6/19/24 QUEER VOICES - Podcast BONUS EPISDOE: Captain Iris Rodriguez Interview!

I am Brett Cullum and I am joined by Captain Iris Rodriguez , who is the female identifying grand marshal for the first inaugural New Faces of Pride festival and parade . Now the New Faces Pride festival starts at noon in and around City Hall on June 22nd and the parade kicks off downtown that same day at about 7 30 .

There is also going to be an after party at Post Houston called Planet Pink . So , captain Iris , tell , tell me this first how long have you been with the Houston Fire Department ?

You became like this warrior who wouldn't stop . He just kept focusing on change . He said it was direct . You had so much authority and you weren't letting down until you got to where you needed to be and knocked that fire out . But he saw the change and accepted me as who I was , didn't even question it .

I was so upset and I told my partner at the time if this happens , I'm just going to go to the military and see if they can allow me to be a firefighter in the military . So they did that . They failed me . I went the very next day . I applied with military .

Two weeks later they called me and they said raise your right hand , you're going to become a firefighter in the United States Army . When I came back , it turns out they told me that they didn't accept that certification . This man who saw me older gentleman pulled me aside , really kind .

He said look , we may not , but you can challenge the state test and I know you can do it . He goes , apply , pay the money and take their test .

A month later , austin texas paid the money , sat down , passed the test I don't know , it was like 95 percentile and they gave me one paper with a seal on it with one paragraph that said I may now be a firefighter in Texas . I came back , applied , got hired .

And she said what's happening ? I said I don't know , but just look at me . The media just bombarded me and that's when I found out .

So I had to come out to my mother and she was not pleased . So I was one of those teenage kids that was kicked out of the house because I was a lesbian . Teenage kids that was kicked out of the house because I was a lesbian . My mother didn't accept three things in our home , and that was an alcoholic , a drug addict and a homosexual .

But my older sisters , who are much older than I am one of them said you're not gonna be in the streets . She opened her door and she accepted me in her house . I was able to continue my education and work , and it wasn't easy . I couldn't have done that without my family and friends , that's for sure .

I had a degree to go to the Art Institute of Houston . I had a full ride and I lost that degree because of lesbian drama . Somebody was jealous and thought I was , I don't know , trying to come honor her girlfriend in my art class . And that was not the case . She was too bitch for me and I said no , that's not happening . She was real upset .

There was an altercation . Long story short , we both were suspended and I lost my degree . My art teacher said no , we're not going to let that happen to you . You're one of our best . I'm going to contact you with a gentleman who wants to hire a draftsman for geological drafting and they will train you .

She goes follow me , I'll take you somewhere . You'll really like I was like what so ? here I am in this car with T-tops . I followed her and she led me to Kindred Spirits and I walked in I felt like I was in heaven . I walked into Kindred Spirits . It was a beautiful bar , it was classy , it was three levels and I thought I found home .

I kept returning and I patronized that bar until Marion approached me , who used to own the bar , and said will you do some work for me ? I'm , like sure , started out helping her out one day when she was really busy . She needed some people to bus for her . So the whole softball team did this for her and she asked me .

She said I would really like for you to work at Kindred Spirits . And that's how I started working at Kindred Spirits and we became really good friends and she was the coach of our softball team . I met so many people at Kindred Spirits , like Claire Steinem , kathy Whitmire .

I met a lot of state representatives , debra Danberg , I mean Larry Bineris , who was the first pride person who actually started it in Houston , and I attended that parade . Before I worked at Kindred Spirits , aids epidemic came in . Kindred Spirits held the first blood drive , so I attended that parade . Before I worked at Kindred Spirits , aids epidemic came in .

Kindred Spirits held the first blood drive , so I witnessed that . I was a part of the caucus being established and having all the meetings at Kindred Spirits . I feel very fortunate to be able to witness all that and be a part of history .

So I think the need for other bars and establishments have lessened , which is a change , I think , in a positive direction . People see it negatively . I don't . I think , well , now they're having gay night here , now they're having meetings at this establishment . That's primarily heterosexual .

For think , well , now they're having gay night here , now they're having meetings at this establishment . That's primarily heterosexual . For me , I see that as change . It's transformative . Through these last 20 years , I believe that's what's happening now More people go into a very blended kind of environment than they do stay into isolated areas .

I still think that we need safe places for those people who are coming out and don't understand what's happening in our culture right now , and those places are important . Actually , they're vital to help those who are struggling and no matter what the situation is , from their mental health , their physical health , their environment . Pearl is phenomenal .

I love Julie Her and I go way back when she first came into Houston . Her goal was to have a bar of her own , and she made that happen .

We picked different organizations when our money was raised we gave back Although that ended and they actually merged that into the count the Montrose Counseling Center well , montrose Center now and I'm glad they picked that up , because now it's a bigger venue and it's and people .

They can keep that under that umbrella and the history stays alive , the message stays alive and new people are actually attending and even people have never been to Kindred Spirits . I still stayed very active in the community . I've worked on LHI as vice president . I've started a women's camp for the Houston Fire Department for women adjoining .

I've done training for females and men . I've taught at a college for an all-women's fire class .

Well , someone did that and I said it was Felicia actually , and she said we've selected you as the Grand Marshal . I was confused at first and I thought I wasn't nominated for this . I had no idea , I was clueless . And she said no , we have selected you for the New Faces of Pride . I was like what ? That's how I found out .

And then Brian reached out to me and said yes , we would like you to be the female . And I said wow , I just never saw that coming . I never in my life . I just didn't see that coming . So I was honored . That's how I found out .

I asked what their mission was and they told me what they were doing and I said that's perfect no-transcript than giving back to our community so we can help each other . Just lift each other up . I'm on board . I didn't even hesitate after he told me his mission . So that was awesome .

You were the first Hispanic female firefighter here in Houston and I mean you've got a long legacy and it's a great honor and they should be honored to have you as their inaugural grand marshal , because you bring a lot to the table .

I don't look at it as a legacy . I'm terrible at tooting my horn . I'm the very worst . I don't do that well . I do that better for others than myself .

I don't see myself that way , because I just show up every day , unapologetically , with my truth and I said here I am , I'm not leaving , and we may struggle and we'll have some good times and we'll have some bad times , but I'm a part of this whole community . I tap danced until I realized that it wasn't necessary to do it anymore .

With this , political attacks on our rights . More important than any other time right now , because we've taken many steps backwards from losing many of our rights and the attack on transgender people , you can't say that it's not or why you don't need pride .

We need now , more than any other time , because we're losing more people through suicide , through attacks , and to show the world that we have allies , that we're building communities , that we're in every part of the fabric in the United States and show that they are loving , caring , understanding human beings , no different than your family , than your aunts , your

uncles , your friends . It's vital that we do this and that we all just show a little humility and understanding for each other . Hey , it's okay that you're different . I like you . I live in a sea of people who are all Republicans , and how do I fish in that ocean ? It's simple I accept their differences .

I accept their differences and I let them know that my only concern is your safety , your sustainability for your family , and I care about you as an individual . I think that's why we need pride , because people are able to see this .

And when's the last time gay people just started connecting to heterosexuals that are Republicans and identify with them and just say , hey , it's OK that we're different , it's OK that you know . You know we can help each other out . There's no wrong or right way to do this other than just connecting , building bridges and understanding each other .

Having social media , having podcasts , having people having this conversation , having another heterosexual right beside me saying I've worked with this individual I didn't like her when I first started . Those types of conversations are needed . We don't have enough of them .

We just have the you're singing to the choir , and I chose not to just sit in a room where there's I'm singing to the choir . I want to meet my opposing person and say listen , I'm right here , I'm different , I get it and I'm not going anywhere . I think that's important . That's why we need pride more now than we ever have .