Bamby Salcedo (born October 12, 1969) is a transgender activist and a recognized public speaker born in Guadalajara, Mexico and based in California, United States. Bamby has developed several activist work in efforts to advocate for topics such as latin immigration, LGBTQIA+ issues, HIV cases of inequality within the healthcare system, and more. She is the founder of the Los Angeles-based TransLatin@ Coalition, "an organization form[ed] by Trans Latin@ immigrant leaders who have come together in 2009 to organize and advocate for the needs of Trans Latin@s who are immigrants and reside in the US."^[2][3] She is also the producer of the Angels for Change Runway Show for trans youth.Salcedo was recognized as one of "14 Women of Color Who Rocked 2014" by ColorLines^[2] and as one of their OUT100 pioneers of the year by OUT magazine. In 2015, Salcedo also spoke at The White House as part of the White House United State of Women Summit.^[4]

Bamby Salcedo was born at the "El Hospital Civil de Guadalajara" Hospital in Guadalajara, Mexico on October 12, 1969. At an early age, Bamby experienced abuse and stigmatization as a child. She was brought up in poverty alongside her two siblings and her mother. Bamby Salcedo bears the first name of her late father, who had left home shortly before her birth. Bamby embarked on a troubled course with street gangs, drugs and crime. At the age of 12, she was arrested on November 20 and sent to a rehabilitation facility for minors. Once out, she befriended a group of young homosexual Mexicans with whom they joined the Menudo Fan Club, where they amused themselves playing dress-up.^[5]

Bamby reunited with her father and fled from Mexico with him to the United States as she was relentlessly persecuted due to her gender identity. While waiting for her asylum claim to be examined, she was placed in an Immigrant Detention Center where she faced constant harassment by other inmates due to her identity.^[6] Once a citizen, she relocated to Los Angeles, continuing her substance abuse. It was around this period, supported by a supportive LGBTQA+ community, that she began her journey of transition.^[5]

Bamby, later, was sent to a men's penitentiary in the State of California. During her stay, Bamby stated that her stay in the penitentiary made her reflect abou the direction in which she was going with her future.^[7] Bamby almost faced on several occasions both mortality and physical abuse inside confinement. As stated by Bamby, "I'm a miracle, yo soy un milagro, I'm not supposed to be here", her survival story is "a reminder [...] of what she could have been and what she is today".^[5]

She, later on, embarked on a journey of self-healing and rehabilitation. Beginning to build a new future for herself, she pursued a Master's degree in Latin American Studies at California State University, Los Angeles, launching her career in the field of social justice.^[8]

• James Earl Hardy Legends Award, The Black & Hispanic Gay Coalition^[15]
• The West Coast Liberty Awards, Lambda Legal^[15]
• Susan J. Hyde Award for 'Longevity in the Movement' from The National LGBTQ Task Force^[15]
• Good Neighbor Award, State Farm Insurance^[15]
• Connie Norman Leadership Award, LA PRIDE^[15]
• Shiela J. Kuehl Trailblazer Award, Stonewall Democratic Club^[15]
• The Women in Leadership Award, City of West Hollywood^[15]
• Virginia Uribe Leadership Award, The Models of Pride Youth Conference^[15]
• The Sol Award, National Latin@ AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD)^[15]