Don't Call It A Comeback: A Formal Introduction to Javier
Hey there 👋🏻 –
I'm Javier! And the top three things you need to know about me are: I'm trans masculine 🏳️⚧️, Mexican-American 🇲🇽, and a Sagittarius ♐. Yes, that last one explains my natural optimism, my love for adventure, and my gift for seeing the bigger picture – qualities that have served me well in both life and my career. As a first-generation college graduate and child of immigrants from Mexico City, I've always existed in multiple worlds. Add being trans and queer to the mix, and you've got someone who's had to navigate some complex social systems (most notably, systems of oppression 😭).
But here's the thing about holding multiple intersectional identities - it offers an incredible richness that can only come from seeing the world through multiple lenses and lived experiences. My experience as a Latine/x trans man has been one about finding my voice - not the one others expected from me, but the one that's authentically mine.
THE PANDEMIC PIVOT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
You know how people say the pandemic was a time for reflection? Well, for me it was more like getting hit by a lightning bolt of clarity. I'd been questioning my gender identity for years, dancing around the edges of my truth like I was afraid the floor would collapse if I stepped fully into who I was. In many ways, I had been speaking in whispers when I needed to be speaking at full volume.
But then 2020 happened, the world literally stopped, and I had this moment of: If a virus can bring everything to a halt, the last thing I want is to live a life that doesn't even feel like mine. So I made the scariest, most necessary decision of my life:
I chose authenticity over comfort.
My mutual aid fundraisers for gender affirming care not only vastly exceeded my financial goals, they really showed me how many people I have in my corner in the form of chosen family and friends.
Let me be real with you – the journey wasn't all rainbow flags and celebratory mustache growth (though both of those things definitely happened). There were some incredibly difficult moments: having to go no contact with my parents, navigating deep-rooted shame, and trying to figure out my career while barely making ends meet at an entry-level job that was not a safe space to transition in.
There were times when my voice cracked – not just from having to go through puberty for a second time (smh), but from the weight of finding it at all.
But here's what kept me going: my long-time partner who never wavered in their support, our dog who doesn't care about gender but definitely cares about treats, the incredibly supportive colleagues and mentors, and the chosen family I built along the way. These people became my lifeline during the hardest parts of my transition. They were the ones who encouraged me to speak up when I wanted to disappear.
FROM SURVIVAL TO THRIVING
Fast forward through five years of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), an inclusive healthcare team, a therapist who gets it, and yes – the sexy, glorious arrival of my mustache 👨🏻 – and here I am: happier, more confident, and living more authentically than I ever thought possible. My voice – literally and figuratively – has found its range, deeper and stronger than I ever imagined. 📣
And honestly? The haters (according to me, anyway) are just mad that I'm attractive in all genders. I don't know what to tell you – confidence and authenticity really do keep the skin glowing! ✨
WHY I’M STEPPING OUT NOW
This brings me to why I'm writing this post and why I'm putting myself out there in a bigger way. Throughout my career in strategic communications, I've learned that authentic storytelling changes everything. When we show up as our full selves, we create space for others to do the same. I've spent years helping others amplify their voices, and now it's time to turn up the volume on my own.
Having been recently laid off unexpectedly in 2025, I realized I needed to practice my values and step into my power! Whether I wanted to admit it or not, I had been shrinking myself in hopes of fitting in however I could. However, me trying to fit in anywhere is like the meme of Big Bird in a board room (lol). As trans and queer people of color, there is absolutely no fitting in - and that’s actually a great thing.
What it can feel like as a trans person trying to “blend in” LOL
In the words of my favorite Los Angeles-based Drag King, Mauro Cuchi:
"In my experience, conformity has never actually helped me. If anything, it's put a bigger target on my back ..."
Thinking that I could fit in to the status norm is exactly what it sounds like - a hopeful fantasy but a fantasy nonetheless. The truth is, my voice was always going to stand out – so why not make it count?
Anyway, here's to me reclaiming my spaces in the public world, fortified and ready. Because not all visibility is good; it can just put a target on you if you're not fortified and protected as a trans person. But when you're ready, when your voice is strong, it's time to use your platform.
That's exactly what I'm doing with Lost En Los Angeles – a project dedicated to uplifting queer and trans people of color in LA. This city is full of incredible resources, events, and community spaces, but sometimes they're hard to find when you're navigating multiple identities and need spaces that truly get it. As someone who has grown up here and is proud to call this place home, I'm excited to show the real ones my slice of LA – from the key grassroots and activist groups that keep this city a refuge for so many to the fun events you can go to just relax on the weekend, to the latest in research and news in the city. Consider this my love letter to LA, sung at full volume.
STAY TUNED FOR THE MAGIC
Whether you're here for my professional journey, my personal story, or you're looking for community in LA, I'm so glad you're along for the ride. I'll be sharing everything from the best queer-friendly spots in the city to reflections on building authentic community, plus all the resources and events that are making LA a more inclusive place for all of us.
Because here's what I know for sure: when we live authentically and support each other in that authenticity, we don't just survive; we absolutely thrive. And when we find our voices and use them together, we become unstoppable.
So don't call it a comeback – call it a glow-up that was always meant to happen. Call it finally finding my voice and deciding to use it.
Con amor,
Javier 🏳️⚧️🇲🇽
Want to stay connected? Follow @LostEnLosAngeles for the latest on queer and trans BIPoC resources, events, and community in LA.
