From Local Stories to Lasting Change: César Velázquez Felipe
By Maria Lagunes Flores
This is part of a series of blog posts written by students in an Elon University First Year Writing course. For the course, students wrote profiles of people, places, and events that contribute to LGBTQ+ life in Alamance County.
The city of San Pedro de los Baños, Mexico Credit: César V. Felipe
César Velázquez Felipe grew up in San Pedro de los Baños, a small rural town in the State of Mexico. His mother, who worked as a housemaid, raised him alone after having him at 19. As an only child, César spent much of his time in front of the television, dreaming about life in the United States. “I grew up in front of a TV,” he said, remembering how what seemed normal on screen, running water, electricity, and grocery stores, were luxuries in his hometown. TV gave him a window to a different world and a sense that life could hold more possibilities.
As a child, he helped his family cultivate corn and went to a local school where he discovered English. He noticed that many young gay people in Mexico often felt a special bond with their English teachers, who showed them kindness and understanding. For César, this bond was more than that. Learning English became more than just studying; it became a form of freedom. But his childhood was not easy. Without a father figure and raised by a single mother, he faced loneliness and personal trauma. In adulthood, therapy became an important part of César’s healing. César emphasized, “I’m trying to heal, I have to not repeat patterns.”
César first studied law at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico, but he grew frustrated by the corruption he saw in the government. Whether it was from the lack of infrastructure they provided or the disregard of the concerns people in the community had. One day, he saw a small ad for a journalism workshop in a newspaper and decided to try something new. That choice changed the course of his life. Starting as a fact checker, he learned quickly and discovered the impact of “community journalism.” When readers sent him photos of damaged roads in Mexico City, he wrote about them. His articles pushed the government to take action, and in turn, he realized “Yeah, journalism can have a real impact.”
Over time, César began writing about LGBTQ+ people in Mexico, giving visibility to a community that was often ignored or judged. However, financial struggles pushed him to move to the United States, first to Durham and then to Alamance County in 2022. Not long after, his now husband showed him an online job posting for Qué Pasa (What’s Up), a Spanish-language news outlet serving Latino readers. With his experience, César began writing stories that mattered to the community, like the creation of the Alamance Dream Center, designed as a community space for people in Alamance County.
Alamance Dream Center Credit: Qué Pasa Media/César V. Felipe
While covering local stories, César noticed that few people talked openly about HIV or sexual health, especially in Latino spaces. After attending a conference about HIV awareness, he realized how important those conversations were. “Sex is connected to us in very different ways in our whole lives,” he stated. Getting involved with HIV awareness activism even though he does not live with HIV, César admitted, “I felt imposter syndrome, not living with HIV.” But he soon understood that allies also play an important role in education and support. He launched a podcast called Jotos Unplugged (“Gays Unplugged”), where queer Latinos could talk freely about identity, stigma, and health. A year later, he joined the Triad Health Project, where he works to reduce HIV stigma in the Latino community. He also launched Conexiones NC (“Connections NC”), a podcast that connects listeners to local resources and inspiring stories.
César at Alamance Pride 2025 Credit: Maria Lagunes Flores
Today, César continues to stay deeply involved in Alamance County. He attends Alamance Pride and now serves as a board member for Transcend Alamance, an organization supporting the local transgender community. Through his work in advocacy and media, he continues to lift others up. His story shows how one person’s courage and compassion can create change across borders, communities, and hearts.
