In The Final Days Of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Nation’s First Active-Duty Military Contingent Marches In Pride
In the final days of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Navy Operations Specialist Sean Sala decided to do what had never been done before: march with an active duty military contingent in a Pride parade. It was July of 2011, just two months before the end of the policy that barred LGBTQ people from serving openly in the armed forces.
Sean teamed up with San Diego Pride organizer Fernando Zweifach Lopez. At StoryCorps, they remembered how they pulled it off — and what it was like to see over 200 service members show up at the starting line.
Top photo: Sean Sala and Fernando Zweifach Lopez at their StoryCorps interview in San Diego, CA on January 5th, 2013. By Luis Gallo for StoryCorps.
Middle photo: Sean Sala and Fernando Zweifach Lopez (center) marching together at San Diego Pride on July 16, 2011. Courtesy of Fernando Zweifach Lopez.
Bottom Photo: Sean Sala (right) marches alongside fellow Navy service members during San Diego Pride on July 21, 2012. That year, the Pentagon issued blanket approval for service members to march in uniform in the San Diego Pride parade. Courtesy of Sean Sala.
Originally aired June 29, 2019, on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.
A Woman Providing Life-Saving Aid at the Mexico-Arizona Border Shares Her Story
Maria Ochoa is a 70-year-old grandmother who has walked the Arizona desert well over 100 times providing water and aid to migrants who have crossed the border from Mexico. The humanitarian aid she and other Tucson Samaritans provide is legal, as long as they don’t transport migrants or venture onto private land.
She came to StoryCorps in Tucson with her friend and fellow volunteer, Alma Schlor, to share her connection to the work.
This summer, Maria will have been doing this work with the Tucson Samaritans for seventeen years. She was one of the founders of the organization in 2002.
Top photo: Maria Ochoa poses by the Arizona/Mexico border wall, south of Tucson, Arizona. By Camila Kerwin for StoryCorps.
Middle photo: Alma Schlor and Maria Ochoa at their StoryCorps interview in Tucson, Arizona on April 20, 2016. By Camila Kerwin for StoryCorps.
Bottom photo: Maria Ochoa walks one of the trails she monitors with the Tucson Samaritans. By Camila Kerwin for StoryCorps.
Originally aired June 21, 2019 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
For a Father’s Last Meal, the Main Ingredient Is Love
Juan Reyes grew up in a small town in Mexico and immigrated to the United States in the 1940s. He eventually settled in Texas, where he raised his two daughters, Estela and Candi Reyes.
In Juan’s later years, his struggle with diabetes intensified, and he became more sick. At StoryCorps in El Paso, Estela and Candi remembered caring for him in his final days.
Top Photo: Candi and Estela Reyes at their StoryCorps interview in El Paso, Texas in 2012. By Anaid Reyes for StoryCorps.
Bottom Photo: Juan Reyes in the early 1970s. Courtesy of the Reyes family.
Originally aired June 14th, 2019, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Pearls of Wisdom
No matter where you grew up, it wasn’t easy being out in the 1950s or ‘60s. Back then, being gay was still classified as a mental illness, and that wouldn’t change until 1973.
Kids who identified as LGBTQ were often isolated and afraid to come out — and many still are. But in this episode of the StoryCorps podcast, we’ll hear about role models who helped two kids feel comfortable in their own skin.
Our first story comes from Alexei Romanoff, who grew up in New York City. Alexei sat down for StoryCorps with his husband, David Farah, to remember someone who made a big difference in his life: an older gay man he called “Mother Bryant.”
Like Alexei, for years, Dee Westenhauser also felt like she couldn’t be herself. As a transgender woman growing up in El Paso, Texas, Dee felt misunderstood by almost everyone around her, except for one person: Dee’s beloved Aunt Yaya.
Top photo: Artwork by Michael Caines.
Middle photo: David Farah and Alexei Romanoff at their StoryCorps interview in Los Angeles, CA. By Jill Glaser.
Bottom photo: Dee Westenhauser and Martha Gonzalez at their StoryCorps interview in El Paso, TX. By Nicolas Cadena.
Released on May 28, 2019.
Like the music in this episode? Support the artists:
“Overture” by Patrick Wolf from the album Sundark and Riverlight
“City Limits” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Albany, NY
“Filing Away” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Crab Shack
“Paloma” by Fabian Almazan and Linda Oh
The Long Path to Healing after Columbine
April 20, 2019 marks twenty years since tragedy struck Littleton, Colorado.
That morning, two students opened fire at Columbine High School, killing 13 people and themselves.
While then-sophomore Lauren Cartaya escaped the school quickly, her older brother Zach was stuck inside the building with many of his classmates – hiding in an empty classroom.
Two decades later, the Cartaya siblings came to StoryCorps to remember the day that changed both of their lives.
Top photo: The Cartaya family photographed by Life Magazine after the Columbine High School shooting in 1999. Courtesy of Ray Ng.
Bottom photo: Zach Cartaya and Lauren Cartaya at their StoryCorps interview in Littleton, CO in March 2019. By Kevin Oliver for StoryCorps.
Originally aired April 19, 2019, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
In the US 50 Years, a Man Reflects on His Arrival from Honduras
A half-century ago, Roy Daley was 23 years old and living in the capital of Honduras when a friend offered him a job in the United States. So he immigrated with little more than two shirts and a change of pants.
Roy came to StoryCorps with his wife, Ana, and his daughter, Lucy, to talk about his early days in America.
Top photo: Roy Daley with his wife, Ana Smith-Daley (L) and his daughter Lucy Figueroa (R) at the StoryCorps MobileBooth in Austin, TX. By Savannah Winchester for StoryCorps.
Originally aired November 23rd, 2018, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
DACA Recipient on the Pressure of Living Life Undocumented
Irakere Picon was just two years old when his parents brought him to the United States from Mexico on a tourist visa. They never left.
He was aware something was different about his childhood, but it wasn’t until he applied to get a driver’s license that he realized his immigration status might get in the way of his dreams.
In 2012, Irakere received protections from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and was able to attend law school.
It was around that time that he met Arianna Hermosillo on a bus and later asked her on a date to Millennium Park in Chicago. When they were together, Irakere told Arianna he was undocumented.
Irakere and Arianna were married earlier this year, but it remains unclear whether Irakere will be approved for a green card for permanent residency.
Top photo: Arianna Hermosillo and Irakere Picon pose at their StoryCorps interview in Chicago on February 3, 2018. Photo by Laura Saenz for StoryCorps.
Bottom photo: Irakere Picon and Arianna Hermosillo on their wedding day in Oak Park Conservatory in Chicago. Courtesy Arianna Hermosillo and Irakere Picon.
Originally aired October 19, 2018, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
A Son Remembers his Father, a Lucha Libre Wrestler
John Torres Sr. grew up in the Bronx and fell in love with Lucha Libre, the freestyle wrestling popular in Mexico.
He found fellow enthusiasts at the Bronx Wrestling Federation, where a motley crew of men — plumbers, lawyers and police officers — moonlit as Lucha Libre showmen.
John joined their ranks and quickly became a star in the city. But his biggest fan was his son: John Torres Jr.
John Torres Jr. came to StoryCorps with his dad’s best friend and fellow wrestler, Abraham Guzman, to remember John Sr., who died in 2011.
Top photo: Abraham Guzman (L) putting John Torres Jr. in a friendly chokehold at the StoryCorps booth in New York City. Photo by Liyna Anwar.
Bottom photo: John Torres Sr., who wrestled as The Falcon, is pictured at a wrestling match in 2010. Courtesy of John Torres Jr.
Originally aired October 05, 2018, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
A Couple on the Loss and Pain They Suffered at the Hands of a California Wildfire
Monique and Cody Walker chose Santa Rosa, California as the place to raise their five children. Then, in October 2017, the Tubbs wildfire swept across Sonoma County. The Walkers got their kids and dogs in the car, and fled for safety.
The fire destroyed their home, along with over 5,000 other structures. At the time, it was considered the most destructive wildfire in California’s history.
Monique and Cody sat down at StoryCorps two months after losing their home.
Top photo: Monique and Cody Walker at their December 2017 StoryCorps interview in Santa Rosa, California. Photo by Yosmay Delmazo for StoryCorps.
Middle photo: The plot of land on which the Walkers’ home used to sit. Photo courtesy of Monique Walker.
Bottom Photo: Cody Walker had cradle baskets made for each of his children, in keeping with his Chukchansi culture. They were lost in the wildfire that destroyed the family’s home. Photo courtesy of Cody and Monique Walker.
Originally aired September 21, 2018, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
NYC Sanitation Workers on Lessons Learned While Picking Up Garbage
Sanitation workers Angelo Bruno (above left) and Eddie Nieves (above right) worked together for nearly 10 years on the same garbage route in Manhattan’s West Village and became fixtures in the community.
After 31 years on the job, Angelo retired in 2010. That same year, he came to StoryCorps with Eddie to share the unexpected lessons he learned along the way and what he still misses about the job. Eddie starts their conversation.
In 2016, Eddie joined Angelo in retirement from sanitation work, but occasionally walks their route to keep in touch with old friends.
Click here to watch “Clean Streets,” the StoryCorps animated short of Angelo and Eddie’s story.
Top Photo: Angelo Bruno and Eddie Nieves at their StoryCorps interview in 2010.
Originally aired September 3, 2010, on NPR’s Morning Edition. A rebroadcast aired on August 31, 2018 on the same program.