Karina Samala Oral History

Karina Samala migrated to California from Manila, Philippines after finishing school, where she worked for 13 years as a senior engineer in an aerospace military company. After winning Closet Ball Queen and beginning her transition, Karina became increasingly involved with the queer community and activist work, including advocating for gender-affirming housing for incarcerated people, for survival sex to be legalized and protected, and to expand healthcare to the trans community living on the streets. Karina’s nurturing warmth towards the trans community earned her the title “Mother Karina.” Guest interviewer Rain Valdez recorded Karina’s oral history for OUTWORDS in 2022.

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Item Information:

Identifier: zp38wc952
Collection: Oral Histories with People of Color
Institution: OUTWORDS
Creator(s): Samala, Karina
Valdez, Rain
Contributor(s): Kunath, Kate
Date Issued: Jul. 27, 2022
Dates Covered: circa 1980
1965
circa 1990
Genre: Oral Histories
Subject(s): Imperial Court
Jeffrey Prang
José Sarria
Karina Samala
The Closet Ball
West Hollywood Transgender Advisory Board
Places: California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles
California > Los Angeles County > West Hollywood
Metro Manila > Capital District > Santa Cruz > Manila
Topic(s): Asian transgender people
Filipinos
Police interactions with LGBTQ+ people
Trans women
Transgender activism
Transgender people of color
Transgender political activists
Resource Type: Moving image
Language: English
Rights: In copyright
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