gay magazine salt lake city

“Treat others like you’d like to be treated,” says Rebecca Valverde, “sometimes we judge entire groups of people and I think that is wrong. You cannot judge an entire group of people because you had a bad experience with one person from that group.” Wanting to transform prejudice and raise awareness, Rebecca organized (Trans)forming Salt Lake City, a photo exhibit that opened on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, May 17, of this year. It’s been two months now, but if you haven’t checked it out do it, go to the new Pride Center, I’m sure you’ll recognize some faces from people in your community who identify as transformistas, transgender and those of us who support them.

“Heterosexual people who have seen it, some are a little shocked… we still have stereotypes of what someone who identifies as trans looks like, they see everyday-people and are surprised.” Rebecca worked with Alex Moya from the Utah AIDS Foundation, Thomas Guzman Photography, InsideOut Project (an international project, see the pictures here) and Artes de México. Along with the exhibit, Rebecca interviewed trans Latin@s to find some of their needs and experiences, and provide this information to organizations like the Utah AIDS Foundation to improve their services.

“I was a little shocked about how even within the Latino community, and specifically the gay community, there is a lot of rejection towards transformistas and even people who are transgender, for example, they do not accept them as how they choose to identify or express their gender, someone who has gone through surgery someone will say ‘they are not a woman.’ Someone who identifies as gay, and is a transformista might find it hard to date someone who is gay and identifies as Latino,” says Rebecca about the lack of respect and acceptance. Rebecca asks us to think about our prejudice and where it comes from, to avoid judging people, we are all different.

“I just want to thank Alex for all your support, you help, mentorship, friendship, and basically for the opportunity, and thanks to everyone who participated and was a part of this, and allowing me to be a part of this.”

Visit the exhibit:

New Pride Center

255 E 400 S

(across the Salt Lake City Library).

How can I show my respect, support and be an ally? Check this link here