'We're Here's' Shangela Praises Del Rio Mayor Bruno Lozano For Being An LGBTQ+ Ally

Episode 3 of We're Here sees co-hosts Shangela, Eureka and Bob the Drag Queen visit Del Rio, Texas, where they connected with three inspiring individuals: Joey, Esael and the town's mayor Bruno Lozano.

Reflecting on filming with their respective drag kids, Shangela and Eureka spoke to Newsweek about Lozano and Joey, and their journeys on the show.

Shangela heaped praise on Lozano, who is still currently in office, for being such a staunch ally to the LGBTQ+ community, calling him "inspiring" for taking part in the docu-reality series and performing in drag to a song by Selena.

"I say this show is consistently a gift, not only to the people who watch it and are inspired by it, but also to me," Shangela explained.

"I have been able to travel and perform and entertain all over the world, and with this particular show, with We're Here, I've received the gift of getting to learn about our communities even more, about places that exist that I've never been before in culture and communities that I've never experienced.

"And I'm a Texan so this was very special to me, this episode with Bruno was very special to me, because there's something special about us Texans.

"But, also because in Del Rio there's this beautiful melting pot of Tehano culture and Mexican culture, of the LGBTQ community, [it's] not a huge presence per se but [there's] someone like Bruno who is there, who is out loud and proud, who is working to ensure the safety and the progression and the inclusion of his community in Del Rio, whether they love it or not."

On the show, Lozano even invited Shangela, Eureka and Bob to a council meeting where he proclaimed in official city record that the LGBTQ+ community would be recognised, that June will be known as Pride Month in Del Rio, and he also made the trio LGBTQ+ advocates for the city.

Discussing that moment, Shangela recalled: "They love his work and his commitment to this community and that was very inspiring to watch... [for him] to walk into a council meeting and be such a leader but also be unashamedly who he was and see the inspiration he has on his community even if they just hear about it, not necessarily seeing it or experiencing it in person.

"And then, to bring this type of experience on this show and to learn more about him and his journey was very moving to me and just such a gift, really."

Eureka also spoke about their drag kid Joey, who was struggling with her gender identity and getting her family to accept her true self in the episode, and then came out as transgender after it was filmed.

"I love that you ask about Joey because Joey's experience and my experience with Joey was definitely different in a lot of ways just because Joey was really... I felt that Joey knew who they were but I felt like Joey was really only concerned with the comfort of their parents, her parents now," Eureka said.

"So, they were worried about her parents not accepting it and their discomfort, and although I knew Joey knew who she wanted to be – even past the non-binary- when we were having our conversations she was most comfortable talking about living as a trans female, and we didn't go too deep into it because it just wasn't something she was ready to say out loud.

"As far as being worried about her parents finding out and not being accepting, there were these things that her parents had said to her in the past, her dad especially, where it was like 'well I already have two daughters, I'm expecting a son. I don't need a third daughter, you're a man.' All of these things stick with you and make you think 'how do I go against that?' especially at such a young age.

"Joey is 21 or 22, still fairly young and you're at this age where you're still programmed to only live by the rules that your parents have set aside and placed for you.

"I think it takes time to find true independence from that, and it took Joey not as long because she has support, she got to face it."

Eureka, who identifies as non-binary, added that they felt for some people, like Joey's parents, it's difficult to comprehend there being more than two genders.

They explained: "Talking to her parents was amazing actually, I loved her parents, I loved her grandparents, they're wonderful people, it's just they didn't understand.

"The craziest thing is what people don't get and what I learned from my own journey is that when it comes to the in-between a lot of people like that, who are super traditional, it's harder for them to understand androgyny or non-binary which is okay but it's also frustrating for those of us that are, because I had a tough time with my family.

"But Joey coming out as trans helps, her and her family are closer than ever now because I think they understand it better."

They continued: "When you're traditional in that sense all they see is man and woman, and at least it's something they can understand. But I think, at the same time, through this experience her parents were able to see the support, the love and the community, what it really meant.

"All of this really played a part in Joey's success as a trans individual and opening up to her parents. I wish we could have seen it in the show, but that little tag at the end of the episode where it says [she came out as transgender] took my heart away when I got to see it. That's when I found out too and I had to text Joey like 'oh my god!'."

We're Here Season 2 airs Mondays on HBO and HBO Max at 9pm ET.