Today we’d like to introduce you to Rain Garcia.
Hi Rain, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Hi my name is Rain Garcia. I am a Latina Transgender Women , from San Antonio Tx I created UNFILTERED WINGS on July 20, 2021, a few months after the passing of my little brother JP. When I lost my brother, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with myself, but then I remembered my little brother would tell me why don’t you start a business to help the transgender community as a transgender woman. You know how hard it is to be your true self when your name and gender mark don’t match your identity , and being discriminated against at workplaces for being you? Jp was my biggest supporter in everything I did, so when I lost my little brother, I created UNFILTERED WINGS , because I knew everything that I would do with UNFILTERED WINGS my brother would always be part of it. So on July 20,2021 the day of his birthday, in his honor and memory, I went down to the courthouse and filed my paperwork to create UNFILTERED WINGS . I remember being so emotional that day when I came to the clerk to hand my paperwork to her, and she said why are you tearing up? You should be happy, and I told her I was happy. Still, at the same time, I’m sad because my little brother should have been here with me in this process. It took my brother’s death to realize what I was meant to do help my community. I remember seeing her get emotional, and she said remember, sweetie, your brother will always be there by your side. Just because you can’t see him doesn’t mean he is not there with you and now , here we are a year later. I have helped many of my community with their name and gender mark change process ,and seeing those emails saying the courthouses have approved their orders makes me so happy to see their smiles and stories to know they too have walked my path, and it makes me glad to know I can make a difference in my community.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
It has been a challenging road. I have my times where I do break down, not because it’s hard but because I look at everything and the amazing people who are in my life and show full support in what I do, and I tell myself if my brother didn’t pass would I have had the same motivation to create UNFILTERED WINGS. So I sometimes become my enemy and let my thoughts get to me, but I’m only human, so it’s okay to feel like this. Sometimes I have to learn to be strong and pick myself up right back up when I’m struggling.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
So not only do i own UNFILTERED WINGS and helping my community with their name and gender mark change, but i am also a linkage specialist at a amazing organization here in san antonio, before my brother passed away he was diagnosed with hiv and it took a tow on him because it quickly turned into aids and he ended up committing suicide because of it , but prior to that i saw how he got treated by his dr , so i remember telling him i’m going to find you a place where you are accepted and here i found BEAT AIDS an amazing organization who welcomed my brother in and made him feel loved and happy and not afraid , so seeing his face be happy and not afraid made me want to change careers i went from being a marketing director with AT&T to being part of BEAT AIDS because i wanted to help people and making sure they got the the help they needed and make sure they never felt like the way my brother felt at that dr visit so i made a promise to continue helping people living with hiv and our communities because everyone deserves to be treated with respect and love.
Who else deserves credit for your story?
Yes, I want to thank someone who was my biggest supporter and created things behind the scenes for UNFILTERED WINGS . Mario is an amazing person. He has become family to me, like a cousin. He was there from the beginning to help me create UNFILTERED WINGS from its logo to the colors, so he’s my creative director. i also want to thank my mom and my family for being so supporter in everything i do i couldn’t have gone so far in life with out their love and support in everything i do and my best friends they have been my biggest cheerleaders and supporters they show up to my events and help volunteer at my events and my glam team they are just amazing bobbie always kills it with my looks for events and not only for my looks but he was a therpaist for me when i lost my brother he was there always to show support and to rey he was my sunlight in my darkest moments so thank you for being with me all the time when i couldn’t be alone and all i did was cry , and want to say thank you to jada without her i wouldn’t have met some more amazing people where i get to share my story and help communities with out her i wouldn’t have met Dr. Lulu amazing lgbtq+ parenting life coach , Jeremy from The J Pan Project an amazing advocate for our communities where i have done some events for our communities and will continue to do more in the future with theses amazing people who are now my friends and David Zamora Casas an amazing local artist at BLUE STAR who gave me the opportunity to showcase my art work dedicated to my brother and helped me have that closure i needed to move on in life and continue to do what i do for our community so thank you so much for that, and thank you to everyone who is part of my life and has shown so much support and acceptance of UNFILTERED WINGS . And as i like to say Unleash Your Inner Phoenix!!!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: unfilteredwings
- Facebook: unfilteredwings
- Youtube: unfiltered wings
Image Credits
@unfilteredwings @The J Pan Project @drlulutalkradio
