Building Bridges with Torres
There was a weekend in June that I spent in Industry City, a cool, cool place in Brooklyn which provided a lot of photo opps for my Pride shoots. I had so much fun and loved all Pride decorations they’d prepared. Since I’m interested in all aspects of femininity on my blog, how could I not celebrate the LGBT community? Any form of love between women make my heart grow. One June Sunday, I had a pleasure to meet and shoot with Torres, a kick-ass woman who works in the construction industry.
Torres came to New York from Hong Kong in 2017. She gave herself one year to find out if she could make it here. She had no family and only a few friends in the city. She made it to a PM position in a construction company with a forty-year tradition. As a female architect, I know exactly how much harder you have to work and how much more you have to prove to be recognized as a woman in that industry. Torres not only is reliable and well-organized, but also has a lot of humility and stamina at work. Privately, she's very fun and open.
We shared a lot of thoughts about femininity, feminism, sexuality, and social inclusion over a good, strong coffee. You know, the kind that the real women in construction business like. LOL! I asked Torres tree questions that I traditionally serve on my menu, but also threw in a bonus one, so that I could learn more about the LGBT community and share it with you guys.
AsW: When did you make yourself the most proud?
TORRES: I made myself the most proud in 2017 when I became an Assistant Project Manager in a construction company. Everything was so new, I didn't even know too much about the construction materials, cuz I was fresh out of school. I spent about eighteen months finishing the first apartment. The proudest moment that I had was when I walked through it with the buyer and told them that I built their home so that they could live there. They were so happy about it. I'm the most proud when I have a contribution to this society. Everyone does a different thing, a cleaner, a housekeeper, a driver and they have their own contributions, but mine is to build somebody a home to live in.
AsW: What do you appreciate other women for the most and is there anyone who embodies those traits?
TORRES: I appreciate that women have multiple positions in their families and jobs. Sometimes they work, sometimes they are mothers or sisters or daughters and they need to balance everything, not to mess up all different positions. At work they need to be very professional, but then at home they have to be a good cook and a caretaker. I think my mom was very good at it. I appreciate that.
AsW: In your opinion, what do we have in common as women, despite our different cultures, background, lifestyles or sexual orientations?
TORRES: I think women are born with more ability to care about others. They keep their emotional worries stable. Sometimes, they can be leaders, but also team players. It depends on what kind of situation they are dealing with. Women are like water, they are very flexible. They have an ability to adapt in many different situations.
AsW: Is there anything you wish people knew about LGBT community?
TORRES: Something that I would want to say about the community is that we are all humans. There's no need to put labels like someone's a gay guy or a lesbian or transgender. Just treat others like you would like to be treated. I don't think we need any other special adjective, or description, or label. No matter if you like or not, just be respectful.
PS
Dear Torres,
Thank you so much for meeting with me and sharing your energy. It was fun to have had a workaholic-to-workaholic talk :) and compare experiences as immigrant women. Thanks for bringing more knowledge and awareness about LGBT community and your personal struggles to the table. Knowledge is priceless and hopefully, I'm more woke. It was fun and pleasure to collaborate with you. You brought a lot of swag to our shoot! I wish you all the best! Keep kicking ass and taking names on those construction sites! and take PRIDE in whatever you do.
With love,
Anja
Unexpected, my favorite..
