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Posted: 7/01/21

Dustdevil Diversity Spotlight: Jorge L. Quijano

 

Jorge Quijano
Jorge L. Quijano  

This is part of a series of interviews highlighting diversity at TAMIU. On the occasion of Pride Month, this interview features Jorge L. Quijano, Marketing Manager for the Sames Auto Arena and President and Founder of the Gateway City Pride Association.

 

Following his Passion for Public Relations and Marketing, Activism and Leading with PRIDE

 

Tell us about yourself. Where are you originally from and why you chose to attend TAMIU.

I was born and raised in Laredo, Texas. I chose TAMIU because I did not want to leave home. The curriculum is the same across the state of Texas. I also liked the student teacher ratio.

Tell us what you have been up to since graduating from TAMIU.

After I received my Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Marketing (2009), I moved to Austin, Texas to spread my wings a bit. I worked for a bank for two years, but I did not feel I was progressing within my field of study. My passion is Marketing and Public Relations.

I moved back to Laredo, and it was difficult to find a job within my field of study. I took a job as a photographer for a studio, sales representative for an international newspaper and then later was hired by the Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association, where I had interned through TAMIU.

Within a year with the WBCA, I was promoted to Marketing and Publicity coordinator. After three years, I was employed by ASM Global, the company hired to manage the Sames Auto Arena.

Vehicluar Pride Parade
Vehicular Pride Parade 2020

Can you share with us the story of your advocacy work within the LGBTQ+ community in Laredo, the Gateway City Pride Association, and how your desire to work with this association was ignited?

When I returned to Laredo in 2011, I missed the Austin culture. The ambiance was so different from Laredo. I wanted to coordinate a PRIDE Festival and Parade, but I did not think Laredo was ready for such a colorful event. Also, I was not experienced in event planning aside from what I learned at TAMIU.

A few years ago, many businesses and organizations hosted PRIDE events. When I posted about them on my Facebook, friends felt that these events were not promoted properly or within time. Those concerns were planted in my mind for a while. Then, the pandemic hit. During my temporary leave of absence from work, I noticed that birthday and graduation parades were pretty popular, so I posted on my Facebook that maybe we should have a vehicular PRIDE Parade similarly to those parade events.

A group of us coordinated this first vehicular PRIDE Parade in June 2020 and we received positive feedback. By August, I created the by laws for this newly formed nonprofit, registered the organization with the State of Texas, chose a few people who participated in the vehicular parade as board members, communicated with other nonprofit organizations and businesses to host PRIDE Events and now we are here… we all accomplished a successful PRIDE MONTH and executed a first ever PRIDE Festival and Rally with support from the City of Laredo and other individuals.

What role has TAMIU played in your passion for advocacy work?

The Communication program and its courses played a huge role for my advocacy work. I learned so much from Dr. Lynda Brown (Public Relations I & II, Advertising, Communication Ethics, Communication Theory, Feminist Rhetoric), Professor Marcela Moran (Video Production I & II, Film Studies) and Mark Webber (Journalistic Writing). I also have to thank Dr. Jyotsna Mukherji of the Marketing Department. My first marketing course with her was my first year at TAMIU as a junior. I was barely hanging on by a thread to pass this course. Two years later, I had to take Marketing Management on my final year to graduate. I was better prepared to answer questions Dr. Mukherji asked the class, and I give credit to my Communication courses for this preparation.

Originally, I wanted to study advertising, but this major was not offered at TAMIU; so, the next best thing was to major in Communication with a minor in Marketing. I have my cousin to thank for this encouragement.

I will forever remember the hands-on experiences from my Public Relations and Advertising courses. These classes made me realize that Public Relations and Marketing were my passion and what I want to do for the rest of my life.
In 2009, I enrolled in the Public Relations II course, which we coordinated the first Rock-It Fest for the Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium. That same year, I interned for the WBCA. I believe it was at this point in time when I developed a passion for advocacy work.

Vehicluar Pride Parade
Pride at the Polls 2020

How do you feel your contributions impact the community and the world around you?

I believe my contributions have impacted the community in many ways. The positive feedback from many people shows that our organization has made an impact in their lives. The vision is to create a better understanding between our LGBTQ+ community and our heterosexual counterparts. There is still a negative perception of the LGBTQ+ community.

The PRIDE Festival was used as a tool to create that understanding. Our festival was so much different from those in bigger cities. Aside from live entertainment and performances, the festival offered educational panels such as Coming Out Stories and Self Defense. We want everyone to feel comfortable, especially those who are fighting within themselves to be themselves. We want to create a safe space for everyone.

Can you share what some of your hobbies are?

Aside from Public Relations and Marketing which are my career now… karaoke, dancing, theatre, videography, photography, writing, poetry, art shows, and lending a helping hand when I can. I have acted on stage through L.I.T.E. Production, and also danced at the Women’s City Club’s Dancing with the Stars event (I wasn’t the star though, my dance partner Veronica Castillón was for that year).

I have also assisted with marketing and public relations for local nonprofits like Laredo Theatre International Guild, Laredo Little Theatre, American Cancer Society, Laredo BorderSlam, PILLAR Strong, the Bethany House and Boys and Girls Clubs of Laredo.

Who has been your greatest inspiration and why?

Historical and influential women are my greatest inspiration. I will try not to give a history lesson with this question (Laughs Out Loud). Queen Elizabeth I, after whom England's Golden Age is known. Susan B. Anthony who was a women’s rights activist for the women’s suffrage movement. The women of the Equal Rights Amendment movement of the 60s/70s… Gloria Steinem, Shirley Chisholm, and Bella Abzug. Eleanor Roosevelt who was one of the most active first ladies in history and worked for political, racial, and social justice.

Women have been fighting for their rights and to be treated as equals for many decades, just like our LGBTQ+ community. As for Queen Elizabeth I, in the eyes of the men of that time, a woman was incapable to rule a country, only a man could be head of the state. All of these women overcame many challenges and obstacles.
Locally, I look up to LISD Communications Director Veronica Castillón, former WBCA Executive Director Lisa Morales, and State Senator Judith Zaffirini.

I think there is an overall theme to my inspiration… a queen, advocates, politics, and leaders.

Tell us what you are doing today academically, career or life-wise and what your future plans are.

I am in week four at the Sames Auto Arena, after a 14-month leave of absence due to the pandemic. My future plans are to continue the mission and vision of the Gateway City Pride Association. As an organization, I would like to coordinate small events every month that are open to everybody, whether it is cleaning a park or meeting at Lake Casa Blanca or a park for a cookout.

I plan to also continue the partnerships we built this past year with the organizations and businesses that contributed to PRIDE Month and Gateway City Pride Association and build new partnerships. I would like to increase awareness and visibility for our local LGBTQ+ community.

Vehicluar Pride Parade
City of Laredo - Pride Month Proclamation

How do you think people in the LGBTQ+ community can continue to increase their visibility and impact here and in the world?

Our LGBTQ+ community can continue to increase visibility by participating in our monthly events. Our organization, Gateway City Pride Association, plans to work with other nonprofits either through volunteering for their causes or participating at their events. I believe we all must work together, no matter your ethnic background, political affiliate, religious views, etc., to make a bigger impact for the greater good for our city.

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, we still have work to do. We still need to achieve acceptance and understanding at the local level.

Why do you think diversity is important at university campuses, the workplace, and overall?

TAMIU is a perfect example where you can meet people from all over the world. Some of us Laredoans are not fortunate enough to travel the world. We can learn from a different culture, from the international students coming from different backgrounds.

As for the workplace, we share the same cultural background, but we are different in many ways… age, what area we grew up in Laredo, education, genres of music we listen to and so forth. By working with this diverse group, we can understand the Laredo market better.

Overall, I believe diversity is important because every person is unique and the more someone is different from you, it is more likely their skills and knowledge will be different from you. When you interact, socialize, and work with people from different experiences, you can hear and learn from people.

 

Gateway City Pride Parade and Festival 2021