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Erin & Caroline

Erin and Caroline are a couple living in Asheville North Carolina. I met Erin during our Find Your Park Expedition trip with the National Park Foundation during the fall and we’ve been in contact ever since. During our time in California, we realized that we both had a lot in common. We both share a love for photography, storytelling, and hold great aspirations as community builders, which made our interaction a lot more meaningful. I knew then that having her and her partner, Caroline, as featured guests for UNICO would be a great way to show people that creativeness thrives within the LGBTQ community. They are a freelance photography and writing team interested in both slow and fast travel in search of a good story to tell with adventurous minded people. They’ve also recently hosted Asheville’s first instameet, #AshevilleInstameet, and traveled to Beijing China. Keeping up with the two through their various social media accounts, I can tell that they make a perfect duo overcoming different obstacles and having fun while doing it.

Because of our distant living locations, me in Texas and Erin and Caroline living in North Carolina, we decided that a Q&A would be more efficient for this interaction. Hope you enjoy.

Q. First of all how was Beijing China?

Caroline: For me coming back home felt much slower. Life felt fast in Beijing; it was like visiting New York City on steroids. I was overwhelmed by the movement, but I did miss things that can’t experience here.

Q. What was the most interesting thing from that adventure?

Caroline: For me, it’s not a complain or insult in anyway, but there is a third world and first world existing at the same time. All of life there was visitable. Cooking in the street, constant traffic, it was there for everyone to see.

Erin: I felt very stimulated. Things and places that I shot there were challenging. I tend to take the perfect picture but the area was densely packed.

Q. Moving on, how is it being a duo team. I know both of you have recently started as community builders, but dipping your feet with the #AshevilleInstameet, how was it getting it started?

Erin: It was a lot of fun. After the Find Your Park Expedition I got a lot of inspiration from you, the other members, and Javier. It took a lot of planning, but then it happened so fast. We did a lot and as a team we got it done. We both put our strengths and abilities, which contributed into making it happen.

Caroline: It was helpful for Erin that I knew the area. We got local businesses and photographers to come and be part of it. Erin’s excitement was infectious the whole time.

Q. Did anyone or any other group play a role as contributors?

Erin: We developed a core team. When I first moved here I met Chelsea Lane Bollhoefer and Amelia Fletcher. They helped in creating flyers and spread the word about the instameet. We met and talked about ideas and what duties each one had. We also had two businesses take part, High Five Coffee and French Broad Chocolate lounge who gave out prizes to participants.

Q. Did anything surprise you from it?

Caroline: On a personal level I found that planning it and talking about it more gave me more confidence. We were so hopeful that the first one would be a success, which it was, and now planning for the second one feels much easier and comfortable. I’m less awkward getting businesses and photographers to participate.

Q. What was the outcome of it? Have you had any type of feedback?

Erin: We had twenty-eight participants come out and they immediately wanted to know when the next one was going to be. The feedback was very positive. Asheville is a very artsy town and people from outside came out. We had some people come from Boone and Charlotte which is about two hours away. It felt nice to fill that void that was missing in our city.

Q. After hosting your first instameet, what advice would you give other people who want to do the same?

Erin: I’d suggest what you told me during the FYPx trip, which was to create a core team, people who you trust creatively and who want to share with others. Collaborating is also important.

Q. What is after the instameet? Do y’all have any further plans or projects that both of you are working on?

Erin: We are going in different directions with ideas on how to make a living. We left our jobs and now we are both focusing on freelancing, photography, collaborating with other people, writing, and website design. It feels fulfilling but it’s also scary to know if there is a demand for this type of work. Caroline does the networking, she has a good reputation as a business owner and she’s done business within the town for a while.

Caroline: There is a lot competition within the area. It’s not a small city but the area is big with creative types. A local busines whose website we are working on contacted us initially because of Erin’s photography.

Q. How are you getting prepared for the second instameet?

Erin: We started preparing everything early. The first one took us three weeks in planning, but learning from the last one, this one is taking us five weeks. It’s a little less stressful and more people seem interested. We changed the time, which is planned during the afternoon.

Caroline: We’ve contacted businesses already, some of them include Urban Orchard which is a cider bar and where we will finish. The Dry Good Shop, they make all kinds of crafts such as leather goods and host workshops. They are going to allow us to explore their space and take pictures there.

Q. And to finish it up, what are your long term goals?

Erin: With Instagram, if it’s still going strong in the next five years, we’ll try to make the instameets more inclusive for everyone.

Caroline: It’s the first time in my life that I’ve had that kind of involvement within the community. I typically tend to shy away, but this experience was a confidence builder. It’s a new window to the place I’ve lived for years.

If you want to learn more about Erin and Caroline make sure to visit their website or Instagram accounts. And make sure you're keeping up with their work and their upcoming instameet, which is planned to take place on January 28, 2017.

UNICO is an LGBTQ online journal focusing on the lives of various people who are making a difference within the community as individuals. Creatives, activists, entrepreneurs, artists, or anyone who is active within their passions are welcome to join the conversation. We recognize sexual identity as a vast spectrum and respect everyone's identity and likes. For further questions, concerns, or inquiries contact us at [email protected].

Thank you <3

Website coming soon.

Nix Nova

I met Nix Nova for the first time at a house party back in San Marcos Texas about four years ago. It was during a cold weekend night and I was with some friends who talked about a party across town so we decided to go. Once there the music was loud and the people were happy. I was introduced to him and his roommate who welcomed us in and I immediately felt his sincere personality. Since then I’ve been one of his admirers. Seeing and hearing about everything he did and still does, standing out as someone who isn’t afraid to be true to themselves, was something I always looked up to for myself.

So far, at 24, Nix Nova has been able to establish himself as a professional drag performer and Makeup artist in the Central Texas area. I recently met with him at a local coffee shop in San Marcos where we had a one-on-one over his accomplishments as a creative. Here is what he had to say.

Nix Nova’s beginning started when he was in 5th grade where he played in the school band. He played the trumpet and other musical instruments he had at home. Music came first before the makeup. Growing up in a conservative town, it wasn’t easy for him to express his love for makeup and if he did, it would be done in private, away from his family’s sight. At 14 years old, he would shoplift eyeliner from local grocery stores and years later, once at Texas State University, his supportive friends would gift him their extra makeup. But starting school at Texas State wasn’t all that perfect. For a while he was depressed and would miss out on class.

“I was pretty depressed when I was at school so I spent a lot of time in my dorm room practicing makeup instead of going to class. So really I think that trial and error phase was really integral to my success as a makeup artist.”

After practicing on his own, he finally managed to do makeup for someone else, which was at a local boutique in town and soon after he was introduced to Chasca. Chasca is a local glam band and a National treasure as Nix Nova mentioned. In 2011, during Weirdfest at the Texas Music Theatre as it used to be known, he met the band through a mutual friend who was hosting the event, which allowed him backstage access.

“... after the show, Junior the bass player he approached me and was like, we really like your makeup, would you want to try to do makeup for us sometime?”

Right after that, Chasca had a show at the Triple Crown and Nix Nova has been doing their makeup ever since.

“... and that was the first time I got to do makeup in public, like at a venue, which I’ve done hundred of times now… I did their makeup and they liked it and I’ve done their makeup ever since for the past five years.”

Creating the bands look has allowed him to see how both music and makeup can create a different type of depth within a live performance. It allows the performers to be in control and feel as expressive as they have to be. In a way it’s a mask, empowering the band members no matter their gender.

“... especially since there's this stigma against men wearing makeup, which has seemed to clear up some in recent years, but we’ll see how that goes... ”

Being able to experiment with makeup within music has allowed Nix Nova to develop a sense of self. Without this creative skill and the experiences he’s had so far, he wouldn’t be Nix Nova. As part of the LGBTQ community and culture in San Marcos Texas, the community itself wouldn’t be what it is without people like him. Something that he and others in the community came to appreciate was the opening of the Stonewall Warehouse. With the establishment of a gay bar in the small college town, things started to get better for everyone and still are. Since it’s opening back in 2014, its allowed people to give back to the community by hosting events, events that Nix Nova himself has been part of. The Bobcat Ball which was hosted there recently was one of them, including other events such as The Bobcat Pride Scholarship, The Trevor Project, and Drag Out Funny, which The Root Cellar Cafe has hosted.

All in all, Nix Nova puts himself out there for the LGBTQ community in the San Marcos Texas area and beyond. Using his talent and creative skills in use for the better of the community.

"... I volunteer to give my time and attention to those who need it. I hope that raising funds for those who need it most makes their lives easier."

Today Nix Nova is also grateful for the purpose that Chasca has given him as a makeup artist and the things he's been involved in because of them.

"It definitely gave me some purpose in life, it gave me hope and I think if I hadn't participated or been involved with Chasca I might of done something stupid. Mentally, the creative space that they’ve given me helped me as a person."

Today he is still pursuing his goals as a performer and makeup artist, inputing his skills where they are most needed. By doing so he hopes in making his makeup artistry more of his profession. And how will he get there you ask?

"Die without regrets, live in a way where I don't regret my actions... Be happy more often than not, that's a choice. A hard choice to make sometimes but you know it's a choice we all have to make... and love as hard as I can. That one too can be difficult when there are people you disagree with... it can be hard in those moments. But being aware of my emotional state and my thoughts, hopefully I can maintain my inner peace."

Thank you <3

Website coming soon.

#UNICO #LGBTQ #LGBT

Encuentra Tu Parque a través de imágenes.

Our Find Your Park Expedition/ Encuentra Tu Parque, was filled with so many incredible moments that the amount of pictures taken are never ending. Besides my posts on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, I've chosen a few more of my favorites to share with you all on here. Please feel free to click on each picture to see the story behind. And as always make sure to follow, share, and like.

Hope you enjoy.

First and foremost, stand out.

The National Park Foundation chose eight different individuals out of four hundred applicants for the Find Your Park Expedition across the country. All of us were unique in our own way and at the same time shared similar qualities seeking the truth to our purposes. Not only were we allowed to make moments happen by capturing the essence that is the National Parks, we also created a collaboration of ideas and actions. Our main similarity, we are all culturally diverse and speak to an enormous group of people throughout social media. Being culturally diverse means to be a variety of ethnic groups within a society. Our society can either be exclusive or inclusive to the idea of being diverse. In the case of our country, diversity exists because of the different factors that allowed it to flourish across several areas throughout time. There have been times of both anguish and prosperity for all diverse communities, but there will always be room for improvement; which is why I’m grateful for the National Park Foundation for choosing us to speak up and stand out in front of all the people who like us, look up to us.

Coming from a first generation Mexican-American family things initially were never easy. I was born in Mexico and came to the states illegally when I three years old and it wasn’t until I was nine that I became a resident. I didn’t realize the struggle we faced until the moment I saw my parents faces lift with joy when told by our lawyers that we were finally visible as people in this country. Fast forward to 2015 to the wintery night I graduated from Texas State University, I also became the first in my family to earn a degree from a four year university. In that moment I realized that what I had just done was huge for many like myself, and not just for the little immigrant kids with big dreams, but for their families too. But I’m not just a first generation, Mexican-American college graduate, I’m also gay and proud of it. With so much that defines me I also have to acknowledge that these qualities are not seen with the same eyes my friends and family see them with. I’ve come to understand my own struggles and their harsh history, which is why today I consider myself a big advocate for all the struggles people like me face on a daily basis and even more after the Find Your Park Expedition.

Taking part in the Expedition made me realize that people like me don’t get to enjoy beautiful places like Yosemite National Park or learn the real history as to why Rosie the Riveter is so significant. I learned that in order to feel American, we all need the opportunity to experience these places and moments, and by doing so we will feel more free and united.

I wasn’t the only one who felt a certain type of way, Juan Flores, a participant from Indianapolis, Indiana also sensed a change of view as a multicultural person.

“My thoughts, my views, and my actions will be influenced by this expedition… It allows me to format my experiences into actions that can be beneficial to my communities.”

Victoria Ramos, another participant from Roma-Los Saenz, Texas had this to say,

“Growing up, I never experienced national parks, so to have gotten a chance to visit such a beautiful place was completely overwhelming... As a Mexican- American and growing up so close to the border, you don't hear of other people like you visiting these places... Being a minority to me always felt like you couldn't move forward because others would simply put you down, but as I grew older I realized I had it wrong... you're more than a lable.”

Diversity is a big part of this country and it is one of the main bases it’s founded on. Brown, black, multicultural, gay, questioning, first or third generation, like it or not, we are all American. With everything that is going on today, I believe it’s also one of the most important times to stand out and speak up on behalf of everyone we represent. It’s a lesson I took from the National Park Foundation Find Your Park Expedition and something I will forever be grateful for. With time and more experiences like this one, my voice will only grow louder.

Find Your Park Expedition 2016

As some of you may known already I was part of the Find Your Park Expedition or Encuentra Tu Parque held by the National Park Foundation this past month. The National Park Foundation is the official charity of this country’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Along with the National Parks Service turning 100 this year, the national arks also held their second expedition involving eight social media influencers from across the country chosen from about four hundred applicants. Their mission was to bring us, a team of culturally diverse social media communicators, to the National Parks as a way to show us that we are part of this movement as well. The expedition was inspired by the @American_Latino Expedition, also known as #ALEx, a public education and awareness campaign with the intention to bring the national parks to multicultural communities across the country. Our adventure included exploring the beautiful city of San Francisco and Yosemite National Park with visits to National Historic sites such as Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park and other iconic Californian destinations. I was lucky enough to take on this journey with seven other amazing and talented people who I now consider friends. The trip only lasted a week, but to me it felt like a month of exciting and unforgettable moments shared with the other participants, the National Parks Foundation team and sponsors. Our interactions and impressions of each other radically changed over the course of one week and that to me meant a lot.

The #FYPx team was made up of Victoria Ramos, Victoria Gonzales, Jacob Fu, Juan Flores, Faith E. Briggs, Edgar Woo, Erin McGrady, and me. Each finalist resides in a different city in the US ranging from coast to coast. Brooklyn New York, Asheville North Carolina, and Indianapolis Indiana to name a few. Besides us, the National Parks Foundation team and sponsors contributed immensely. Their presence made every welcome to every place more meaningful. REI, Columbia, Aramark and Subaru were among these amazing partners. The National Parks Foundation team who made everyday easier and enjoyable helped us understand the meaning to everything and everyone we encountered.

Breakfast with the Subaru team, ferry to Alcatraz, bike rides around San Francisco with REI, getting to drive some awesome Subaru vehicles across the state, long hikes at Yosemite, more bike rides but with the Aramark team, and one of my personal favorites, a hike on Mist trail. All of these moment and more made up the experience along with the rest of the team.

I’d never been to California, let alone the west coast, and once there I realized it was bigger and better than I’d imagined my whole life. The challenge of being minority growing up hardly ever gave me the chance to imagine myself traveling to places such as Yosemite. As I grow older I've come to accept and appreciate every aspect of being who I am; the oldest, gay, proud, son of a first generation Mexican- American family and with opportunities like these, it only gets better.

I am forever grateful for this experience and thankful for everyone who made it possible. Coming back to Austin Texas I am more wiser and filled with so many stories and lessons learned, which is why during these next few weeks I will be sharing highlighted moments that truly impacted me. And as always, I'll also share some of my own footage through pictures of the beautiful state that is California.

If you want to learn more about each individual and what they do, visit this link to the National Parks Foundation website, which includes bios including mine. And don't forget to follow on all of their other adventures by visiting them on Instagram and their other social media accounts. So stay tuned for more blogs over my experience with the National Parks Foundation Find Your Park Expedition. Who knows, maybe you’ll be a future participant of the #FYPx.

Ana Andrea Molina en espańol

Ana Andrea Molina es un activista, una nativa de Matamoros Tamaulipas México, y una mujer transgénero. Ella, como muchos otros como ella misma han pasado por una enorme cantidad de lucha, luchas que se crearon dentro una sociedad como la que vivimos. Fobias internalizadas, un sentido de división dentro de la comunidad LGBTQ, y siendo estereotipada simplemente debido al lugar de donde vino y quién ella es. Ella es originaria de México y llegó a los estados cuando tenía 16 años de edad. Huyendo de un país donde la comunidad trans no siempre recibe un trato humano, se las arregló para instalarse en la ciudad de Houston, Texas. Allí, ella creó una organización llamada la Organización Latina de Trans en Texas. OLTT, para abreviar, se concentra y proporciona información educativa y legal para las personas latina (o) que se identifican trans y un espacio donde la gente puede expresarse sin ningún juicio del mundo exterior. Hoy en día, Andrea está trabajando duro en la lucha por los derechos de esta minoría vulnerable y no se detendrá hasta que ella y personas como ella puede tener derechos humanos básicos.

El comienzo de Andrea no era de lo mejor, empezando como una extraña en una ciudad increíblemente diversa como Houston no fue fácil. Ella vino a este país para encontrar una comunidad donde podía sentirse cómoda siendo quien era ella y lo hizo. Pero al igual que muchas comunidades, a veces lo que vemos desde el exterior no siempre es el caso de estar en el interior. Encontró una comunidad, una organización LGBT, que en ese momento era una buena idea para ser parte, pero algunas situaciones se convirtió en lo que ella reconoce hoy como fobias internalizadas hacia la comunidad trans. La mala experiencia, el dilema del baño. En uno de los eventos que ella y otros participantes trans fueron parte, se les negó usar los baños de hombre y mujer y en cambio fueron dirigidos a usar un habitación exterior. La humillación y el hecho de que el evento era pro-LGBT hirvieron su sangre y de larga historia corta también se convirtió en el comienzo de lo que Andrea hace y lo que ella es hoy.

“...somos una minoría dentro de otra minoría donde los espacios cada vez son más escasos y reducidos para poder alzar nuestra voces…”

Ella decidió tomar una posición y decir ya no, ya no a más malentendidos, ya no a más líderes pseudo, y no a la sensación de aislamiento. En ese momento ella se dio cuenta que en general la comunidad LGBTQ le falta comunicación entre sus grupos únicos. La comunidad trans carece de un verdadero líder y es utilizado por su vulnerabilidad, son una minoría dentro de una minoría como dice ella.

Después de los lamentables hechos ocurridos en la organización LGBT, Andrea se las arregló para expresar sus pensamientos a través de un video que publicó en línea. Posteriormente, el video recibido mucha atención, lo que causó una gran cantidad de personas que pasan por situaciones similares a acercarse a ella por internet. Este fue el punto en el que Andrea sabía que tenía que hacer algo, algo más grande que ella misma. Así que ella y sus amigas salieron de su manera de reunir las personas transgénero y transexuales en busca de una voz. Publicaciones en línea, llamadas telefónicas y textos a los amigos y amigas, e incluso contactos a personas que trabajan en la industria del sexo es lo que causo un grupo inesperado de 50 personas asistir a su primer evento. Las personas representadas en esta reunión fueron gente de todo Texas y que habían pasado por una gran cantidad de negatividad; el estigma que viene de ser un inmigrante indocumentado, adicción a las drogas, identificando como trans y haber pasado por una gran cantidad de violencia. Andrea estaba dispuesta darle a este grupo de personas un sentido de luchar. Este principio significaba algo, pero en ese momento no sabía exactamente qué.

Obtención de la organización a un estatus oficial fue difícil en sí mismo, tocó puertas, consultó a otras organizaciones y líderes, y nunca se rindió. Hubieron muchas veces donde abogados y notarios le aconsejaron de no hacerlo, simplemente por el hecho de que ella no era ciudadana de Estados Unidos o porque quería empezar este tipo de organizaciones en el estado de Texas. Con su paciencia corriendo baja fue a un abogado que no sólo le recomiendo hacerlo, sino que también le ayudó en el proceso financial. Una cosa llevó a otra y finalmente recibió la gran noticia que Organización Latina de Trans en Texas era un grupo oficial y reconocido en el estado. Hoy en día está criando y uniendo a la comunidad latina trans (o) en Houston y desde este pasado marzo ahora tienen un espacio físico donde puedan reunirse. El espacio, como Andrea había querido, proporciona a las personas con información educativa sobre cuestiones legales y de salud, y no solo se trata de personas que se identifican trans que asisten, sino todo tipo de personas LGBTQ. Ella luchó y conquistó y todavía está junto a la gente que ella representa.

La lucha no ha terminado, Andrea sigue luchando por los derechos de las personas como ella. Demasiadas muertes, mucha discriminación, y la falta de comprensión aún debe ser abordado. Afortunadamente hay gente como Andrea que están dispuestas a ponerse de pie como líderes por una causa mayor. La comunidad trans es como se ha mencionado antes, un comunidad vulnerable cual en muchos casos se ha sacado de contexto por grupos externos. Los objetivos finales de Andrea son crear una red de servicios en todo el estado que dan ayuda a la gente que se identifica trans y crear una protesta por sus derechos en el capitolio en Austin.

Incluso si los resultados no incluyen un cambio de voto en la dirección correcta, ella quiere que la gente al menos miren su clamor por el cambio.

"No nací en el cuerpo equivocado, nací en una sociedad equivocada."

Para aprender más sobre Andrea o OTLL, visite su sitio haciendo clic en este enlace. También puede contribuir con una donación a la organización en myreason2race.com.

UNICO es un diario en línea LGBTQ que se centra en la vida de varias personas que están haciendo una diferencia en la comunidad como individuos. Creativos, activistas, empresarios, artistas, o cualquier persona que es activa dentro de sus pasiones son bienvenidos a unirse a la conversación. Reconocemos la identidad sexual como un vasto espectro y respetamos la identidad y los gustos de cada uno. Si tienen más preguntas, preocupaciones o preguntas por favor Contáctenos a [email protected].

Gracias <3 Sitio web en breve.

Ana Andrea Molina

Ana Andrea Molina is an activist, a native from Matamoros Tamaulipas Mexico, and a transgendered woman. She like many others as herself have gone through an enormous amount of struggle, struggles which are brought up by a society like the one we live in. Internalized phobias, a sense of division within the LGBTQ community, and being stereotyped simply because of where she’s from and who she is. She is originally from Mexico and came to the states when she was 16 years old. Fleeing from a country where the trans community is not always treated humanely, she managed to settle in the city of Houston Texas. There, she leads an organization called the Organización Latina de Trans in Texas. OLTT, for short, focuses and provides educational and legal information for latina(o) trans identifying people and a space where people can express themselves without any judgement from the outside world. Today, Andrea is working hard on fighting for the rights of this vulnerable minority and won’t stop until she and people like her can have basic human rights.

Andrea’s beginning wasn't all that great, starting as an outsider inside an incredibly diverse city like Houston was not easy. She came to this country to find a community where she could feel comfortable being who she was and she did. But like many communities, sometimes what we see from the outside isn’t always the case being in the inside She found a community, an LGBT organization, which at the moment was a good idea to be part of but some situations developed into what she recognizes today as internalized phobias towards the trans community. The bad experience, the bathroom dilemma. At one of the events she and other trans participants were told not to use either mens or womens restroom and instead were told to use an outside room. The humiliation and the fact that the event was pro-lgbt boiled her blood and long-story-short it also became the beginning of what she does and who she is today.

“.. we are a minority within a minority where spaces are increasingly scarce and reduced for us to raise our voices…”

She decided to take a stand and say no, no to anymore misunderstanding, no to anymore pseudo leaders, and no to feeling isolated. At that moment she realized that in general the LGBTQ community lacks in communication between it’s unique groups. The trans community especially lacks a real leader and are used by their vulnerability, they are a minority within a minority as she puts it.

After the unfortunate events that took place at the lgbt organization, she managed to voice her thoughts through a video she posted online. Subsequently, the video received a lot of attention from all over which led to a lot of people going through a similar situation to reach out to her. This was the point where Andrea knew she had to do something, something bigger than herself. So her and her friends went out of their way to gather transgender and transexual individuals looking for a voice. Postings online, phone calls and texts to friends, and even contacting people who worked as sex workers is what got an unexpected large group of 50 people to attend their first event. The people represented at this meeting were people from all over Texas and who had been through a lot of negativity; the stigma that comes from being an undocumented immigrant, drug addiction, identifying as trans and having been through a lot of violence. Andrea was willing to give this group of people something to fight for and she wasn't going to let negative obstacles put her down anymore. This beginning meant something but at the time she didn’t know exactly what.

Getting the organization to an official status was hard in itself, she knocked on doors, consulted other organizations and leaders, and never gave up. There were many times were lawyers and notaries would adviser to just not do it simply because of the fact that she was not a US citizen or because she wanted to start this type of organization in the state of Texas. With her patience running low she went to a lawyer who not only advised to do this, but also helped in the process finically. One thing led to another and she finally received the news that Organización Latina de Trans in Texas was an official and recognized group in the state and elsewhere. Today she is bringing and uniting the latina(o) trans community in Houston from the ground up and since this past March they now have a physical space where they can meet. The space, like she wanted, provides people with educational information over legal and health questions and it’s not just trans identifying people who attend, but all sorts of LGBTQ individuals. She fought and she conquered and she still is alongside all the people that she represents.

The fight is not over, Andrea is still fighting for the rights of people like herself. Too many deaths, a lot of much discrimination, and a lack of understanding still needs to be tackled. Fortunately there are people like Andrea who are willing to stand up as leaders for a greater cause. The trans community as mentioned earlier is a vulnerable community which in a lot of cases is taken out of context by outside groups. Andreas ultimate goals are to create a network of facilities across the state that give aid to Latina trans identifying people and to conduct a protest for their rights at the capitol in Austin. Even if the results don’t include a change of vote towards the right direction, she at least wants people to see and hear their outcry for change.

“I wasn’t born in the wrong body, I was born in the wrong society.”

To learn more about Andrea or OTLL, visit their site by clicking this link. You can also contribute by donating to the organization at myreason2race.com.

UNICO is an LGBTQ online journal focusing on the lives of various people who are making a difference within the community as individuals. Creatives, activists, entrepreneurs, artists, or anyone who is active within their passions are welcome to join the conversation. We recognize sexuality identity as a vast spectrum and respect everyone's identity and likes. For further questions, concerns, or inquiries contact us at [email protected].

Thank you <3

Website coming soon.

Mo Cortez

Mo Cortez is a 32 year old straight identifying trans male living in Houston Texas. He is originally from San Angelo Texas and is a member of Mayor Sylvester Turner’s LGBT Advisory Board for the city of Houston. Mo Cortez was also born intersex and has a profound passion for supporting and creating more awareness about the intersex & trans community. I met up with Mo at Campesino Coffee House, one of his favorite places to unwind, right off of Waugh Drive in Houston. Meeting with him gave me an idea of what is going on and what issues need to be tackled, not just in the area, but around the world. It’s a big subject that a lot of people tend to push back simply because they don’t understand.

Before we get into detail of what he does, I want to present some facts about who he is and what it means to be intersex. As I mentioned before, Mo was born intersex, which happens more frequently than what some may think. When a person is intersex it means that they have anatomical, chromosomal, or hormonal variation that lands them somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of what is typically thought of as male or female. There are at least 30 known types of intersex conditions. For further information on approximate statistics, you can visit this link. According to Mo, intersex birth rates happen in one in every one to two-thousand childbirths. To put it in a broader perspective, intersex births are almost as frequent as people being born with green eyes or red hair. A very common practice done to some intersex babies who are born with indeterminate sex, is have them surgically and hormonally female by default.

“These are forced emergency surgeries that are shunned by the United Nations, and no state in America has legal protection for intersex babies.”

Throughout their lives, these people are left with unanswered questions and severe emotional scars.

“Two months ago, for the second time, my gender marker change was denied.”

When Mo attempted to correct his gender marker to male, he presented the judge with proof that he was intersex, via medical records, and pathology reports. He stated that he indeed has XY chromosomes and was born with testes, but even with this evidence the judge ignored it, denying his gender marker change. Gender marker change is important to people who identify as trans or even some that are born intersex because it’s a social validation of their gender through government agencies and classifications.

Besides all of the obstacles Mo faces, he is still determined to stand up for what is right. One of the things he is very proud of is being the cofounder of The Houston Intersex Society. This nonprofit organization has a focus on educating local institutions about the intersex community. They’ve hosted seminars, events, and workshops across the country, and many at local colleges and universities. Another recent achievement Mo has gained was being nominated to Mayor Turner’s LGBT Advisory Board in Houston, Texas. At the moment, he is concentrated in gathering information, talking to the general public, and networking across the city to identify the real issues within the LGBT community. The Advisory Board was created only two months ago and is made up of 49 members. The number 49 was selected by the Mayor in memory of those that lost their lives at the Pulse Night Club in Florida. Something that Mo knows will be a great and progressive experience for the city.

"I have a passion for fighting for those that are marginalized by society: intersex people, trans people, and (underpaid) retail workers, and people of color. Being raised in a single parent household like an only child while living as Mormon really made me feel isolated, and without community. My mom was a fighter, actually everyone in my family is a fighter. I guess it's just in the genes."

From my own experience traveling to Houston, I have found that it is rich in diversity in so many levels and meeting Mo only proves my point even further. Something that I really admire is meeting people who are true to their passions and seeing that the right thing is done. Mo gave me hope that things can change and that awareness can grow by showing your own struggle, something that takes a lot of courage. At the moment, he believes that the issues are being tackled, but we could always do better.

“People are afraid of trans and intersex people because of what they show in the media. What they don’t realize is that they might already know a trans or intersex person. We need more visibility.”

Mo's ultimate goals are to start a national organization that advocates and supports both communities and to create a Center of Excellence in the Texas Medical Center that focuses on providing medical services to the intersex & trans community. I personally can not wait to see how these issues will be tackled thanks to people like Mo.

UNICO is an LGBTQ online journal focusing on the lives of various people who are making a difference within the community as individuals. Creatives, activists, entrepreneurs, artists, or anyone who is active within their passions are welcome to join the conversation. We recognize sexuality identity as a vast spectrum and respect everyone's choice and or likes. For further questions, concerns, or inquiries contact us at [email protected].

Thank you <3

Website coming soon.

Hangs in Downtown Houston

I recently went southwest to visit my hometown, which is located between Galveston and Houston Texas. On my visit I had the opportunity to collaborate with Joey & Jaime, two incredibly talented designers based in Houston who’ve created their own apparel company. Their products focus on Houston pride through authentic designs that express what it means to be a true Houstonian. I along my youngest brother and our model/friend, Ismael Reyes took a long drive to downtown Houston on a hot Saturday morning in search of an area that described what it meant to be from such an amazing city. Our stop was the Westheimer area, a personal favorite of mine, with its long list of colorful walls and welcoming atmosphere; a true Houston icon.

The first stop was at Biscuit Home’s Biscuit Paint Wall, a mural created by local artist, Sebastien “Mr. D” Boileau. The colors and vibrant design stood out as one my most favorites. Other murals we checked out were Pride Wall HTX, located on the side of High End Smoke shop and one of Daniel Anguilu illustrative murals located next to Agora. Seeing these works of art had me wondering what other murals where in the area and what other places I still needed to explore.

I feel pretty pleased with the shoot overall, especially having a brand such as Joey & Jaime part of it makes it a whole lot better. Read more about who they are and check out their amazing collection of products at joeyandjaime.com or on Instagram @joeyandjaime.

Thank you to our model, Ismael Reyes, my little brother who joined us as my assistant, and Joey & Jaime for making this possible. To end this off, I leave you with the rest of the shots. Hope you like them as much as I do. Until next time!

#Houston #houston tx #downtown houston #Joey & Jaime

Anthony Flores

I recently sat down with Anthony at Once Over Coffee, a nice little coffee shop on South 1st Street, which he frequents pretty often. We talked about how and what we do creatively as well as our thoughts on the art scene and the LGBTQ community here in Austin. I wanted Anthony to be the first for UNICO because I believe him to be a true creative. Following each other on Instagram for a few months, I saw a glimpse of the work he does and the people he interacted with. I soon came to find out that he and I worked as interns for the same museum and lived in the same city. From then on, I knew I had to know who he was.

Anthony Flores is a 20 year old creative living in Austin Texas. He graduated from St. Edward’s this past May and has already made an impact within the art community as an art director and photographer for local independent magazines he’s collaborated with.

As we sat in the back of this nice, little, coffee shop, our first topic was the LGBTQ community and his thoughts on how we are doing progressively. He believes that the community has had its share of good and bad moments. On one side society is so accepting and willing to understand and on the other we have the media portraying all of our misfortunes. It’s a never ending cycle of progress and falling back.

“.... let people do whatever they want as long as it’s not hurting anyone. Everyone deserves to be happy.”

Progress is too soon to tell, with recent events such as the Orlando shootings, it all seems like a confused mess. But through time, he believes, we will keep progressing but with different forces getting in the way.

Besides his hopes for the LGBTQ community, Anthony also aspires great things for himself as a creative. Having worked for different art groups here in town, some which include, ANON Magazine, MUD Magazine, Chiquita Magazine, and Human Influence, he’s managed to establish himself as an active member in the art scene as a creative director. One of his most rewarding moments was creating and establishing Cabra Magazine at St. Edward’s University. As the creative director, he and his team, began something great with the help of social media.

“Helping establish what this magazine would look like since its “birth” was probably one of the coolest things ever.”

Since his graduation, Anthony is still at work on getting his name out there. Being involved provides him with the opportunities to do what he loves, which are networking with the right people and helping others creatively in return.

“It’s always great to see your work put out into the world as an actual printed project that many others enjoy.”

He hopes on attending grad school in New York City as well as working for a few bigger named magazines in the near future.

If you'd like to see more of Anthony's work, make sure to check him out on instagram @af.tx. And make sure to like, comment, and share this blog post!

UNICO is an LGBTQ online journal focusing on the lives of various people who are making a difference within the community as individuals. Creatives, activists, entrepreneurs, artists, or anyone who is active within their passions are welcome to join the conversation. We recognize sexuality identity as a vast spectrum and respect everyone's choice and or likes. For further questions, concerns, or inquiries contact us at [email protected].

Thank you <3

Website coming soon.

#UNICO #LGBTQ #ATX #austin tx #Creative

Anthony Flores

“.... let people do whatever they want as long as it’s not hurting anyone. Everyone deserves to be happy.”

“Helping establish what this magazine would look like since its “birth” was probably one of the coolest things ever.”

“It’s always great to see your work put out into the world as an actual printed project that many others enjoy.”

He hopes on attending grad school in New York City as well as working for a few bigger named magazines in the near future.

If you'd like to see more of Anthony's work, make sure to check him out on instagram @af.tx. And make sure to like, comment, and share this blog post!

UNICO is an LGBTQ online journal focusing on the lives of various people who are making a difference within the community as individuals. Creatives, activists, entrepreneurs, artists, or anyone who is active within their passions are welcome to join the conversation. We recognize sexuality identity as a vast spectrum and respect everyone's choice and or likes. For further questions, concerns, or inquiries contact us at [email protected].

Thank you <3

Website coming soon.

#UNICO #LGBTQ #ATX #austin tx #Creative

Someone’s ready for her 25th birthday!

Moeshea at South 1st Street

I got the awesome opportunity to work with my friend Moeshea this past weekend. She agreed to be my model for this shoot, whose fashion sense and style, I really admire. The beating summer heat didn't stop us from roaming the area of south 1st Street here in Austin Texas. I for one think it's underrated, with it's bustling shops, restaurants, and coffee shops, it's always a nice area to explore.

The photo shoot consisted of finding the perfect colorful walls and staying out of the Texan sun as much as possible. We weren't the only ones taking pictures as we kept running into tourists taking their own. Nevertheless, I was content with what I got and of course I was extremely excited that it was Moeshea who modeled. As our shoot came to an end, we cached up and made a stop at Seventh Flag Coffee on 1st and Monroe St.

Hope you enjoy the final product as much as I do. Until next time.

Moeshea at South 1st Street

Hope you enjoy the final product as much as I do. Until next time.

Hendrik's Gin Cucumber party

This past week I was invited by Hendrick’s Gin to be part of their Cucumber celebration, an event taking place in different cities across the country to promote their National Cucumber Day, which is on June 14th. Their holiday consists of many things, including an airship, which unfortunately for the city of Austin was not possible due to windy weather. Nonetheless, the event took place at The Market, a bar in downtown Austin with a great view of the city from it’s rooftop bar. Tasty cocktails and good company were all included, all enjoyed in the Austin, cool, spring breezy weather. As a plus for me, I got to meet Fred Parent, one of their brand ambassadors, who gave me a rundown of the specialty drinks being served and more on Hendrik’s Gin mission.

To learn more about Hendrik’s Gin and what they’re doing, check them out at cucumberday.com or at us.hendricksgin.com.

Until next time!

South Congress with __bungie

Meet Favian Davila aka ___bungie. Favian is a San Antonio native and a really good friend of mine who took the time to travel up to Austin to be my model this past Saturday. As curious as we are, we allowed our creative instincts to guide us through the magical place known as South Congress. With it’s bustling atmosphere and friendly people, both residents and tourists, we roamed the area in search of color and space. We were lucky and found some nice purples, greens, and reds through alley ways and back ways. The day couldn’t have been better, a place I’ll for sure keep in mind next time I want to go shoot or just get lost in.

Make sure to check out Favian (@__bungie) on Instagram. Not only is he super photogenic, but the guy knows his stuff.

Chelsea and Miguel's Wedding.

This past Saturday was pretty awesome for many reasons, number one being that two of my friends, Chelsea and Miguel, tied the knot. I’ve known these two since they’ve started dating, and looking back only makes me feel old, but in a good way. Being at the wedding was like taking a break from the usual chaos that life comes with on a daily basis. Surrounded by so much love and friends who’ve made an impact in my life in a small Texan town seemed unreal. It was a moment like this, that made me realize that time is going by so fast, but it doesn't matter because I’m surrounded by people who are genuine and caring of one another.

But enough about me, we’re here to focus on what an amazing pair Chelsea and Miguel are. If the idea of love didn’t exist before, it does now, and I can only see the best ahead of them.

The setting was gorgeous, with a cool spring breeze, under an enormous, old, oak tree. Everyone was dressed in their best, while the groom and bride glowed with benevolence. The ceremony took place, vows were exchanged, and tears were shed; the good kind of course. Family and friends rejoiced as soon as the couple walked down the aisle and soon after the celebration began. Delicious food made by the couple’s families and the elegant set up were almost dream–like, something aesthetically I’d never experienced before. The golden afternoon light turned into pitch black while we danced the night away with all of our friends, hand in hand, put a stopping point to this chapter in life.

Typing this with tears in my eyes, thinking of everything and all the friendships made possible, because of Chelsea and Miguel, fills my mind with optimism. This is only the beginning to so many other life moments that will make us realize how much we mean to one another.

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