By: Al Ballesteros
Photos by: Paolo Riveros, Steve Landaverde, Josef Jasso
The TransLatin@ Coalition has been dealing with quite a bit recently. This includes funding delays and reductions that have led the organization to close its centers in El Monte and Orange County and layoff about 10 staff. In fact, just over the last few months the organization has seen the loss of roughly $1.5 million in funding for critical programs cut from county, state and federal sources, according to the agency. The affected services include cuts to HIV prevention, mental health and substance use disorder programs as well as violence prevention.
It is very troubling and moreover, the organization was recently labeled as a “radical” group by the United States Congress. What this means is yet to be seen but the organization is bracing for whatever comes next with that designation.
One of the first actions by the Trump Administration was to issue the executive order Defending Women from Gender Ideology, Extremism, and Restoring Biological Truth to The Federal Government, on January 20, 2025, the first day of the new administration. This executive order calls for recognizing two sexes that are not “changeable” and orders the executive branch to enforce all sex-protective laws to promote this categorization.
But even prior to this new administration, the community had seen a growing number of legislative proposals introduced in at least 33 states targeting LGBTQ people, more than 500 pieces of proposed laws in fact and of which, 400 are specifically targeting trans people and/or their parents and guardians for supporting them.
Bamby Salcedo is the President and CEO of the TransLatin@ Coalition which is based in Los Angeles, California. The organization provides services as well as local, statewide and national advocacy on behalf of Trans people.
Bamby Salcedo says the conservative right is working hard to eliminate supportive services for Trans people across the United States. “We as an organization have to be doing something good for these groups to think we are a threat to everything they are trying to do.” She also believes that in some ways, the Trans Community is being blamed, at least partly, for the loss of the national presidential election because the right had effective negative messaging targeting the community that largely went unanswered. Bamby also says that national democrats and other supporters do not know how to talk about Trans people and Trans issues, making it difficult to defend and advocate for them.
Adelante: How are the community and clients reacting to the increased rhetoric, funding reductions and federal changes?
Bamby: There is a lot of fear that has been instilled onto members of the community. These changes affect passports in response to the just two sexes. There’s the ban on Trans people being part of the military and exiting Trans people that are currently part of the military. All of this creates a fear. It’s also a denial of opportunities for the community.
I feel all the work done over the last 20 years to move us forward has just gone in a second and we are going backwards. All that work was erased. With the rollback of DEI, they are taking away opportunities from people in the trans community. Corporations are not supporting people of color, Trans people, LGBTQ+ people, minority organizations or immigrant organizations.
We as Trans people are in the middle of everything that is happening. If you’re trans, an immigrant or undocumented, all these layers affect our community and compile on one another.
Adelante: What are clients saying, the people that depend on your organization.
Bamby: We are working to keep people’s morale up. All that is happening at the macro level instills fear in us, to prevent us from doing what we need to do. They want to deny us access to services and basic things. We say we are here as an organization, and we are going to support you in the best possible way.
This is why we need our supporters and those who believe in social justice to stand in solidarity with us to support what we are doing. We are telling our community that it is scary; but we should continue to exist, and we should not let our fears paralyze us from doing what we need to do. We should continue to live in the best possible way and our community should do what it can to support this.
Adelante: How do you continue considering losing funding?
Bamby: We are doing fundraising, such as the recent “Walk for Humanity” where we raised $465,000 towards our cause. With the support of our friends, we have been able to offset some of the funds we lost to continue programs. In November (next month) we will have our fashion show Garras and we need our partners to support us.
Adelante: Are clients experiencing difficulty accessing services out there?
Bamby: To my knowledge clients can still get the services they need, medical services, medications, affirming care, but the funding may be different. In California SB 923 mandates providers receive training on how to provide gender affirming care. It is a law in California, so, most of what was available in California should continue.
Bamby says advocacy is more focused at the state and local levels given all the trans programs roll-backs and eliminations happening at the federal level. This includes AB1487 that is headed to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for signature and will allocate $50 million for health services and trans-led organizations. Bamby’s group recently introduced a TGI housing initiative locally for homeless prevention for trans people, and transitional age youth and other vulnerable populations.
Adelante: The coalition was recently listed as a radical organization at the federal level. What does that mean?
Bamby: So far, nothing has happened. There have been letters sent to at least 200 organizations, with like designations and perhaps they want to audit them. We have nothing to hide, we have good resource administration, we comply with all of our contracts and everything else. There are different things people are saying they are planning to do such as revoking the non-profit status of organizations that are led by people like us. In general, they are eliminating language that pertains to DEI, anything related to LGBTQ+, trans, people of color.
Adelante: How do you stay sane and keep uplifted?
Bamby: I make music; (laughs). I wrote the lyrics of a song. I made a cumbia, La Cumbia del Movimiento. I put it out there to the world as a gift for all of us.You can view it on all the platforms, Apple and Spotify.
Music has always been part of the movement’s work. There are chants and drums. I’m just trying to uplift my spirits and those of the people around me. I have my spirituality. I connect with my higher being, and I also believe if your good, good will come to you. We are doing the best we can to support our people and that’s why we are not afraid. That helps us keep hope.
Adelante. How is your support system?
Bamby: I am very lucky that I have amazing people who uplift me. They believe in me and see who I am as a person and my work. I have close friends who I’ve cried with and shared my pain and struggles. I’m lucky. I work out and keep busy. I do the things I need to do to not focus on negativity.
In 2024, The TransLatin@ Coalition served 8,000 people and rendered about 12,000 different services. Management anticipates that this year the demand will be even greater because more people are trying to get support they likely won’t get in other places.
Adelante: Do you have any fears of where this is all going?
Bamby: For us as Trans people in general, this is in some ways not new to us. Trans people have always been targeted and subjects of violence. I think what is different now is that it is more unashamed of how they are doing things, even though these actions may be unconstitutional. I believe we will overcome it. This is just a phase we are going through; this administration will not be there forever. We will continue to exist in the best possible ways, and we should be the beautiful versions of ourselves in the best possible ways. So, I’m not fearful of what could happen because I trust that the universe will take care of us.
Adelante: What can the wider community do to help?
Bamby: There are a couple things we must do. One is understanding the true meaning of social justice, and the different issues the community has in our collective fight. Now more than ever we need to stand in solidarity with one another if we truly believe that unity is strength.
This is the time for all of us to act. To fight together: Trans people, the HIV movement, immigrant communities, the women’s movement. All the struggles are on the table, and we are fighting for the same things.
We need to collectively support each other in whatever way possible. We can not just say it and not do it. It’s time for all of us to act. If we do that, we are going to transform and create the world we all want to live in.