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 Acción
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