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OUR YOUTH AND FUTURE COMMUNITY LEADERS 

By LGBTQ San Diego County News Staff

07/01/2022
in Community Voices, Feature, Featured, Features, Pride
0
OUR YOUTH AND FUTURE COMMUNITY LEADERS 
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Sam Moehlig (courtesy image)

Sam Moehlig , Mister San Diego Pride 2022

Sam Moehlig is a San Diego native and a youth leader in the Transgender community. He has learned to overcome not only the challenges of being Trans but also growing up with a disability, Sam was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Sam serves as a Youth Ambassador for TransFamily Support Services in San Diego. Many times, he is the first Trans youth that others talk to when they come out. Sam works with many youths and/or their parents guiding them on the gender journey. His transition is the subject of an Emmy Award winning documentary ‘A Transgender Teen’s Journey: Sam’s Story’. Sam is a gymnastics coach, college student and a 3rd degree black belt in Taekwondo. Sam is committed to educating folks on acceptance and equality for all.  

We had a chance to catch up with Sam, talk Pride and being named Mister San Diego Pride 2022.

San Diego Pride is right around the corner. What does Pride mean to you?

Pride is the event I look forward to most every year, I love walking through the festival and seeing complete strangers saying “Happy Pride and hugging one another and spreading the joy of being their authentic selves.

How do you manage being in the spotlight since a very young age as an advocate for Trans visibility?

I reminded myself that I wasn’t speaking out for myself, I was speaking on behalf of Trans youth who may not have found their voices just yet. 

When you are not raising awareness what do you enjoy doing in your spare time? 

I enjoy going to the gym, swimming, hiking, reading and spending time with my family.

You are an adult now, what are your plans?

I plan to continue working part-time as a coach at North County Gymnastics and The Gyminny Kids and finish out my degree in kinesiology at Palomar College.

How does it feel to be named this year’s Mister San Diego LGBTQ Pride 2022?

It is humbling to be given such a fantastic opportunity and I intend to take it with great pride.

Any fun plans for the Pride season, what are you looking forward to doing?

Just to live in the moment and spend time with the people I love the most.

Matthew Zheng Quitoriano (courtesy image)

Matthew Zheng Quitoriano, San Diego Unified School District Student Trustee

Tell our readers a little about yourself.

I’m Matthew Zheng Quitoriano, a student at San Diego High School. I’m bisexual, Filipino-Chinese, and have lived in San Diego for 12 years. I spend most of my free time fencing, and it’s a huge passion of mine. I’m also very interested in Model United Nations and Academic League, where I can channel my academic passion. 

What made you want to run for the student trustee position on the San Diego Unified School District?

I ran because I saw a lot of students, including myself, confused at the reasoning behind some of the decisions made at the district level. I felt that I could help bridge that gap and increase district communication. 

What did your parents think when you told them you wanted to run for the position?

My parents were very supportive, and they were very helpful in helping me spread my message across many platforms.

What is the importance of not only student representation in the school district but LGBTQ+ student representation?

I think the most important thing that comes with representation is that people feel comfortable. It’s impossible for one or two students to represent the diverse range of backgrounds that students come from, especially regarding the LGBTQ+, which is why I firmly believe that the school district needs to bolster student representation and involvement in the change-making process. Further regarding LGBTQ students, many students still do not recognize who we are, and having representatives shows that our queerness does not hold us back from achieving great things. 

What effect do you want to have on the school district in your position as student trustee?

I hope that by me holding this position I make LGBTQ students feel a little safer at school and feel that they are represented at the table. Beyond that, I think that it’s also incredibly important that students feel that they have a direct channel to the school district board and are empowered to speak up.

I hope the school district realizes that students are mature enough, strong enough, smart enough, and educated enough to be respected like any other person. Students deserve a voice, and the school district should respect that and foster it. 

Are politics something you aspirer to take on as an adult?

I think that there’s a lot I can do in this world to make it better. Politics might be one pathway to that, but there are many others. I want to stay focused on the goal here at hand – making students have the best school experience possible.

How important is it for other individuals your age to get involved by volunteering or joining organizations that have a say in shaping their futures?

We are the future. It’s incredibly important that other young people get themselves involved because we have the biggest stake in our future. We have new ideas, the innovativeness, and the passion needed at the discussion table.

June was Pride month, and July is San Diego Pride. What does Pride mean to you?

Pride means a lot to me because it’s really touching to see so many great people showing who they are. It’s a celebration of how far we’ve come, but also a signal of how much further we must go.

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Pick Up Our Print Edition Near You!

December 2023, Volume 4, Issue 29

(LGBTQ SD News has decided to continue the current volume by several issues while we rebrand).

Click or Tap Here To Read Our Past Issues!

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Lopez suddenly resigns from San Diego Pride. In a Lopez suddenly resigns from San Diego Pride.

In an email to San Diego Pride staff and volunteers sent Monday night, Nov. 20, the organization’s board of directors announced that their executive director, Fernando Zweifach Lopez, Jr., had stepped down from their position, effective immediately. 

Screenshots of the email, signed by San Diego Pride co-chairs Melissa Malone-Montgomery and Noah Lomax, were shared with LGBTQ San Diego County News. 

Read the full story including reactions from community leaders by visiting the link in our bio or at https://lgbtqsd.news/lopez-suddenly-resigns-from-san-diego-pride/

@lovewarriorpink, @sandiegopride #SDPride
🎄 The trees are lit and the @festivaloftreessd 🎄 The trees are lit and the @festivaloftreessd has begun! We are proud to be a sponsor of this annual event that kicks off the holiday season in #HillcrestSanDiego and raises big money for Being Alive’s HIV/AIDS services.
In his latest Foodie Flashes, Frank Sabatini Jr. s In his latest Foodie Flashes, Frank Sabatini Jr. shares about popular new Hillcrest chicken spot, Cluck N Sip; the annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival; Whiskey House in downtown’s Marina District; some dining spots offering ways to be charitable; and a new location of Pitfire Pizza.

Read the full column at the link in our bio or at: lgbtqsd.news/foodie-flashes-november-2023
The vandal who caused $4,634 in damages to the Met The vandal who caused $4,634 in damages to the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) was ordered to pay the church back and sentenced to 270 days in jail on Oct. 12.

Read the full story at the link in our bio or at: lgbtqsd.news/sentencing-for-man-who-vandalized-mcc
Nicole Murray Ramirez shares his review of the fil Nicole Murray Ramirez shares his review of the film "RUSTIN," which chronicles the life of civil rights icon Bayard Rustin.

Read the full column at the link in our bio or at: lgbtqsd.news/conversations-with-nicole-november
A jury convicted a man of second-degree murder Oct A jury convicted a man of second-degree murder Oct. 19, in the stabbing death of a gay sailor 33 years ago at his Point Loma home in a case solved by DNA.

Read the full story at the link in our bio or at: lgbtqsd.news/convicted-after-33-years
Check out our latest news briefs section, featurin Check out our latest news briefs section, featuring information about future Hillcrest Development; a San Diego resident being featured in a Don't Ask Don't Tell documentary; and MPOX infections are on the rise again.

Read the briefs at the link in our bio or here: lgbtqsd.news/spectrum-news-briefs-november-2023

@hillcrestsandiego #HillcrestSanDiego @cityofsandiego @vibrantuptown @uptownplannerssd @hillcresttowncouncil
These are rough times all around, but @BennyC80 re These are rough times all around, but @BennyC80 reminds us to continue to look out for each other and never be afraid to ask for help!

Read Benny's full column at the link in our bio or here: lgbtqsd.news/bennys-back-managing-these-times-we-live-in

@hillcrestsandiego #hillcrestsandiego
The holidays are fast approaching and it's almost The holidays are fast approaching and it's almost time for the third annual @FestivalofTreesSD! 

Read more about how you can be a part of this festive fundraiser at the link in our bio or here: lgbtqsd.news/a-joyous-festival-of-trees
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