Vangie’s Personal Story

Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Written by Susan Haskamp

Vangie Castro is a community organizer, social justice warrior, and diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant in Rochester. Despite the challenges that arise with being a queer, gender non-conforming, brown immigrant, they are happy with how far they have come and how many people whom they have been able to help along the way. Vangie’s drive to do what they do is inspired through their own personal experiences and struggles as a child. Born in Zamboanga City, Philippines in 1974, Vangie came to the United States at the age of four after their father sought political asylum from the Filipino government. Vangie’s father had a cousin who lived in California, so they moved to San Francisco and began rebuilding their lives.

Vangie’s dad worked as a public accountant, and their mom worked in housekeeping. Their father’s degree was one of the few that transferred to the United States. Most immigrants face the obstacle of having to restart their education because the U.S. does not recognize degrees outside of the country. They accessed resources through Catholic Charities, the Filipino American Association, connections made through their dad’s job, and the community they lived in.

Being as young as Vangie was, they did not think much about the struggles their family experienced, both at home and in school. The neighborhood in which they grew consisted of a majority of immigrants, but knowing others with similar experiences did not make these experiences any easier. Their family struggled to integrate and assimilate into a new culture that is not always accepting of new Americans. As Vangie got older, they became more aware of the differences and barriers that immigrants confronted including immigration status, language, different accents, and lacking adequate resources or not knowing where to find resources available to them. The stereotypes that immigrants are lazy and steal jobs remain puzzling to Vangie as they experienced and witnessed the opposite. “We don’t even know the system, how can we take advantage of it?”  

Vangie’s parents pushed education, and after high school, they went to community college before transferring to a four-year university. One of the reasons Vangie works with youth today is to provide the guidance that they never received while growing up themself. Vangie recalls friends who went down a different path that did not involve college. They note that a college education can “totally change your story.” Vangie’s lack of guidance is not because their parents did not care – they did not have the privilege of understanding a system designed for White, English speaking Americans. Vangie navigated the system alone, making a lot of mistakes along the way. It is often the little things that are most important such as understanding how credits work, the importance of a GPA, and where to go and to whom you can trust to talk with that most immigrants do not have the luxury of being able to navigate.

“If you haven’t had to experience that world in which everyone else around you speaks the same language, and has the same culture and grew up the same way you did, you don’t have to think about how to code switch or adjust or acclimate to your environment. You just are. The environment acclimates to you.”

The education system is not the only thing that Vangie had to learn how to navigate. Vangie decided to come out at a time when the AIDS epidemic was prevalent causing vast amounts of heightened backlash against LGBTQ+ populations. Vangie had friends who came out before them and observing their experience helped with their decision. However, they note, “you have to come out to yourself before you can come out to anyone else.” They knew it was not going to be easy, but they would not be happy if they had to hide their identity forever. They would have loved to have a party with balloons and streamers to celebrate their coming out, but it was not quite like that. Their parents supported their coming out, but they also worried more for their safety and well-being.

Coming out helped Vangie to better their own understanding of their sexuality and gender identity. Support groups for LGBTQ+ folks were nonexistent. Vangie co-founded one with a group of friends so others had support like they did. They shared experiences, figured out their identities together, and offered support whether one came out or not. Vangie believes every community needs a space that offers a support system and network that help folks find a sense of belonging in a world that tells you that you are an outsider.

Identifying both as an immigrant, queer, and Person of Color, Vangie understands first-hand the intersectional struggles. “You have to create a path where there is no path…every space that I go into I’m always the only person that looks like me. When I go visit the Philippines, even though everybody looks like me, I’m still a foreigner in my own country. I’ve never really felt at home.”

Vangie has faced many experiences of not feeling respected, valued, or welcomed. One of the ways Vangie works through the challenges of carrying multiple marginalized identities is through attending therapy. The benefits they have received through the experience contributes to the resilience they have today. The stigma of mental health and therapy are prevalent in many communities. However, Vangie believes we could all benefit from therapy. “The work is on us, us individuals, to help heal ourselves because it helps heal the community.”

Their drive, passion, instilled values, and personal therapy led them to this point that they are at today – being a leader, advocate, and mentor. They want to create pathways for young people who have different identities outside of the norm to thrive and find their way. Why do they do what they do? Their simple answer, “Why not? Who else is doing it?” Vangie is more than committed to making the community a better place for ALL.

For any youth who are struggling with their own identity, they offer a few words of advice including:

1. Find someone to whom you can talk and who makes you feel safe. This person may or may not be in the LGBTQ+ community.

2. The people from whom you expect the least support can be the ones to support you the most. Some may surprise you and not support you. For your own safety and mental health, you should not just suddenly come out. Talking to someone first will help you to create a plan.

3. There is someone out there who can help to guide you.

4. It is okay to find help, to get support, to go to therapy and have someone help you to do the work. There is nothing wrong with you.  It is to help you guide through the tough times in life, help you to find a plan, and find a sense of healing.

We all have a special gift, talent, or strength to offer to the world. Moving from a community that is welcoming of all identities takes more than just statements. We must all reflect on how we, as individuals, and communities can offer the guidance, support, and resources for new Americans of all identities to be able to participate in systems to their fullest abilities without feeling like they are alone. Once we all realize that immigrants and LGBTQ+ folks contribute to the community and see them simply as human, we can work toward a future of inclusiveness.