FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2022
CONTACT:
Kenia Guerrero
202-938-6511
kenia@communicationsshop.us
Hispanic Federation Celebrates Pride Month, Calls on Congress to Pass Legislative Protections for LGBTQ+ Community
“This Pride month, we acknowledge the contributions of LGBTQ+ people to our society and celebrate the progress this movement has made in the fight for our fundamental human rights – equality, inclusion, and justice. That fight has come a long way since the 1969 Stonewall uprising that has come to symbolize over half a century of fighting for equality in our country, which, just a few short years ago, resulted in the Supreme Court's legalization of same-sex marriage.
Today, more Americans than ever support LGBTQ rights - with support highest among Hispanic Americans out of all racial and ethnic groups. That support continues to rise. According to a PRRI 2022 poll, nearly 80% of Hispanic Americans support protections from discrimination for LGBTQ people, compared to 74% in 2015. Support has also risen in other major ethnic and racial groups, including Black Americans, with 77% support compared to 65% in 2015, and white Americans, with 79% support compared to 71% in 2015. Similarly, more Americans now support same-sex marriage than when the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling was issued in 2015 - 68% compared to 53%.
But our fights are far from over. Our country does not have a national law that guarantees equal protections for LGBTQ+ people, particularly when it comes to parenting, housing, healthcare, and more, leaving it up to the states to implement non-discriminatory protections, or conversely, to allow that discrimination to continue. Currently, 29 states do not have full or even partial protections for LGBTQ+ people. As a result, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer folks continue to face discrimination and attacks on their human rights.
Pride is about celebrating, but we can’t ignore that many legislatures are alarmingly working to undermine civil and human rights by passing discriminatory bills against members of LGBTQ+ communities. 2022 saw anti-LGBTQ bills spread like wildfire across the country. Over 300 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced this year, and at least 13 states already passed anti-LGBTQ laws. Many bills specifically target members of vulnerable trans communities, such as those that prohibit or even criminalize healthcare for gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth, restrict their use of private facilities like restrooms, and make it more difficult for them to obtain IDs representing their name and gender.
Even our constitutional rights are at stake. With Roe v. Wade now overturned, the ruling could lay the groundwork for the court to undermine the constitutional bases for equality. Justice Thomas already said that the Supreme Court should revisit previous rulings that gave protections to same-sex marriage and relationships, as well as access to contraception. As part of Hispanic Federation’s Pride Month activities, HF launched the Advance Change Act (ACT) initiative to empower and support Latinx LGBTQ+ nonprofits to protect and serve LGBTQ+ communities. The $1 million investment initiative offers grants to improve organizational infrastructure, services, and advocacy efforts to better serve Latinx LGBTQ+ communities. As the anti-LGBTQ legislation list continues to grow, jeopardizing our rights, there has never been a more critical moment to launch the ACT initiative.
As a member of both the LGBTQ+ and Latinx communities, I know firsthand the importance of recognizing the intersections between these identities. The Pulse tragedy was a stark reminder of our intersectional lived experiences and histories as queer folks, Latinos, immigrants, and people of color - and the necessity of recognizing and protecting our communities through the lens of our rich, intersectional identities.
We were proud to witness President Biden’s White House signing of an executive order in an attempt to counter the 300-plus legislative attacks on the LGBTQ+ community across the country, by moving to move to protect access to healthcare and protect LGBTQ+ students in schools. We will join the President in seeking more protections and continue our own efforts to call on Congress to pass the Equality Act to prevent discrimination against all members of LGBTQ+ communities.
At Hispanic Federation, we recognize the need for equality and the right to live free of hatred and discrimination. We will remain vigilant to future judicial and legislative efforts to undermine the human rights of our Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities, and we will work to carry on the legacy of the brave and outspoken LGBTQ+ leaders since Stonewall.”
Click here to watch an encore presentation of FUERZAFest, Hispanic Federation’s signature Latinx LGBTQ+ annual festival.
