
This is a safe environment.
And when I did it, I had thesupport as well, and that's when
I was able to get into Latinequality alliance and continue
(11:41):
to find people that look like me.
So in that search, finding themwas great.
I had a background, you know, inmanagement, with the auto parts
store and then moving intoworking at this non-public
school.
Eventually they gave me the jobof being the manager of the
Baskin Robbins, which wasawesome, because being the
manager of Baskin Robbinsallowed me to work directly with
(12:02):
other youth and help them howto navigate having a job, how to
respond to somebody you know,how to take orders and fill them
, and also to dealing withdemanding customers and and all
of that things that I learned atAutoZone.
But because I had been therefor so long over six years I was
able to then move over andapply it at LA Unified, which
(12:25):
allowed me and really opened upthe doors further for me.
I was able to get insurance,take care of myself and my son,
and during that time that I wasworking at LA Unified, I was
still very much involved withLatino Qualcomm Alliance and
then eventually came on when wehad to go and protest for
marriage equality, which wasreally just something that I
(12:46):
didn't understand.
How do you, can you say?
Can you say, notice someone?
There were so many things thatdidn't know.
Again, I was stuck in the churchfor so long I didn't realize
how the world actually operated.
So once I started to learn more, I started to do more.
So we took to the streets withfriends and we were down in West
Hollywood and really justchampion the rights, for equal
(13:10):
marriage rights.
So and I loved it.
And through that, all my sonwould ask you know, can I come?
You know, can I come along, mom?
And I'm like I don't know,matel, you're too little.
He's like no, I can hold up asign, there's other kids there,
let me come.
But okay.
So then I started to bring himalong and that really, for him,
opened his eyes up further.
(13:30):
So when I did that work withthe Latino Quality Alliance and
being part of LA Unified, as inthat, this time my son was still
little.
So fast forward to my son being16.
He comes to me and he tells meand my wife, now he's like, yeah
, you know, I want to share withy'all.
And I thought he was going tosay, oh, you know, I'm a lesbian
.
We're like, oh, we already knowthat.
(13:50):
But now he's like I'm trans.
And with that being said, it'slike okay, how can I help my
child?
Of course, for me it was likenot understanding what that all
meant.
Of course, as a parent, youwant to protect your child and,
with that being said, eventuallyI was able to take him to
therapy.
(14:10):
So I took him to a session oftherapy.
He was in there about probably10 minutes and I just picked any
therapist because I didn't know.
What I know now is that youjust can't do that, and that
further solidified my importanceto advocate for safe spaces.
So my son goes in there.
He's having this session.
He comes out 10 minutes later.
(14:31):
I paid for an hour.
I'm like what's going on?
He's like oh, we got to go,I'll tell you in the car.
And I'm like why don't you justtell me now?
Because the therapist isstanding there.
He's like no, mom.
He's like I'll tell you in thecar.
I'm like okay, I thanked her,left and got in the car.
Okay, my dad.
So what happened?
He's like I'll just tell youwhen we get home.
I'm like nah, just tell me now.
We're in the car, we're stillhere, you know.
(14:52):
He's like nah, I'm gonna tellyou when we get home.
So we get home and my son shareswith me what was said to him,
which was heartbreaking andenraging because basically told
you're gonna regret yourdecision and other terrible
things that were said to my son,and he was smart enough not to
tell me in front of that personbecause he knows his mom.
It would have not been a goodthing for that person.
(15:15):
But I never forgot thatexperience.
It took me about nine months toreally find a good therapist
for my son and I said thatshouldn't be the case, this
shouldn't be, that we're treateda certain way and we're just
gonna stand for it.
So I just had that in the backof my mind and I'm just like
there's something needs tochange.
I need to do more than just,you know, be part of a board.
(15:36):
I need to do more.
What else can I do?
So when my son went off tocollege, he was 17,.
He goes off to college and weby then were able to find him
what he needed for him totransition.
And during that time, when hewas going off to college, Angela
and I made the decision we'regonna move to Long Beach.
And we did, and it's been thebest decision I've ever made
ever.
Rita Gonzales (15:56):
I was gonna ask you how did you get to Long
Beach?
Ellie Perez (16:00):
One of the best decisions was that it was like
it's time, Matteo is off tocollege, this is our time for us
.
So we moved to Long Beach andmy wife is a web developer,
licensed drone pilot,photographer.
She's amazing, Just buildswebsites, does it all.
And she was working forMichelle Wynhousen, who is the
founder of Visit Gay Long Beach.
So, being part of my wifeworking with them, she asked
(16:24):
they were looking for a socialmedia person and because I had
background and some of thethings I was doing, they're like
, yeah, would you like to comeon board and be the social media
manager?
And I'm like that soundsawesome, yes.
So then, because Visit Gay LongBeach is based tourism, I
decided that we needed to findall the places that were
friendly and really promote themin a way by doing photos that
(16:48):
are also a photographer.
So we were well underwaybuilding up the website and
showing the places gay-friendlyare .
And then, in May of 2021, Ibelieve, our lifeguard rainbow
tower here on Long Beach wasburned down.
Somebody torched it and because,yeah, it was just like what is
(17:11):
going on in this city, we movedhere because it's supposed to be
LGBTQ friendly, it's supposedto be all these things right.
So when that happened, thatreally sent a very loud and just
the horrible message to thecommunity.
And because we are Visit GayLong Beach, we are based on
tourism, we're showcasing placesthat are friendly my wife and I
(17:33):
took a step back and said, OK,we really need to identify the
places that are safe spaces forour community.
And also, remembering whathappened to my son and his
experience, and even up to thattime now my son while he was
doing well because I was able tohelp navigate I'm like we
really need to take this toanother level.
If we're going to be doing thiswork of showcasing places that
(17:56):
are gay friendly, let's reallybe intentional.
So my wife created the "you AreWelcome here sticker.
That's the Safe Spaces Alliancework that we do and we run with
it.
that's really cool.
It was meant to really symbolizewhere our community can go.
Where can you have services?
(18:16):
Where are you safe, welcome andvalued?
So the Safe Spaces Alliance isabout that.
It's about showcasing theplaces where our community is
safe, welcome and valued.
In a sense, two messages.
One, it says hey, we're notgoing to take to the streets and
be anti anything.
No, this is about being apositive reflection on our
(18:37):
allies, but also on our LGBTQowners, organizations, teachers,
because when we started thisproject, it was meant to
identify the businesses becauseit was part of Visigay Long
Beach, right.
But we want, I wanted to take ita step further, knowing that I
was still in the school system,knowing that LA Unified had
created this awesome badges fortheir staff to wear and be able
(18:59):
to say hey, if there's a studenton campus that needs to have,
you know, a conversation withsomeone who's LGBTQ or an ally,
you know, wear the badges.
And I probably wore mine allthe time.
I was like, hey, I'm proud ofwho I am and I don't want the
kids feeling like I fell when Iwas growing up, which was being
excluded or discriminatedagainst.
So I always wore mine.
But, with that being said, Iknew that it wasn't just going
(19:22):
to be for businesses and neededto expand.
So when we, you know, set outto communicate with the Long
Beach City Council because Ididn't want this just to be like
a flash in the pan, like no,this used to be intentional.
This city is claiming to be themost LGBTQ inclusive.
People talk about it, say it,highlight it.
(19:42):
Let's be intentional about it.
We'll have the businesses signup, it'll be backed by the city,
it will be a citywideinitiative and we had all these
plans to do that.
And, with that being said, Ireached out to the center, which
I now happen to be the interimexecutive director of, and we
got their support.
I also reached out to theLBGLCC, who is the LGBTQ Chamber
(20:04):
of Commerce here in Long Beach,and, with their former
president and the three of us,we wrote a letter to the city
council and asked to have sometime to show and talk about the
Safe Spaces Alliance and the youAre Welcome here sticker and
the intention behind it.
So we did that and previouslywe actually just went ahead and
launched it anyway, because inmy head, you know just being
(20:24):
grass with something like I'mgoing to wait for somebody to
sanction this.
We're doing it and we ran withit prior to our meeting and we
got about 100 folks sign up andI was like this is really great.
And with that came teachers andorganizations, we got folks
from outside of California andthen we got folks from outside
of the country.
(20:45):
We got somebody from Jamaica,you know, the Netherlands, uk,
like people started signing upfor it and we just we just kept
doing it.
So we had that to show to thecity and we got our day to meet
with them and they unanimouslyapproved it and gave us their
seal and it was just awesome tohave that, because now we can
(21:06):
confidently continue to moveforward with the project and
have folks do it.
So kicked off that campaignwith a video.
We reached out to certainorganizations that we know were
key, like Hamburger Marys ofLong Beach with Jules, who does
amazing work for our community,phenomenal and one of our most
staunch supporters.
She's incredible.
I can't say enough about Jules.
(21:26):
We had other businesses want toparticipate in the video
montage that we presented andand it just continues to to grow
and take off and and I love itI think that it's important to
uplift our allies as well as ourLGBTQ community, and allies to
me have a really special placein my heart because these folks
(21:49):
don't need to do that work.
They live a life of privilegeand they are not LGBTQ.
Our issues don't necessarilyaffect them, other than, of
course, you know empathy andcompassion side of it.
Or if they have family members,right, but it takes a lot for
one to be LGBTQ and stand up foryour rights.
But when an ally steps in andsays, hey, not on my watch, this
(22:12):
is not going to happen.
I'm not going to allow for that.
You know, I'm adding my voiceto equity and equality of these
folks and this protected class.
It's a different message.
So I welcome that and I welcomeour allies.
And we just had somebody acouple of months ago who was
killed in Arrowhead, you know,for being an ally, for flying
the flag.
So we have to embrace ourallies is it's?
(22:34):
It's crucial, it's important.
For me, this movement of equityand equality and inclusion and
belonging really is a work wehave to all do.
It's not just for the LGBTQfolks.
But yeah, I am just feel goodabout the work that I do.
Yes, it's hard, it'semotionally challenging.
(22:55):
Of course there will beopposition because we're human
beings, but at the end of theday, I just keep doing what I
know is right for me.
I keep doing what shows tohappen, impact and help to
change the narrative right, andI'll do it.
My son has grown, he's 25.
He's thriving, he's doing great, and that's just a testament to
(23:18):
what happens when you supportsomeone.
What happens when you embraceand help and advocate like that
to me is huge and I just youknow I'm proud of the work that
I do and I always say, like Ihave time, why not?
What else am I doing with mylife?
This is it for me.
I love it and even if it's hardand challenging, I'm about it
(23:40):
because I'm just like bring iton, what's next?
Rita Gonzales (23:42):
When you found your purpose.
I mean, you've been a sincelike you grew up.
You just came out running.
I did.
Eduardo Archuleta (23:50):
Yeah, you weren't even hopping.
Rita Gonzales (23:51):
You were just running.
Eduardo Archuleta (23:53):
No, that's fantastic.
You've done some really greatstuff.
I'm impressed by everythingthat I've heard.
Kind of grew up in Long Beachand came out in Long Beach, so
it's really nice to hear thatthere's all these really great
things happening there.
And the great thing is thatyou're the interim director at
(24:15):
the center and what I'd like tofollow up with is so.
So what's going on at thecenter now?
Ellie Perez (24:22):
Well, we have all this great stuff going on.
Yeah, I'm excited to be here.
It really is an honor and aprivilege to be able to serve my
community at this capacity.
I'm really my goal while I amhere is to continue to empower
the team, because this workdoesn't get done without the
team.
First and foremost, it's theteam and when I stepped on board
(24:43):
, I was very adamant about that.
I'm like, hey, yes, I'm theinterim executive director, but
I am part of this team and whileI know some things, I don't
know everything, and that's thefact.
Anywhere you go and I haveexperts in the house, you know,
I have a director of health, Ihave a director of mental health
, I have a director of youth andfamily services.
I mean I have all theseteammates are awesome director
(25:05):
of legal and all these folkshave an expertise and together,
if you're able to really empowerthem to do the work, it's going
to flow.
But first and foremost, you'vegot to take care of your team.
They're the ones that are alsoout there doing the work.
So for me, one was establishinglet's get this team feeling
good about the work that they'redoing.
(25:26):
Let's reiterate what themission is.
So I came in and I was able todo that and I'm excited that the
team that we have is reallyreally dedicated to this work,
and it's amazing.
I'm so grateful for them.
Eduardo Archuleta (25:41):
Well, I wish you the best of luck with that.
Rita Gonzales (25:43):
Thank you.
And I think, in any capacitythat you do, you're going to do
great things and it's veryimportant to be a team player.
Eduardo Archuleta (25:52):
You can't do it alone, absolutely.
Ellie Perez (25:54):
No, you can't.
I mean anyone in any positionof leadership.
it's your team, it really is andhaving that attitude really
changes what happens in thehouse right Like it matters and
just knowing that.
And it took many years for meto really come, because I'm
pretty much been just a leaderjust in my own, having to take
(26:17):
care of myself and just be veryindependent.
So I've had to learn, and partof that was being working at the
auto parts store because I wasvery spunky, I was just kind of
like, very matter of fact, andjust having those folks to help
me navigate and understandcertain ways was great and
that's kind of like what hashelped me to.
(26:38):
Okay, you need a team, youcan't just go at it alone.
But it's been many, many folksthat have helped me to get to
where I'm at, and both of youhave laid the groundwork
yourselves.
So if I'm able to do what I do,it's because of the folks that
have come before me.
Without that I wouldn't be ableto have come out when I did and
have that support system.
That's really important.
Rita Gonzales (26:59):
Well, I hope to meet you in person.
Are you going to be at the LongBeach Pride?
Ellie Perez (27:04):
I am going to be at Long Beach Pride.
I'm actually working reallyclosely with Tanya Martin, who
is the new president there, andshe's doing phenomenal work, has
great ideas coming.
Yeah, I'm very deeply involvedhere in the city of Long Beach.
All things LGBTQ, I'm about it.
We are going to have our transstay of visibility coming on on
(27:25):
March 30th.
That's going to be here in LongBeach at Bixby Park.
It's going to be from four toeight.
So we are currently organizingthat with other community
members and we're really excitedto be kicking that off.
Eduardo Archuleta (27:35):
Okay, so if you want to go.
Can you repeat that again forpeople that want to go to this
event?
Ellie Perez (27:41):
Yeah, so it's going to be.
Our trans day of visibility isMarch 30th and it's from four to
eight PM in Long Beach at BixbyPark, and we'll have more
information coming out on oursocial media.
You can follow us at centerLB.
Rita Gonzales (27:54):
Thank you so much for joining us here at RadioQ.
It's been a pleasure hearingabout you and I think I'm so
inspired.
Because it's been an honordoing such a good job that
you're doing.
Eduardo Archuleta (28:04):
It's been really great hearing you tell
your story, Allie, and thank youfor coming on.
We greatly appreciate it and Ithink our listeners will as well
that there's these great thingshappening not just with you and
your life and your family, butalso in the city of Long Beach,
that there are places that theycan spot these signs and know
(28:29):
that they're welcome.
Ellie Perez (28:30):
Well, we're definitely expanded and growing.
We have over a thousand fivehundred folks that have signed
up so far and we are creating adirectory.
It's going to be dedicated tosafe spaces Long Beach and folks
are going to be able to findall kinds of places where they
can cut their hair, go shoppingfor plants or you want to buy
candles or anything, and it'llbe the folks that are going to
(28:54):
be listed on.
There are folks that are partof the Safe Spaces Alliance are
showing the sticker, but notonly that.
It's going to be one of thebest things that folks can find
so that they don't go throughwhat I went through with my son
and trying to find anappropriate therapist that was
inclusive.
So more to come, for sure.
Rita Gonzales (29:11):
Okay, well, we're going to have you back on and
talk about future things.
Let's do it, why not?
Okay, well, thank you.
Thank you so much.
Ellie Perez (29:16):
Rita and Eduardo.
I appreciate you both Thank you.
Thank you for the awesome workyou're doing.
Eduardo Archuleta (29:21):
This has been Eduardo Chuleta.
Rita Gonzales (29:23):
And Rita Gonzalez .
Our guest has been Ellie Perez,who is the Interim Executive
Director at the Long Beach LGBTQCenter.
Eduardo Archuleta (29:32):
Thank you for listening.
Rita Gonzales (29:34):
You've been listening to Radio Q GLLU on
"the out genda" and we want tohear from you.
Like us on our Facebook page,follow us on X, formerly known
as Twitter, or email us at theout agenda@ gmail.
com.
I'm Rita Gonzalez.
Thanks for listening, and havea wonderful week, and remember
that being out is the first stepto being equal.
Now stay tuned for "This WayOut.
Welcome to the Out Agenda.
Coming to an archivekpfkorg,I'm Rita Gonzalez.
On this month's segment ofRadio Q Glue, eduardo Archileta
and myself will be speaking withEli Perez, who is the Interim
Director at the LGBTQ Center inLong Beach.
(00:25):
Welcome to the Radio Q Gluepodcast, a show that takes a
deep dive in what the queer, gayand lesbian-Latin community is
talking about.
We'll explore the vibrant anddiverse conversations that
(00:47):
matter to our community.
Be ready for engageddiscussions, insightful
interviews and a celebration ofthe voices shaping our community
.
I'm Rita Gonzalez.
In today's episode we'retalking to Eli Perez.
She is the Interim ExecutiveDirector at the LGBTQ Center in
Long Beach.
(01:07):
She has an extensive resume andmany accomplishments, so we're
going to be talking to her rightnow.
Eli Perez, you have such anextensive background that it
would probably take two hours togo through it.
So Eduardo and I just want towelcome to the Radio Q Glue.
Tell us a little bit aboutyourself.
(01:28):
Who is Eli?
Ellie Perez (01:30):
Thank you so much.
I really appreciate thisopportunity and I'm just really
excited to be able to share mystory, but it really is just a
privilege and an honor to beable to talk to both of you.
Well, my name is Eli Perez.
I am the Interim ExecutiveDirector of the LGBTQ Center
Long Beach, and I am also theco-founder of the Safe Spaces
(01:51):
Alliance.
My story begins back in Pacoima,which is in the San Fernando
Valley.
I am a child of two Mexicanimmigrants, and they came to
this country, of course, likeeveryone else, seeking a better
life for themselves and creatinga family.
My parents worked really hardto make sure that we had
(02:12):
everything that we needed,always sacrificing themselves so
that we had a betteropportunity.
Going through the system inschool was quite a situation for
my mom because, although we hada school ride across the street
, she wanted us to be moreintegrated with other folks and
have more diversity.
It was really important to her,but also for us, to have the
(02:32):
opportunities the other kids hadin the more fluent
neighborhoods of Granada Hillsand Northridge.
Early on, I got involved withthe church.
At 16 years old, I became aborn-again Christian and I
enjoyed it because it gave me,the community that I needed the
(02:53):
support at that time.
As any young teenager withplenty of time and no real goals
, you need something to fillthat space or you get yourself
in a little bit of trouble.
For me, having that experiencewas really great.
I learned a lot of good things.
The only thing that I can sayfrom that experience really is
that I wasn't allowed or it wasnot permitted it's definitely
(03:18):
frowned upon to be a lesbian,knowing early on, very young age
, that there was somethingdifferent about me.
I just buried it and hit it andjust went along with what the
status quo was.
I got married at 18, part ofthe church, had my son at 21 and
eventually came out at 26, whenI started to get to know more
(03:42):
people than really just come toterms with.
Am I going to deal with this ornot?
Because praying it away has nothelped.
With that being said, I made thedetermination to seek out what
this was, what it is to be alesbian or what it is to maybe
potentially date a woman.
I had to do it.
I had to discover what thatreally was, that was inside of
(04:05):
me, that was trying to get out.
So I made the decision.
I moved on and I spent timeliving on my own, of course,
with my child.
I went through the process ofgetting divorced and
co-parenting with my ex-husband,who has been supportive.
So that was my experiencegrowing up and coming out, and,
(04:28):
early on, because I knew Ineeded the support of other
folks that looked like me, spokethe same language as me, were
potentially probably have thesame experience being, you know,
latina, I was able to findreally amazing folks through the
work that Latina QualityAlliance was starting to create.
So being part of them allowedme to eventually grow into a
(04:49):
role, to become one of the boardmembers, and from there my life
just in activism, really tookoff.
I started to see the need foradvocating for others because in
my home base I didn't get anysupport.
As you can imagine.
I'm in the church, I'm comingout, I'm getting divorced.
There were so many layers thatmy family just didn't know how
to navigate.
They just didn't have theknow-how.
(05:12):
Like what is this?
And, of course, there's a shameof it all right, like just the
demonization of who we are aspeople.
So, with that being said, beingpart of Latina Quality Alliance
really gave me that support.
It gave me the community.
It really helped to build me upas a person and really step
into accepting my own self,because a lot of the work is
(05:33):
internal and when you don't workon your own self and your own
traumas, then you tend to showit out and behave in a way
that's not conducive to buildinga community where people are
accepted and embraced for whothey are and their differences.
But yeah, love, love the workthat I was able to do with the
(05:53):
Latina Quality Alliance.
From there I moved into andmeanwhile, part of that, I was
manager at AutoZone for a coupleof years.
So I started as a manager atAutoZone.
Actually, it was called ChiefAuto Parts back then.
I'm not sure if y'all rememberthat I do, but it was Chief Auto
Parts, yeah, and I startedthere at 16 years of age and at
(06:14):
first they didn't want to giveme the job because, of course, I
was at church still.
So I show up in my dress likeit's normal to me, right?
I show up in a dress andthey're just kind of like you
want to work at an Auto Parts?
This is for my interview.
And I'm like, yeah, well, doyou have any experience?
I'm like, yeah, you know, I waswith my dad.
I was a tomboy so my dad taughtme a lot about cars.
You know I was the only onereally interested, so he would
(06:37):
teach me like, oh, you know thecar bird, it does this, and when
you hear this noise it meansthis.
So I was able to show thatexperience in my interview.
When they got past my dress andthey offered me the job and I
loved it.
It was really great to work in aplace that one allowed me to
grow but also gave me the toolsto learn more about Auto Parts,
and moving into the area ofbecoming an assistant manager at
(07:02):
18 really helped to empower meas a woman, latina and in Auto
Parts.
That's probably more seen nowthan back in the day.
But I would have situationswhen, you know, men would come
in and be like, oh, is Michaelhere?
And I'm like no, I'm here, Ican help you.
I don't know if you're going toknow about this alternator, and
it's like let me see thatalternator, so let me test it
(07:23):
for you and tell you what'sgoing on with that.
And you know, just having thoseconversations and always having
to really stand up for myselfand my knowledge and what I
could bring to the table startedvery early on for me, and one
of the areas I was able tothrive in was in that type of
leadership role where it wasjust kind of like, hey, no, like
you know, give me anopportunity to let me know, give
(07:44):
me an opportunity to let meshow you what I know.
So I was there for many yearsand I loved it.
I ended up eventually beingpromoted to a manager.
So I got promoted as a managerwhen I was 21 years old, and one
of the things that they sharedwith me is, like we were, we
wanted to promote you earlier,but you weren't 21 yet, so we
(08:04):
had to wait.
So when I turned 21 years old,after they had sent me to all
the classes, they gave me thekeys to my first store and it
was amazing.
It allowed me to really thriveand to bring folks on and give
them opportunities, because nowI was the one in charge and that
allowed me to open the doorsfor other women and other you
know, young folk that maybedidn't have experience, but I
(08:26):
knew we could teach them.
So for me, that's alwaysimportant and it's why I do the
work that I do is one givingpeople opportunities, advocating
for those that don't have avoice, but also giving them the
tools that they need to thrive,which is incredibly important in
any work that you do andadvocacy work or activism.
So after my stint there atAutoZone, when I returned from
(08:47):
my leave of absence after havingmy child, I came to find out
that I no longer was in amanagement position.
They had demoted me to a partsmanager, and that's part of the
reason why eventually I left,because I didn't understand why
that was.
I didn't know certain politics,in certain ways that women were
(09:09):
treated.
But I learned real quick when Ilost my management position and
from there I took a break anddecided to spend some time with
my son raising him.
And after three months of doingthat because I've been working
since I was 12 years old, I mean, I started selling socks at the
swap meet in San Fernando, so Ineeded to work.
I was like this is great, Ilove being a mom, but is this it
(09:31):
Like?
Is this where I'm going to be?
I'm like no, I don't think so.
So then I applied for a job at anon-public school in special
education and I was going forthe job of the manager of their
on-store Baskin Robbins becauseI've done management.
So when I applied, they're likewell, you don't really have a
(09:51):
lot of you know, knowledge inspecial education.
We're happy to teach you, butwe're going to have to wait on
this other part of themanagement part.
I'm like that's okay, I justneed a job.
So when I started working and Iwas still part of the church
during that time I was only, Iwas 22.
I was able to work there and Iloved it.
(10:11):
I loved working with the kids.
I was able to sit in the IEPmeeting to speak with the
parents.
This is where your child needsthis and this, and then also
we're translating for them.
And that's where I started tonotice more of the system really
wants you to hurry up and justsign the documentation so that
you get the needs or whatever itis.
But a lot of the parentsweren't understanding because of
the language barrier.
And I would step in and sayhold on, dr X, y and Z, can you
(10:37):
please allow me to translatethis for the parent before we
have them sign, because they'renot understanding.
And I just didn't find it to be.
I always had this thing likenot on my watch, like if I know
about something.
I'm not going to allow that tohappen.
So we moved on to being able toallow that to happen.
So it was great and I juststarted to notice more of that
(10:58):
happening around me.
As I started to grow and reallygetting outside of the church
culture, I started to noticemore and more of that.
So eventually, when I and thenthat was the job that I had
before I came out, so it's alittle convoluted, but so when I
came out, that job actuallyallowed me to really, because I
started to meet other peoplethat were gay and I thought,
(11:21):
okay, well, they seem fine andno one's lifting an eyebrow at
them and they're in a safeenvironment.
And then I thought, okay, Ican't, I can't do this anymore,
I'm going to, I'm going to comeout.
This is a safe environment.
And when I did it, I had thesupport as well, and that's when
I was able to get into Latinequality alliance and continue
(11:41):
to find people that look like me.
So in that search, finding themwas great.
I had a background, you know, inmanagement, with the auto parts
store and then moving intoworking at this non-public
school.
Eventually they gave me the jobof being the manager of the
Baskin Robbins, which wasawesome, because being the
manager of Baskin Robbinsallowed me to work directly with
(12:02):
other youth and help them howto navigate having a job, how to
respond to somebody you know,how to take orders and fill them
, and also to dealing withdemanding customers and and all
of that things that I learned atAutoZone.
But because I had been therefor so long over six years I was
able to then move over andapply it at LA Unified, which
(12:25):
allowed me and really opened upthe doors further for me.
I was able to get insurance,take care of myself and my son,
and during that time that I wasworking at LA Unified, I was
still very much involved withLatino Qualcomm Alliance and
then eventually came on when wehad to go and protest for
marriage equality, which wasreally just something that I
(12:46):
didn't understand.
How do you, can you say?
Can you say, notice someone?
There were so many things thatdidn't know.
Again, I was stuck in the churchfor so long I didn't realize
how the world actually operated.
So once I started to learn more, I started to do more.
So we took to the streets withfriends and we were down in West
Hollywood and really justchampion the rights, for equal
(13:10):
marriage rights.
So and I loved it.
And through that, all my sonwould ask you know, can I come?
You know, can I come along, mom?
And I'm like I don't know,matel, you're too little.
He's like no, I can hold up asign, there's other kids there,
let me come.
But okay.
So then I started to bring himalong and that really, for him,
opened his eyes up further.
(13:30):
So when I did that work withthe Latino Quality Alliance and
being part of LA Unified, as inthat, this time my son was still
little.
So fast forward to my son being16.
He comes to me and he tells meand my wife, now he's like, yeah
, you know, I want to share withy'all.
And I thought he was going tosay, oh, you know, I'm a lesbian
.
We're like, oh, we already knowthat.
(13:50):
But now he's like I'm trans.
And with that being said, it'slike okay, how can I help my
child?
Of course, for me it was likenot understanding what that all
meant.
Of course, as a parent, youwant to protect your child and,
with that being said, eventuallyI was able to take him to
therapy.
(14:10):
So I took him to a session oftherapy.
He was in there about probably10 minutes and I just picked any
therapist because I didn't know.
What I know now is that youjust can't do that, and that
further solidified my importanceto advocate for safe spaces.
So my son goes in there.
He's having this session.
He comes out 10 minutes later.
(14:31):
I paid for an hour.
I'm like what's going on?
He's like oh, we got to go,I'll tell you in the car.
And I'm like why don't you justtell me now?
Because the therapist isstanding there.
He's like no, mom.
He's like I'll tell you in thecar.
I'm like okay, I thanked her,left and got in the car.
Okay, my dad.
So what happened?
He's like I'll just tell youwhen we get home.
I'm like nah, just tell me now.
We're in the car, we're stillhere, you know.
(14:52):
He's like nah, I'm gonna tellyou when we get home.
So we get home and my son shareswith me what was said to him,
which was heartbreaking andenraging because basically told
you're gonna regret yourdecision and other terrible
things that were said to my son,and he was smart enough not to
tell me in front of that personbecause he knows his mom.
It would have not been a goodthing for that person.
(15:15):
But I never forgot thatexperience.
It took me about nine months toreally find a good therapist
for my son and I said thatshouldn't be the case, this
shouldn't be, that we're treateda certain way and we're just
gonna stand for it.
So I just had that in the backof my mind and I'm just like
there's something needs tochange.
I need to do more than just,you know, be part of a board.
(15:36):
I need to do more.
What else can I do?
So when my son went off tocollege, he was 17,.
He goes off to college and weby then were able to find him
what he needed for him totransition.
And during that time, when hewas going off to college, Angela
and I made the decision we'regonna move to Long Beach.
And we did, and it's been thebest decision I've ever made
ever.
Rita Gonzales (15:56):
I was gonna ask you how did you get to Long
Beach?
Ellie Perez (16:00):
One of the best decisions was that it was like
it's time, Matteo is off tocollege, this is our time for us
.
So we moved to Long Beach andmy wife is a web developer,
licensed drone pilot,photographer.
She's amazing, Just buildswebsites, does it all.
And she was working forMichelle Wynhousen, who is the
founder of Visit Gay Long Beach.
So, being part of my wifeworking with them, she asked
(16:24):
they were looking for a socialmedia person and because I had
background and some of thethings I was doing, they're like
, yeah, would you like to comeon board and be the social media
manager?
And I'm like that soundsawesome, yes.
So then, because Visit Gay LongBeach is based tourism, I
decided that we needed to findall the places that were
friendly and really promote themin a way by doing photos that
(16:48):
are also a photographer.
So we were well underwaybuilding up the website and
showing the places gay-friendlyare .
And then, in May of 2021, Ibelieve, our lifeguard rainbow
tower here on Long Beach wasburned down.
Somebody torched it and because,yeah, it was just like what is
(17:11):
going on in this city, we movedhere because it's supposed to be
LGBTQ friendly, it's supposedto be all these things right.
So when that happened, thatreally sent a very loud and just
the horrible message to thecommunity.
And because we are Visit GayLong Beach, we are based on
tourism, we're showcasing placesthat are friendly my wife and I
(17:33):
took a step back and said, OK,we really need to identify the
places that are safe spaces forour community.
And also, remembering whathappened to my son and his
experience, and even up to thattime now my son while he was
doing well because I was able tohelp navigate I'm like we
really need to take this toanother level.
If we're going to be doing thiswork of showcasing places that
(17:56):
are gay friendly, let's reallybe intentional.
So my wife created the "you AreWelcome here sticker.
That's the Safe Spaces Alliancework that we do and we run with
it.
that's really cool.
It was meant to really symbolizewhere our community can go.
Where can you have services?
(18:16):
Where are you safe, welcome andvalued?
So the Safe Spaces Alliance isabout that.
It's about showcasing theplaces where our community is
safe, welcome and valued.
In a sense, two messages.
One, it says hey, we're notgoing to take to the streets and
be anti anything.
No, this is about being apositive reflection on our
(18:37):
allies, but also on our LGBTQowners, organizations, teachers,
because when we started thisproject, it was meant to
identify the businesses becauseit was part of Visigay Long
Beach, right.
But we want, I wanted to take ita step further, knowing that I
was still in the school system,knowing that LA Unified had
created this awesome badges fortheir staff to wear and be able
(18:59):
to say hey, if there's a studenton campus that needs to have,
you know, a conversation withsomeone who's LGBTQ or an ally,
you know, wear the badges.
And I probably wore mine allthe time.
I was like, hey, I'm proud ofwho I am and I don't want the
kids feeling like I fell when Iwas growing up, which was being
excluded or discriminatedagainst.
So I always wore mine.
But, with that being said, Iknew that it wasn't just going
(19:22):
to be for businesses and neededto expand.
So when we, you know, set outto communicate with the Long
Beach City Council because Ididn't want this just to be like
a flash in the pan, like no,this used to be intentional.
This city is claiming to be themost LGBTQ inclusive.
People talk about it, say it,highlight it.
(19:42):
Let's be intentional about it.
We'll have the businesses signup, it'll be backed by the city,
it will be a citywideinitiative and we had all these
plans to do that.
And, with that being said, Ireached out to the center, which
I now happen to be the interimexecutive director of, and we
got their support.
I also reached out to theLBGLCC, who is the LGBTQ Chamber
(20:04):
of Commerce here in Long Beach,and, with their former
president and the three of us,we wrote a letter to the city
council and asked to have sometime to show and talk about the
Safe Spaces Alliance and the youAre Welcome here sticker and
the intention behind it.
So we did that and previouslywe actually just went ahead and
launched it anyway, because inmy head, you know just being
(20:24):
grass with something like I'mgoing to wait for somebody to
sanction this.
We're doing it and we ran withit prior to our meeting and we
got about 100 folks sign up andI was like this is really great.
And with that came teachers andorganizations, we got folks
from outside of California andthen we got folks from outside
of the country.
(20:45):
We got somebody from Jamaica,you know, the Netherlands, uk,
like people started signing upfor it and we just we just kept
doing it.
So we had that to show to thecity and we got our day to meet
with them and they unanimouslyapproved it and gave us their
seal and it was just awesome tohave that, because now we can
(21:06):
confidently continue to moveforward with the project and
have folks do it.
So kicked off that campaignwith a video.
We reached out to certainorganizations that we know were
key, like Hamburger Marys ofLong Beach with Jules, who does
amazing work for our community,phenomenal and one of our most
staunch supporters.
She's incredible.
I can't say enough about Jules.
(21:26):
We had other businesses want toparticipate in the video
montage that we presented andand it just continues to to grow
and take off and and I love itI think that it's important to
uplift our allies as well as ourLGBTQ community, and allies to
me have a really special placein my heart because these folks
(21:49):
don't need to do that work.
They live a life of privilegeand they are not LGBTQ.
Our issues don't necessarilyaffect them, other than, of
course, you know empathy andcompassion side of it.
Or if they have family members,right, but it takes a lot for
one to be LGBTQ and stand up foryour rights.
But when an ally steps in andsays, hey, not on my watch, this
(22:12):
is not going to happen.
I'm not going to allow for that.
You know, I'm adding my voiceto equity and equality of these
folks and this protected class.
It's a different message.
So I welcome that and I welcomeour allies.
And we just had somebody acouple of months ago who was
killed in Arrowhead, you know,for being an ally, for flying
the flag.
So we have to embrace ourallies is it's?
(22:34):
It's crucial, it's important.
For me, this movement of equityand equality and inclusion and
belonging really is a work wehave to all do.
It's not just for the LGBTQfolks.
But yeah, I am just feel goodabout the work that I do.
Yes, it's hard, it'semotionally challenging.
(22:55):
Of course there will beopposition because we're human
beings, but at the end of theday, I just keep doing what I
know is right for me.
I keep doing what shows tohappen, impact and help to
change the narrative right, andI'll do it.
My son has grown, he's 25.
He's thriving, he's doing great, and that's just a testament to
(23:18):
what happens when you supportsomeone.
What happens when you embraceand help and advocate like that
to me is huge and I just youknow I'm proud of the work that
I do and I always say, like Ihave time, why not?
What else am I doing with mylife?
This is it for me.
I love it and even if it's hardand challenging, I'm about it
(23:40):
because I'm just like bring iton, what's next?
Rita Gonzales (23:42):
When you found your purpose.
I mean, you've been a sincelike you grew up.
You just came out running.
I did.
Eduardo Archuleta (23:50):
Yeah, you weren't even hopping.
Rita Gonzales (23:51):
You were just running.
Eduardo Archuleta (23:53):
No, that's fantastic.
You've done some really greatstuff.
I'm impressed by everythingthat I've heard.
Kind of grew up in Long Beachand came out in Long Beach, so
it's really nice to hear thatthere's all these really great
things happening there.
And the great thing is thatyou're the interim director at
(24:15):
the center and what I'd like tofollow up with is so.
So what's going on at thecenter now?
Ellie Perez (24:22):
Well, we have all this great stuff going on.
Yeah, I'm excited to be here.
It really is an honor and aprivilege to be able to serve my
community at this capacity.
I'm really my goal while I amhere is to continue to empower
the team, because this workdoesn't get done without the
team.
First and foremost, it's theteam and when I stepped on board
(24:43):
, I was very adamant about that.
I'm like, hey, yes, I'm theinterim executive director, but
I am part of this team and whileI know some things, I don't
know everything, and that's thefact.
Anywhere you go and I haveexperts in the house, you know,
I have a director of health, Ihave a director of mental health
, I have a director of youth andfamily services.
I mean I have all theseteammates are awesome director
(25:05):
of legal and all these folkshave an expertise and together,
if you're able to really empowerthem to do the work, it's going
to flow.
But first and foremost, you'vegot to take care of your team.
They're the ones that are alsoout there doing the work.
So for me, one was establishinglet's get this team feeling
good about the work that they'redoing.
(25:26):
Let's reiterate what themission is.
So I came in and I was able todo that and I'm excited that the
team that we have is reallyreally dedicated to this work,
and it's amazing.
I'm so grateful for them.
Eduardo Archuleta (25:41):
Well, I wish you the best of luck with that.
Rita Gonzales (25:43):
Thank you.
And I think, in any capacitythat you do, you're going to do
great things and it's veryimportant to be a team player.
Eduardo Archuleta (25:52):
You can't do it alone, absolutely.
Ellie Perez (25:54):
No, you can't.
I mean anyone in any positionof leadership.
it's your team, it really is andhaving that attitude really
changes what happens in thehouse right Like it matters and
just knowing that.
And it took many years for meto really come, because I'm
pretty much been just a leaderjust in my own, having to take
(26:17):
care of myself and just be veryindependent.
So I've had to learn, and partof that was being working at the
auto parts store because I wasvery spunky, I was just kind of
like, very matter of fact, andjust having those folks to help
me navigate and understandcertain ways was great and
that's kind of like what hashelped me to.
(26:38):
Okay, you need a team, youcan't just go at it alone.
But it's been many, many folksthat have helped me to get to
where I'm at, and both of youhave laid the groundwork
yourselves.
So if I'm able to do what I do,it's because of the folks that
have come before me.
Without that I wouldn't be ableto have come out when I did and
have that support system.
That's really important.
Rita Gonzales (26:59):
Well, I hope to meet you in person.
Are you going to be at the LongBeach Pride?
Ellie Perez (27:04):
I am going to be at Long Beach Pride.
I'm actually working reallyclosely with Tanya Martin, who
is the new president there, andshe's doing phenomenal work, has
great ideas coming.
Yeah, I'm very deeply involvedhere in the city of Long Beach.
All things LGBTQ, I'm about it.
We are going to have our transstay of visibility coming on on
(27:25):
March 30th.
That's going to be here in LongBeach at Bixby Park.
It's going to be from four toeight.
So we are currently organizingthat with other community
members and we're really excitedto be kicking that off.
Eduardo Archuleta (27:35):
Okay, so if you want to go.
Can you repeat that again forpeople that want to go to this
event?
Ellie Perez (27:41):
Yeah, so it's going to be.
Our trans day of visibility isMarch 30th and it's from four to
eight PM in Long Beach at BixbyPark, and we'll have more
information coming out on oursocial media.
You can follow us at centerLB.
Rita Gonzales (27:54):
Thank you so much for joining us here at RadioQ.
It's been a pleasure hearingabout you and I think I'm so
inspired.
Because it's been an honordoing such a good job that
you're doing.
Eduardo Archuleta (28:04):
It's been really great hearing you tell
your story, Allie, and thank youfor coming on.
We greatly appreciate it and Ithink our listeners will as well
that there's these great thingshappening not just with you and
your life and your family, butalso in the city of Long Beach,
that there are places that theycan spot these signs and know
(28:29):
that they're welcome.
Ellie Perez (28:30):
Well, we're definitely expanded and growing.
We have over a thousand fivehundred folks that have signed
up so far and we are creating adirectory.
It's going to be dedicated tosafe spaces Long Beach and folks
are going to be able to findall kinds of places where they
can cut their hair, go shoppingfor plants or you want to buy
candles or anything, and it'llbe the folks that are going to
(28:54):
be listed on.
There are folks that are partof the Safe Spaces Alliance are
showing the sticker, but notonly that.
It's going to be one of thebest things that folks can find
so that they don't go throughwhat I went through with my son
and trying to find anappropriate therapist that was
inclusive.
So more to come, for sure.
Rita Gonzales (29:11):
Okay, well, we're going to have you back on and
talk about future things.
Let's do it, why not?
Okay, well, thank you.
Thank you so much.
Ellie Perez (29:16):
Rita and Eduardo.
I appreciate you both Thank you.
Thank you for the awesome workyou're doing.
Eduardo Archuleta (29:21):
This has been Eduardo Chuleta.
Rita Gonzales (29:23):
And Rita Gonzalez .
Our guest has been Ellie Perez,who is the Interim Executive
Director at the Long Beach LGBTQCenter.
Eduardo Archuleta (29:32):
Thank you for listening.
Rita Gonzales (29:34):
You've been listening to Radio Q GLLU on
"the out genda" and we want tohear from you.
Like us on our Facebook page,follow us on X, formerly known
as Twitter, or email us at theout agenda@ gmail.
com.
I'm Rita Gonzalez.
Thanks for listening, and havea wonderful week, and remember
that being out is the first stepto being equal.
Now stay tuned for "This WayOut.
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com