OUT ON THE HILL is the official blog of the Victory Congressional Interns. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of LGBTQ+ Victory Institute. Learn more about the internship at victoryinstitute.org/vci.
———————————–
As I reflect on the past two weeks in Washington D.C. I have been constantly reminded of the importance of community and inclusive leadership. Stepping off my two-hour flight from Chicago, I felt like I was entering a completely different world. I had traveled before, but never alone or this far from home. Getting an Uber with another intern, Zach, who I had only ever met once via Zoom, and instantly clicking with our connections in an unfamiliar city settled my nerves. He was the first introduction to the future relationships I was about to make.
For the next few days, the experience still felt surreal. We would run some errands, shop, and stop at a corner and laugh at how it felt like a summer camp. Although we would start our internships on The Hill that upcoming week, it still felt like we were kids learning how to walk all over again. It was so comforting knowing how many of us were absolutely terrified yet so excited for this journey we were about to take together.
This fear and excitement carried into my first day interning for Representative Robert Garcia’s office from the 42nd District of California. I still remember the admiration I felt walking towards Longworth from the Capitol South metro exit and seeing the Capitol Building on my commute to work. I was fortunate to meet the Congressman on my second day; I instantly felt welcomed by him and everyone in the office. Garcia is the first openly gay immigrant in Congress, and he is a fierce and progressive advocate for many of the issues I stand for. It is truly inspiring to intern for someone who has faced such adversity in their life and who I can relate to on so many aspects of our identities.
As a first-generation college student and second-generation Mexican American, opportunities like the one I have to work on The Hill, where so much history and influence exists, feels surreal. I was intimidated to enter this new professional space, and while I faced challenges like technology issues and intense constituent phone calls in the first week, I had to remind myself to never take this for granted.
The staffers in my office are a diverse group representing various ethnicities, sexualities, and gender orientations. Most of all, they are the smartest and most driven individuals I have encountered. Particularly Sara Guerrero, the Communications Director for Congressman Garcia, allowed me to shadow her on the second day of the internship to see what her work looks like. Simply walking through the halls of the Capitol building and encountering Representatives who inspire me was the reminder I needed for why I seek to learn in this space. For me, a diverse and inclusive office is something I never experienced in my career thus far. To have a mentor like Sara, who looks like me and truly advocates for me, is everything I could have imagined.
The smiles, the advice, the coffee runs, and the BBQ lunch in Rayburn on Wednesdays are small gestures my staffers could make, yet they leave such a tremendous impact. The leadership in my office makes such a big difference in my experience as a queer person, and I truly feel like it matters to be there.
Aside from the wonderful staff and mentors, what has especially resonated with me are the connections and community I’ve made with my cohort. Being a member of the LGBTQ+ community can feel so isolating, especially because I had never been surrounded by so many queer individuals before. There has not been a dull moment with the friends I’ve made in this cohort and I tend to miss them while at work. I look forward to the debriefs we have after our shift and feel so comforted knowing they’re willing to support one another.
The VCI cohort is another reminder of how effective a community and support system is. For many of us, this experience itself is a challenge and risk. Existing in a time when anti-gay and anti-trans bills are rampant locally and nationally, we feel forced back into our fears and worries. I am frightened by what I see occurring to our community, and angered that we are repeating history.
However, I am grateful to have this cohort where we share many experiences and revelations, while embracing diverse perspectives and opinions. Our weekly discussions are engaging and challenging all at once, and we understand the importance of our work. The presence of VCI interns on The Hill is so inspiring, and the power of the work VCI has done will impact future generations to come. While I know I may not be the first to do it, I remind myself to not allow us to be the last.
My 17-year-old closeted self who visited Washington D.C. for the first time on a yearbook journalism trip in 2019, would be so astounded at what I’m currently doing. On the days that feel hard, or I get homesick, I think about her and her ambition to return to The Hill and make a difference. No matter who we are, what we come from, and what we do in the future, I still feel like we’re healing our inner child, and forming a community while doing so. I have never felt more secure in my aspirations to pursue a career in public service, and I can’t wait to continue forming the person my younger self once needed.
