Posts tagged: queer Latin@
“In this country, lesbianism is a poverty-as is being brown, as is being a woman, as is being just plain poor. The danger lies in ranking the oppressions. The danger lies in failing to acknowledge the specificity of the oppression. The danger lies in attempting to deal with oppression purely from a theoretical base. Without an emotional, heartfelt grappling with the source of our own oppression, without naming the enemy within ourselves and outside of us, no authentic, non-hierarchical connection among oppressed groups can take place.”
—Cherríe Moraga, “La Güera” in This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color
Didn’t get a chance to see the Queer Latin@ Monologues (cuz I live in TX), but I wanted to share yet another example of Queer Latin@s doing it for ourselves and getting our stories out there in whatever format, vehicle, and medium we can!
This production was a collaboration between DeColores Queer Orange County and Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble. Props to them for doing their thing!
UNSUNG SHEROES/HEROÍNAS
Victoria Cruz is a transgender boriqua from the island but has lived in New York City since the age of 4. In 1997, Victoria Cruz was a victim and is a survivor of sexual assault and harassment by four female co-workers. After refusing to remain silent and hold her attackers responsible for their violent actions, she has dedicated her life to helping other TLGBQ folks, especially TLGBQ people of color survive and thrive despite their experiences with domestic violence, police brutality, and/or sexual violence. Victoria Cruz works for the New York Anti-Violence Project and was recognized as one of the 2012 recipients of the Justice Department’s National Crime Victim Service Award.
I/We honor her part and effort en la lucha for creating a more just and safe world. We give thanks for the love and light she brings into this world that often does not contain enough of either.
Since 2006, the rate of being diagnosed with AIDS 12 months or less after testing HIV+ is 3 TIMES GREATER FOR LATIN@S COMPARED TO WHITE PEOPLE.
Also since 2006, the death rate for individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS is 3 TIMES GREATER FOR LATIN@S COMPARED TO WHITE PEOPLE.
Most folks focus the overall disparities in HIV transmission between white folks and people of color, especially black people and Latin@s. To me, what is even more startling is the relatively short time between when many Latin@s test HIV+ and then receive an AIDS diagnosis. On top of that, the death rate for Latin@s living with HIV/AIDS is 300% higher than whites. This just emphasizes the fact that our communities lack access to both HIV prevention services and health care to manage the virus once transmitted (in general, our communities lack access to health care whether we are talking about HIV/AIDS or not). As of 2008 (since 1986 when data was first collected), over 111,000 Latin@s have died because of HIV/AIDS. We are dying for this and many other reasons. Our lives are of equal value to any other human being, this is an absolute, universal (meta)physical fact; question is: when will folks in power get clue and act in accordance with this fact.
**These facts were gained from the Latino Commission on AIDS
UNSUNG SHEROES/HEROÍNAS
Since it’s the beginning of the 19th Annual International AIDS Conference, being held for the first time in the U.S., let us remember all of the lesbianas, BiMujeres, and queer chicas who took, and still take, care of the many gay/bi/queer hombres and trans women when the epidemic hit and we were dying so quickly and often. Their labor, kindness, and love rarely gets recognized and honored. So, on this day I want to say gracias for everything you have done and continue to do! Let us never forget the memories of those who have passed and those who helped us when we needed it the most!!!
One of these mujeres is Carmen Vázquez, who is a lesbiana feminista activist who has worked tirelessly for decades to realize justice and freedom for all of our communities. She is currenttly is the coordinator of the LGBT Health & Human Services Unit for the New York State AIDS Institute.
If you re-blog this, please let us know about other mujeres we should know about who are working on HIV/AIDS in our communities.
Yesterday the 19th Annual International AIDS Conference started in Washington, D.C. (the first time it is being held in the U.S.). Let’s take a moment and acknowledge the work of some, and so many others, who work in our communities to educate all of us about the truth and reality of HIV/AIDS. Here I would like acknowledge 3 folks in particular:
Pedro Zamora - a cubano who appeared on the 3rd season of Real World (San Francisco); professionally and through the show, Pedro was an HIV/AIDS educator. He passed away from HIV/AIDS complications on November 11, 1994, the day after the final episode of his Real World season aired.
Pedro Julio Serrano - a human rights and HIV/AIDS activist who helped found Puerto Rico para Tod@s.
Andres Duque - a colombiano, who is an HIV/AIDS educator who helped found the Colombian Lesbian and Gay Association (COLEGA) in New York City in 1996. Has a popular blog called Blabbeando.
If you re-blog this, please let us know anyone else we should know about who is working on HIV/AIDS in our communities.
