Marie Munoz, a.k.a. Mama Wheels, has been an insistent voice for the concerns of people with spinal cord injuries; she is a current board member of the Cal-Diego Paralyzed Veterans of America. A Vietnam War veteran, she works with the Community Advocates for Disability Rights and Education to recognize local business that are accessible to others in wheelchairs. While working for increased accessibility she has also become an accomplished athlete, winning gold medals in both the summer and winter Veteran Wheelchair Games.

Besides her involvement with veteran and paralysis groups, she’s been an important contributor and ally of the GLBT community. She’s been extremely active as a mother and as a board member with the Imperial Court de San Diego. In addition, she’s been involved with HIV/AIDS programs, particularly those focused on the African-American community. She’s worked on the Bat-N-Rouge drag softball charity tournament in San Diego for five years and was involved in various community and fundraising activities in the GLBT community for about two years before that, by her own recollection. But mostly, she says she’s just been available when there’s a need to be filled.

“I did whatever I needed to do,” she said. Among the things that she’s been most involved with — and most passionate about — have been activities and fundraising for GLBT youth. And it’s in the youth that she sees a lot of hope for the future of the GLBT community, overcoming some of the things that still daunt us.

“The gay youth prom was a good experience,” she said. “There were kids of all nationalities coming together and having a good time. I’d like to see the adults be more like the youth and get over their divisions.”

In fact, in her years of activism in the GLBT community, Munoz says that she has seen a lot of change for the good.

“I’ve seen a lot more unity, the community becoming more cohesive.” But there’s still room for improvement in her eyes, returning to the need for unity. “I would still love to see more of the men and women come together to work together for the things that matter to the whole community — recognition and equality.”

Even if there are things that we need to work on she believes the GLBT community is doing well.

“The community is in good shape,” Munoz thinks. “You see a lot more pride, a lot more businesses working together. People can tell when they’re in our neighborhood because things are neat and people are personable and there’s always a smile.”

Not only is the community as a whole doing well, according to Munoz, the Pride celebrations are also only getting better. “Pride is just getting better and bigger. And it’s getting more accessible. You know I care about that,” she said. “And, it’s definitely been branching out to include more interests and more groups with different interests.”

In this way, Munoz sees the Pride celebration as fulfilling something that she also sees in the youth she works with — an opportunity to overcome the differences that can divide the community and come together in unity to work together.

But, of course, Munoz doesn’t see Pride as just a time to build the community and work. It’s also a time for celebration. “It’s a great time just to get together and have fun and have a big party.”