Helena Acosta(she/her/hers) co-advisor of the SAGA (Sexual and Gender Acceptance) Club and chair of the communications department held a webinar on March 10 with guest speaker Jose Granados.

Jose Granados(he/him/his) is the director of business operations and audience development at The Bakersfield Californian. He is also a founding member of the Center for Sexually and Gender Diversity where he served in various roles and is currently a volunteer staff. Granados is also a board member of the Kern Literacy Council’s Board of Directors and a board member/ CFO for the Ruth Escobar foundation. 

He has served the community in many different ways such as delivering hot meals to seniors and advocating for more services for the local LGBTQ community, Granados stated. Granados has previously attended Bakersfield College and graduated in 1993 with an A.S. in computer science where he later attended California State University of Bakersfield and received a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in mathematics in 1996. 

Granados shared that he chose the educational path of communications because although English was not his primary language, he wanted to challenge himself and learn throughout the process. “I wanted to put myself out there and I love working with others as well,” he explained. He enjoyed the experience communications offered with getting to hear other people’s input. 

Granados explained that by starting out with a job that was predominantly  women, he felt more comfortable being himself around them.  “I did not fully come out as being gay and be comfortable with it until the age of 26,” Granados shared. Granados advised to be open with help from others because building that confidence doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time. 

Throughout the community it has led  him to meeting many different people and learn different aspects that have benefited him in his professions. 

“At the end being gay is a small part of who I am,” Granados said.