This Pride Month, Together We Shine

I’ve always found a lot of inspiration from the LGBTQ+ Movement. You are a living proof that unity drives change. 

Truth is, being Latino and LGBTQ is sometimes a double struggle, because today some people still feel the double sting of being both Latino and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. For example, more than three quarters of the Latinx transgender community have been harassed and are four times more likely to be homeless. Also, more than half of all Latinos believe there is discrimination against lesbians and gays.

But while there is plenty of work to be done, there is also real progress to celebrate. Today, 22 percent of Latino millennials are more likely to identify as LGBTQ (more than twice what all millennials in the U.S. were polled last year). When it comes to gay marriage, Latinos support it by 74%. -- Being openly gay in the military is supported by 73% of the Latino community. And 75% of Latinos believe there should be policies to prevent harassment and bullying of gay students. That’s a significant difference, and it has to do with our community supporting each other. We are community driven and family oriented.

These are exceptionally large numbers that make me realize the great progress the LGBTQ community has made towards unification as a way to drive collective change. We need to follow this same formula in order to move from invisible to visible, that’s what we’re trying to do with the Hispanic Star: have a symbol to unite us all in the same way that the rainbow is instantly recognized as a symbol for the LGBTQ+ community. 

As this pride month comes to an end, let’s remind ourselves that pride is something we need to live all year long. I will always be an ally to help in making awareness of the things that matter to you. – Thank you for inspiring us, we have a lot to learn from your resilience and pride, and I hope for the day when the Hispanic Star symbol is as powerful for the Hispanic community as the rainbow is for the LGBTQ+ community today.