Meet Ileana Ortiz, barista at The Leisure Club.

“My father came to America from Cuba in the early 70's. My mother's parents came to America when my grandmother was nine months pregnant with my mother and my mother was born the day after they arrived. They settled in Hialeah and over the years became very successful.

“I moved here to attend UWF for a year and a half then returned to the Miami area and worked on staff at one of the largest churches in the United States. I had always known since I was a kid that I was gay and always wanted to come out, but I could not do it there.

I played guitar in a Christian band in the church but they did not accept my homosexuality. That backlash made me question my faith and everything I held true. I felt like coming back to Pensacola would allow me to come out and have a fresh start.

“When I first came out, I lived in this bubble of people like me, but I was surprised to find out how welcoming Pensacola was for gay people. Now my circle of friends are both gay and straight.

“Being Cuban and gay isn't easy, but life here is good and hopefully I'll become one of Pensacola's favorite baristas.

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