The Spades

Traditionally the suit of Spades represents the military and their weapons-spades, pikes, shovels, or swords. While the LGBTQIA+ community must battle discrimination and bigotry, we use different tools to defend ourselves and uplift others. Our suit of Spades represents advocacy, knowledge, and artistry present in our Borderland LGBTQIA+ community.

Sara Harb Quiroz

Ace of Spades

Plaintiff challenging homophobic & sexist discrimination against immigrant residents & border crossers

Claudia Yoli Ferla

4 of Spades

DACA recipient, community organizer, LGBTQ+ activist, ED of Move Texas, former Co-ED of Deeds Not Words

Jody Randall

7 of Spades

LGBTQ+ advocate, fundraiser; academic leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion; 2020 Miss Trans Texas USA

The Briggle Family

10 of Spades

Trans-inclusive family; fearless, tireless, & fighting for a better world for trans kids in Texas and beyond

Del Shores

Jack of Spades

LGBTQ+ activist, film director and producer, television writer and producer, playwright and actor

Hector Granados, MD

2 of Spades

Pediatric Endocrinologist; pivotal in opening of El Paso’s first gender clinic for children and adolescents

Kathryn Schmidt, PhD, LCSW

5 of Spades

Activist, scholar, social worker; LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapist; voting rights and education advocate

Adri Perez

8 of Spades

ACLU organizer/policy/advocacy strategist; activist for LGBTQ+ rights, public orator, community organizer

San Antonio Four

King of Spades

Falsely imprisoned Lesbians Elizabeth Ramirez, Kristie Mayhugh, Cassandra Rivera and Anna Vasquez; proved innocent

Alicia Roth Weigel

3 of Spades

Intersex advocate; policy, advocacy, and campaign strategist for the progressive movement; advisor for InterACT

Gloria Anzaldúa, PhD

6 of Spades

Feminist poet, activist, scholar; guiding force in the Chicano/a movement and lesbian/queer theory

Kai and Kim Shappley

9 of Spades

Prominent Trans Rights Youth Activist & her mother who testified against bill banning gender-affirming care

Yolanda Leyva, PhD

Queen of Spades

Indigenous Chicana lesbian, LGBTQ+ and immigration rights activist, public historian, border scholar

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