Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Chicago's Latino Community stands with the LGBTQ Latino Community
From a press release
2016-06-15

This article shared 1841 times since Wed Jun 15, 2016
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email


This weekend, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer ( LGBTQ ) community was attacked in Orlando, Florida in what is considered to be the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. The shooting occurred at Pulse, a nightclub for the LGBTQ community, during its weekly "Latin" night. Forty-nine individuals died, and an additional 53 were injured. The majority of those victims are LGBTQ Latinos — they were our children, our brothers and sisters, our family. We send our condolences to the families and loved ones of those whose life was cut short during this senseless act.

Even though this weekend's violent shooting was perhaps the most devastating, it was not an isolated event—violence towards the LGBTQ community is rampant. LGBTQ people are twice as likely to be victims of hate crimes, compared to other marginalized communities. For LGBTQ Latinos who experience racism, homophobia, and transphobia, the violence is far too common. A national report conducted by the Human Rights Campaign and League of United Latin American Citizens ( LULAC ) found that LGBTQ Latino youth are three times more likely to face harassment and violence than are their non-LGBTQ Latino peers—in their communities, in our communities. The violence directed at members of our community is something we can no longer ignore.

In light of the shooting in Orlando, we must come together, not only to help the LGBTQ Latino community heal, but also to act. Now more than ever, we must commit ourselves to eradicating homophobia and transphobia in our Latino communities. While there has been much progress for the LGBTQ community, such as marriage equality, we must continue to work to ensure that all LGBTQ people are able to live without fear of losing their lives due to intolerance and hate. We need to challenge the anti-LGBTQ sentiments from within our own families and communities. We must remember that LGBTQ Latinos are part of our entire community, and that their love is just as important.

It is also imperative that our laws reflect our values to ensure we build safe communities for everyone. We must hold our elected officials and leaders accountable, rejecting hateful rhetoric that seeks to divide and cause harm. We must pressure them to work on policy that will ensure complete equality and fair treatment for the LGBTQ community as well as legislation that will put an end to this senseless gun violence. We must also be willing to stand in solidarity with other marginalized communities, we cannot allow this tragedy to perpetuate Islamophobia. Now more than ever we need to work and move forward in unison.

The Latino communities in Chicago, and our allies, stand with the Latino and LGBTQ communities in Orlando. We send our sympathy to the LGBTQ Latino community across the country that continues to mourn and begins to heal. We will stand with the LGBTQ community to end homophobia and transphobia once and for all.

Eduardo Aguayo

United Latin@ Pride

Oswaldo Alvarez

Program Developer, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

Erick Amaya

Chair, Queer Prom, HIV Counselor, CALOR

Honorable Jaime Andrade

State Representative, 40th District, Illinois House of Representatives

Sandra Aponte

Program Officer, The Chicago Community Trust

Omar Aquino

Nominee for State Senate, 2nd District, Illinois State Senate

Dr. Jorge Argueta

Director, Avance, Inc., Treasurer, Northwest Suburban Alliance Against Domestic Violence, Cook County State Attorney's Office LGBTQ Advisory Council

Evette Cardona

Vice President of Programs, Polk Bros. Foundation

Tonantzin L. Carmona

Director, Office of New Americans, Mayor's Office, City of Chicago

Kara Carrell

United Latin@ Pride

Jessica Carrillo

Executive Director, Youth Service Project, United Latin@ Pride

Rodrigo Carrillo

Board Secretary, ALMA

Robert Castillo

Community Leader

Martin R. Castro

Chairman, Castro Synergies, U.S Commission on Civil Rights

Kristin Chernawsky

Executive Director. Erie Neighborhood House

Oscar Chacon

Executive Director, Alianza Americas

Honorable William Delgado

State Senator, 2nd District, Illinois State Senate

Evelyn Diaz

President, Heartland Alliance

Antonio Elizondo

Youth Activist, Co-Founder, Vives Q

Ricardo Estrada

President and CEO, Metropolitan Family Services

Alfredo Flores

Mpowerment Facilitator, CALOR

Sol Flores

Executive Director, La Casa Norte

Emmanuel Garcia

Founder, Vives Q, National Steering Committee Member Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement

Rick Garcia

LGBTQ Community Leader

David Gauna

Youth Activist

Erik Elias Glenn

Executive Director, Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus

Liliana Gomez

Family Support Worker, Howard Area Community Center

Alicia Gonzalez

Executive Director, Chicago Run

Allen Govea

Teacher, Chicago Public Schools

Adolfo Hernandez

Deputy Director, Public Engagement, Mayor's Office, City of Chicago

Carlos Hernandez Falcon

Executive Director, Puerto Rican Arts Alliance

Juanita Irizarry

Community Leader

Alma Izquierdo

LGBTQ Community Leader

Marco Jacome

Chief Executive Officer, Healthcare Alternative Systems, Inc. (H.A.S.)

Daniel Loftus

CEO, PODER

Daniel Lopez

Psychotherapist/Clinical Supervisor

Honorable Raymond Lopez

Alderman, 15th Ward, Chicago City Council

Agustin R. Maldonado

Board Member, Youth Service Project

Honorable Roberto Maldonado

Alderman, 26th Ward, Chicago City Council

Kenny Martin-Ocasio

Vice President, Association of Latino/as Motivating Action

Constantina Mizis

CEO, The Latino Alzheimer's & Memory Disorders Alliance

Juan Morado Jr.

Communications Secretary, Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois

Honorable Joe Moreno

Alderman, 1st Ward, Chicago City Council

Patricia Mota

President, Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement

David Ernesto Munar

President & CEO, Howard Brown Health

Jose M. Muñoz

Vice President, The Resurrection Project

Mona Noriega

Chair, Commissioner, Chicago Commission on Human Relations

Katya Nuques

Executive Director, Enlace Chicago

Karari Olvera

United Latin@ Pride

Cristina Pacione-Zayas

Co-Chair, The Puerto Rican Agenda

Andre Perez

Director, America in Transition

David Tlateollin Pesqueira

Program Officer, McCormick Foundation

Maria Pesqueira

President & CEO, Mujeres Latinas en Accion

Sylvia Puente

Executive Director, Latino Policy Forum

Dulce M. Quintero

Orgullo en AcciÃ"n

Edgar Ramirez

President & CEO, Chicago Commons

Honorable Carlos Ramirez-Rosa

Alderman, 35th Ward, Chicago City Council

Orlando Reyes

Board Member

Association of Latino/as Motivating Action

Teresa Reyes

Associate, Birrierias Ocotlan

Jose Rico

Senior Vice President, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago

Amalia Rioja

Community Member

Alma Rodriguez

Program Officer, The Chicago Community Trust

Julio Rodriguez

President, Association of Latino/as Motivating Action

Luis Roman

Advocacy Chair, Association of Latino/as Motivating Action

Roberto M. Romero-Perez

Attorney

Jackie Rosa

Senior Program Officer, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago

Anel Ruiz

Community Leader

Mony Ruiz-Velasco, Esq.

Executive Director, PASO — West Suburban Action Project

Carlos Samaniego

Community Leader

Roberto Sanabria

Member, Board of Directors, Puerto Rican Cultural Center of Chicago

Sofia G. Sarabia

QYES, Amigas Unidas En La Fe, Familia Latinas Unidas

Pedro Serrano

United Latin@ Pride

Alfonos Treviño Jr

President, Illinois Alumni Association, Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Carlos Tortolero

President & Founder National Museum of Mexican Art

Alicia Tellez Vega

Youth Ministry, Queer Youth Exploring Spirituality of Lincoln United Methodist Church

Maritxa Vidal

Chapter President TransLatin@ Coalition — Chicago

Honorable Gilberto Villegas

Alderman, 36th Ward, Chicago City Council,

Joseph Wirtz

Community Member


This article shared 1841 times since Wed Jun 15, 2016
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Nex Benedict's autopsy report released 2024-03-27
- The full autopsy report for Nex Benedict (he/they)—a 16-year-old transgender and Indigenous student from Oklahoma's Owasso High School who died in February a day after a school fight—has been released. The Oklahoma Office of the Chie ...


Gay News

Family of 2004 murder victim holds event in Lake View; reward announced 2024-03-24
- The year 2004, for the family and friends of Lake View resident Kevin Clewer, will forever be marked by tragedy. On March 24 of that year, Clewer, 31, was found in his apartment at 3444 N. Elaine Pl.; he was the ...


Gay News

WORLD Leaked messages, Panama action, author dies at 32, Japan court, out athletes 2024-03-15
- Hundreds of messages from an internal chat board for an international group of transgender health professionals were leaked in a report and framed as revealing serious health risks associated with gender-affirming care, including cancer, according to ...


Gay News

LGBTQ+ people attacked by mobs in Greece 2024-03-14
- Just weeks after a landmark law granted same-sex couples in Greece the right to marry, nearly 200 people dressed in black chased a transgender couple through the town square in Thessaloniki, the country's "second city" and ...


Gay News

WORLD Canadian politics, Australian murders, Finnish study, 'Anatomy' 2024-03-01
- Canadian conservatives are divided over an anti-trans policy that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith handed down in her province, The Guardian reported. The policy includes a ban on hormonal treatment, puberty ...


Gay News

NATIONAL School items, HIV/AIDS activist dies, Nex Benedict, inclusive parade 2024-03-01
- In a new survey, the Pew Research Center asked public K-12 teachers, teens and the U.S. public about the ongoing scrutiny placed on classroom curricula, mainly regarding race and LGBTQ+ identities, ABC News noted. Among other ...


Gay News

911 calls, videos show cascade of failures in Nex Benedict's death, GLAAD responds 2024-02-24
- "It is haunting to hear Nex Benedict, in their own words, describe how school and state leaders failed, at every level of leadership, to keep them safe from bullying and harm. Less than 24 hours later, ...


Gay News

Federal jury finds man guilty of killing trans woman in landmark case 2024-02-24
- In a groundbreaking case, a federal jury in Columbia, South Carolina found Daqua Lameek Ritter guilty of killing transgender woman Dime Doe after deliberating for almost four hours, The State reported. It is the first time ...


Gay News

HIV criminal laws disproportionately impact Black men in Mississippi 2024-02-21
--From a press release - A new report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law finds that at least 43 people in Mississippi were arrested for HIV-related crimes between 2004 and 2021. Half of all arrests in the state ...


Gay News

Owasso High School student of Bridge v. Oklahoma State Board of Education case dies, groups respond 2024-02-20
--From press releases - Oklahoma City, Okla. — In response to the death of 16-year-old Owasso High School student Nex Benedict following an assault in the school restroom, Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU of Oklahoma ...


Gay News

Yemeni court sentences 13 men to death for being LGBTQ+ 2024-02-09
- In the Arabian Peninsula country of Yemen, a court has reportedly sentenced 13 people to death who had been charged with homosexuality, The Washington Blade noted. Agence France-Presse reported that the court in Ibb Governorate, which ...


Gay News

Smollett asks state supreme court to overturn conviction 2024-02-07
- Embattled actor Jussie Smollett has asked the Illinois Supreme Court to review and overturn an appellate ruling upholding his conviction for a hate-crime hoax that took place more than five years ago, The Chicago Sun-Times noted. ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Marriage news, fighting fentanyl, anti-LGBTQ+ crimes, Grindr 2024-02-02
- The Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill that would affirm marriage equality in the state, The Washington Blade noted. House Bill 174, introduced by state Del. Rozia Henson (D-Prince William County), passed in the Democratic-controlled ...


Gay News

Seattle LGBTQ+ bars push back against raids 2024-01-30
- In Seattle, a group of Capitol Hill gay bars and clubs are teaming with neighborhood queer community leaders Dan Savage and Terry Miller in calling for the state's liquor control board and Seattle police officials to ...


Gay News

Ohio man sentenced for firebombing pro-LGBTQ+ church 2024-01-30
- On Jan. 29, 2024, Ohio resident Aimenn D. Penny was sentenced to 216 months (18 years) in prison followed by three years of supervised release for attempting to burn down a pro-LGBTQ+ church, according to a ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.