Fox News Latino Interviews Latino Equality Alliance as National Attention In Wake of President Obama's Support for Marriage Equality Includes Focus on the Latino Community

NEW YORK – 　In a move that could change how Latinos vote in the 2012 Presidential election, Barack Obama became the first U.S. President to announce his support for same-sex marriage Wednesday, revising his longstanding position on the issue.　

For gay and lesbian Latinos, the announcement was long overdue. 　

"The President has been in the closet, and he finally came out," said Andrés Duque, an Obama supporter and Latino LGBT Rights advocate and blogger. "A lot of us feel his heart was always in the right place."

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) President Herndon Graddick said in a press release that, "The arc of history today bent a little closer to equality for every American."

"Today, President Obama added his voice to the growing chorus of Americans who believe that all loving and committed couples should share equally in the freedom to marry," said Evan Wolfson, Founder and President of Freedom to Marry.

 "I don’t think it will change the support of people who do or don’t support him, but I do think that this shows an incredible amount of leadership," said Ari Gutíerrez, chairperson of the Latino Equality Alliance, a Los Angeles grassroots organization. "Knowing that someone who is important, who is the leader of the free world can evolve, think, and change his mind… maybe this will give people an opportunity to say it’s ok to change my mind, it’s ok for me to understand this better, and that’s all we want to answer the questions that they haven’t asked."

More Information: The Latino Equality Alliance is currently adapting a statewide campaign "Breakthrough Conversations" for the Latino community.  The campaign will help community members learn more about LGBT issues and train them to become advocates who can speak about LGBT issues with people who may have questions about LGBT issues and/or be conflicted on the issues, including marriage equality. 

The next training opportunity is on May 29, 2012, 6 pm.
To volunteer for this training, please contact us at info@LatinoEqualityAlliance.com or call 323-286-7224

The "Queer Contingent" in the May Day March Calls for LGBT Inclusive Immigration Reform

Latino Equality Alliance Advisory Board member Suyapa Portillo Huffington Post blog on immigration and the queer contingent in the May Day march.

The Los Angeles May Day 'Queer Contingent' and the Politics of Inclusion

by Suyapa Portillo, Latino Equality Alliance Advisory Board Member  

Published May 5, 2012, in the Huffington Post

 "I love a queer immigrant!" The words, amidst colorful rainbow flags, were part of the 2012 May Day immigration march in downtown Los Angeles, and emphasize the intersection of immigrant and Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) organized groups, communities and their issues. The LGBTQ community, still entrenched in a civil rights struggle that began well before Proposition 8 won at the ballot box, is also demanding legalization for all immigrants.

Holiday Wishes for Family Acceptance

During the holidays we are reminded of all the love that surrounds us. We remember the places, the food, the laughs and most of all, the people that have warmed our hearts and have inspired us to live.

For us, the holidays and the New Year celebration put into perspective the hard work we've been doing all year. We're reminded of the changing seasons in the battle for equality. We are saddened to remember the lives lost this year to homophobia & transphobia. And yet we celebrate the growing acceptance LGBTQ people in the Latin@ community and the growing strength of our community that comes from enduring these challenges together.

Individually, some of us are home with family where we cannot be out, or where parts of your identity are not allowed at the dinner table. Perhaps you are celebrating the holidays with your own family of friends, or you are celebrating the first holiday season with your child. Whatever your family constellation looks like, the Latino Equality Alliance board wishes you and your loved ones a warm, memorable time together.

To help us continue this important work, we ask you to make a generous tax deductible contribution through our fiscal sponsor, Community Partners by check or online.

 We invite you to get to know Latino Equality Alliance better, and to share this video, Who is LEA? with your families.

We look forward to the New Year and will continue to count on your support and the strength of your voice to continue to work towards full equality for people everywhere. Please email us for information about how to get more involved with creating the change we want to see in our community.

Again, to help continue this important work to increase family acceptance, marriage equality and immigration for Latino LGBT members of our community, we ask you to make a generous tax deductible contribution through our fiscal sponsor, Community Partners by check or online.

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year

Members of the Latino Equality Alliance

Board and Leadership Council

P. S. You can be assured that your tax deductible year-end contribution will continue the hard work that needs to be done in our Latino community to make future holiday seasons joyful for Latina/o LGBT people and their families.

You may also contribute to the Latino Equality Alliance via its fiscal sponsor, Community Partners, using PayPal