By Brianna Vaca, Staff Reporter
Christina Rose and Renee Lemus discovered they had a lot in common when they first met. Not only are they both mothers, but also scholars of women’s studies – Rose at CSUDH and Lemus at CSULA. So, of course, it was only natural that they would start a podcast together.
Thus, the “Las Doctoras” was born in July 2019. Now in its seventh season, the show explores several topics related to their scholarship, including conversations about gender, sexuality, race, and more.
“In [the] community we had a lot of people sort of hearing what we were talking about just amongst each other and sort of saying ‘Oh, I wish I could take a women’s studies class’,” Lemus said. “We felt a podcast was a good way to bring what we do in the classroom out into the real world.”
Earlier this month, the duo brought those conversations to the ballroom of the Loker Student Union for a live recording of the podcast – a first for the show. The event was co-hosted by the CSUDH Women’s Studies and Modern Languages departments, in partnership with the Queer Culture and Resource Center, the Immigrant Justice Center, the Latinx Cultural Resource Center, and the Women’s Resource Center.
“I love that it’s on campus, and I love that it’s live,” Rose said. “Really, the showcasing of someone who is so vital that their voice is on campus.”
In commemoration of LGBT History Month, Rose and Lemus hosted transgender rights activist Bamby Salcedo, the president and CEO of the group TransLatin@ Coalition. The organization works specifically to address issues facing transgender Latinas in the United States.
Salcedo said the taping was important because it offered students and faculty the opportunity to learn more about critical issues, especially ahead of the U.S. General Election on Nov. 5.
“It was beautiful that I had the opportunity to engage and interact with students,” Salcedo said. “The students were present and to see the live discussion, it was a bit different, but I think it was super beautiful and amazing that there was collective participation.”
Salcedo said she hopes attendees will get a better understanding of the politics shaping communities around the world.
“I hope they can participate and learn, not just about the presidential race, but also the local races that are happening and how they can influence with the different things they have learned,” Salcedo said.
Cynthia Villanueva is a faculty member of both the Women’s Studies and Modern Languages departments. She said events like the podcast taping are special, especially when guests like Salcedo are the featured guest.
“The most beautiful part about organizing an event like this is telling everyone on campus that Bamby Salcedo or other guests are coming,” Villanueva said. “And it just brings the campus together, and it is just a lot of joy for us.”
Villanueva said she hoped attendees will take time to reflect on the stories told by speakers like Salcedo to better understand their relevance to current events and issues.
“The topics they bring to us to think about are not only social but political,” Villanueva said. “And they matter pretty much to everyone that is here, as a guest and as a participant.”
