Correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC
What or who inspired you to become a journalist?
My childhood was less than picture-perfect. I sought refuge by watching TV—anything and everything available. Those stories, both fictional and factual, offered a much-needed escape. Television news in particular gave me a window to a world far beyond my own experience. The journalists I saw weren’t just delivering the news; they were giving a voice to the marginalized.
I took a journalism class in high school the semester before I dropped out. That gave me enough of a taste that I then took a shot at writing for my college newspaper.
While challenging at times, the experience ignited a passion for storytelling and gave an outlet for my curiosity. Because I grew up deeply neglected and fighting to hide that, I never really felt a part of much of anything. When I figured out I was gay, I felt even more like an outsider. But being a reporter let me enter spaces I’d likely never be in otherwise. And it gave me the chance to ask questions on behalf of the little guy.
Broadcast journalism became the natural progression, offering a platform to share stories that matter and amplify the voices of those often unheard.
What is your favorite story that you have written?
Just a few weeks ago, I got to interview Rod Roddenberry, CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment and son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. That gave me a chance to tell him how watching Star Trek as a kid felt like a lifeline. I truly believe it made me a smarter and more curious child than I otherwise might have been. It was rewarding to be able to tell him that and chat about the future of the franchise.
Do you feel like you have a dual responsibility for being queer and a journalist?
Absolutely, I feel like all of my experiences and perspectives enrich my reporting. Coming from a working-class background, being Latino and being gay are all inescapable parts of who I am, and while there was a time in my younger years I felt conflict with each of those identities, I realize now they help me see a view of the world some may not. It’s why diversity is so important, especially in newsrooms. I am surrounded by colleagues who have their own perspectives that I lack, helping us tell a fuller story of what’s happening in the world.
Do you believe you have a role to play in helping preserve LGBTQ+ history and culture in your work?
I do feel like I have the opportunity to help preserve LGBTQ+ history and culture, and I’m grateful that my interests and things I’m curious about get to aid in creating journalism that is “the first rough draft of history” as former Washington Post publisher Phillip Graham is famously quoted as saying. Stories I pitch, from the M-pox outbreak in the U.S. a couple years back, to infertility coverage for same-sex couples, to book bans, I have been able to add to or in some cases even start these conversations.
What keeps you passionate about journalism?
Holding power to account, being a voice for those who may be overlooked and helping people make sense of our chaotic world all help keep that passion alive.
What advice would you have for those wanting to become a journalist?
Read and watch the news. If it bores you or gets old to you, this may not be the industry for you. And write! Then, write some more. Especially in TV news, some can make it for a while without writing skills, but eventually it catches up.
How has being a journalist impacted your personal life?
I met my husband while covering an election in Houston. He was working for a competing station. That’s the biggest (and best) impact.
Do you have any future goals or projects you would like to share with us?
I’ve spent most of my adult life telling other people’s stories, but only recently realized the impact I could have by telling my own… growing up in squalor, dropping out of high school, clawing my way into college and finding strength by embracing who I am. I’ve been working on writing a memoir, so looking to the future, that’s something I’d like to pursue down the line.
