(Photo courtesy Hispanic Federation)
ORLANDO | Latinx LGBTQ organizations are soon to be empowered more than ever with a $1 million investment from the Hispanic Federation.
The Advance Change Together is an initiative launched by HF for Latinx LGBTQ advocacy and capacity building meant to empower and support the organizations directly serving Latinx LGBTQ communities.
LGBTQ leaders across the country helped HF in announcing the organization’s $1 million investment in the initiative during a press conference in Orlando June 14.
ACT will provide about 20 Latinx LGBTQ nonprofits across the U.S. with grants of up to $50,000, which will help strengthen each of the organizations’ advocacy efforts, services and infrastructure while overall serving the Latinx LGBTQ communities better.
The Federation will host convenings and capacity-building trainings for ACT grantees for at least two years while it continues engaging other possible funders and partners to continue the initiative beyond two years.
Many celebrities joined HF in support of the new initiative, including Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated actress and singer Michaela Jaé Rodriguez; actress and director Stephanie Beatriz; Grammy-Award winning singer-songwriter and Emmy-nominated actor Ricky Martin; internationally renowned performer, singer, artist and television actor Valentina; and award-winning songwriter, actor, director and producer Lin-Manuel Miranda.
“Latinx LGBTQ+ organizations that are on the ground every day, supporting, advocating for and empowering our communities have never received the resources and support they desperately need and deserve to continue their important work. Hispanic Federation is looking to change that, not only by raising awareness but also through this project investment,” said Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation, in a press release. “The ACT initiative is the most recent step we’re taking to strengthen organizations who are at the forefront of empowering Latinx LGBTQ+ communities.
“As we remember the 49 lives that were taken during the Pulse Club massacre, and as a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation continues to sweep across the country, there has never been a more urgent moment to launch the ACT initiative,” he continued. “We hope that more community members, philanthropic partners, and businesses from across the country join our efforts by contributing and donating to this important work — not just during Pride Month, but for years to come.”
For a Latinx LGBTQ nonprofit organization to apply for a grant, it must meet some requirements. It must serve a majority Latinx constituency; be Latinx LGBTQ+ led; have a 501(c)(3) status (or have a fiscal sponsor with that status and plans to become a (c)(3)); and have been active for at least two years. Organizations can contact Fernando Aguilar at faguilar@hispanicfederation.org for more information.
“I know firsthand what it means to have the support of a loving community as I navigated and embraced my gender identity. I am honored to be part of an initiative that will provide that much-needed support system to so many other members of the Latinx LGBTQ+ who are facing their own challenges or are on their own journeys of self-discovery,” Michaela Jaé Rodriguez said. “It’s long overdue that we came together to empower each other, and I thank Hispanic Federation and Latinx LGBTQ+ leaders for launching the ACT Initiative to make this a reality.”
The ACT initiative works to bring together Latinx-serving LGBTQ nonprofits nationally to develop a unified policy agenda meant to combat the seemingly growing list of anti-LGBTQ legislation, as well as protect the rights of the LGBTQ community.
“I am excited to join Hispanic Federation, LGBTQ+ leaders and fellow artists from across the United States and Puerto Rico to support our LGBTQ+ Latinx community,” Martin said. “With the hate and division so many in power are looking to create in the US and PR, there’s never been a more important time for communities and organizations to come together to empower one another. With the ACT initiative, we’re uniting to remind Latinx LGBTQ+ organizations that they have the support they need to serve and empower their communities.”
Similarly, Lin-Manuel Miranda urges everyone to move to help keep the LGBTQ community safe.
“We’ve seen what happens when hate and division are allowed to run rampant in our country. People fall through the cracks, lives are lost and communities are left broken,” he said. “We saw that six years ago when 49 lives were lost at Pulse nightclub, and we see that now as anti-LGBTQ+ legislation increases across our country. With the Hispanic Federation’s ACT initiative, we are responding to this urgent moment by bringing together Latinx LGBTQ+ nonprofits to empower, advocate and create stronger support networks for the LGBTQ+ community.
“I encourage everyone to get involved to protect LGBTQ+ communities and combat hate,” Lin-Manuel Miranda added.
The initiative was announced in Orlando Tuesday when HF, LGBTQ leaders and award-winning artists held a press briefing, which was held just days after the six-year remembrance of the Pulse Nightclub shooting.
“Six years ago, Florida’s LGBTQ+ community was devastated when 49 lives were taken at Pulse nightclub in Orlando,” said Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-49), who made history as the first openly LGBTQ Latino elected to Florida’ legislature. “Instead of combating the type of hatred that fueled this horrific attack, Governor Ron DeSantis has sown division through anti-LGBTQ+ legislation like ‘Don’t Say Gay,’ inspiring similar bills across the country. That’s why today’s announcement is so important.
“Hispanic Federation’s ACT initiative is centered around LGBTQ+ Latinx people and seeks to empower and mobilize our community at the time we need it most,” Guillermo Smith continued. “Thank you to the Hispanic Federation for investing in LGBTQ+ Latinos and for sending a message that we are not alone in this struggle, but part of a coalition of minority communities that stand against bigotry together.”
The briefing also discussed recent anti-LGBTQ legislation, noting that over 300 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced this year despite 79% of Americans being in support of laws that protect the LGBTQ community.
“I work hard to bring my creative vision to life and enjoy sharing with audiences the rich and nuanced expressions of identity that are free of boundaries,” Valentina said. “However, this ability to express oneself is being attacked by legislators across the country who are looking to oppress entire communities who have nothing but love in their heart. Hispanic Federation’s ACT initiative will help us defeat these damaging narratives and set up future generations to embrace each person as they are.”
Many other members of the Latinx LGBTQ community and allies expressed their sentiments regarding HF’s investment in the ACT initiative as well:
“We all deserve to feel secure, loved, seen, and like we belong — it is the foundation to our human experience and the only way we can build stronger communities. I’m proud to stand alongside the Hispanic Federation in launching the ACT initiative that will strengthen protections and direct services for our LGBTQ+ Latinx community,” Beatriz said.
“I’m thrilled to join Hispanic Federation and amazing Latinx artists to announce the launch of the ACT initiative,” Gabriella Rodriguez, executive director of QLatinx (Orlando, Florida) said. “Latinx LGBTQ+ organizations only have a handful of resources they can turn to that are culturally competent and can fully address their intersectional needs. Today, that changes.
“Hispanic Federation is ensuring that more resources are being dedicated to the organizations that are on the ground working with the Latinx LGBTQ+ communities every day. This is how we can truly support our LGBTQ+ community and combat the growing list of Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.”
“(Latino Equality Alliance) was founded in 2009 as a direct response to the passage of Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative that took marriage rights away from same-sex couples. It’s been over a decade, and the LGBTQ+ community is still under attack,” Ari Gutiérrez Arámbula, co-founder and advisory board president emerita of LEA (Los Angeles, California) said. “But we will always fight back. We’re excited to join together with Hispanic Federation and other organizations throughout the country to announce the launch of the ACT Initiative and build power within the Latinx LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month and for years to come.”
“The ACT initiative will help us continue our mission to create stronger communities and a healthy environment for LGBTQ+ seniors in Puerto Rico, especially focusing on the topics of housing and food insecurity, and mental health challenges,” Wilfred Labiosa, CEO of Waves Ahead Corp. (San Juan, Puerto Rico) said. “We thank the Hispanic Federation for creating this initiative, and we hope others join us in embracing this opportunity to drive an agenda forward that champions the political, economic, and social well being that our LGBTQ+ communities deserve.”
“I am excited to join HF and other well-known members of the Latinx LGBTQ+ community in launching this new initiative that will bring relief to numerous LGBTQ+ organizations across the country. As the executive director of Organización Latina de Trans en Texas, I have witnessed first-hand how important and necessary these types of initiatives are to empower, embrace and support our communities,” Anandrea Molina, executive director of Organización Latina de Trans en Texas (Houston, Texas) said. “I can’t wait to work together with HF and all the organizations who are a part of this project to strengthen our work and continue advocating for members of the LGBTQ+ community — in particular for the needs of transgender women, migrants, and women who are survivors of sexual assault on the Border.”
“I co-founded ALMA back in 1989 in an effort to advocate for the needs of the Latino LGBTQ+ community,” Julio Rodriguez, board president of the Association of Latino/as Motivating Action (Chicago, Illinois) said. “(Thirty-three) years later, we’re the oldest LGBTQ+ organization in the Midwest and are happy to be celebrating the launch of Hispanic Federation’s ACT Initiative which will bring much-needed support and funds to LGBTQ+ organizations nationwide. We are currently witnessing an aggressive attack on the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, and it is our obligation to advocate and support all the organizations that are tirelessly fighting for our community.”
Founded in 1990, HF continues to embark on its mission to empower and advance the Hispanic community, extending its help to the LGBTQ members of the Hispanic community through the ACT initiative. For more information on all of the organization’s work, visit HispanicFederation.org.
