Twenty-two Hispanic groups announce historic support for LGBT families
Tue. July 10, 2012 8:20 AM
Las Vegas, NV -
Twenty-one of the nation's leading Hispanic organizations announced this weekend their endorsement of a public-education campaign aimed at strengthening support for LGBT families.
The campaign is called "Familia es Familia."
Public opinion polls show that Latinos really do lead the way when it comes to attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Several recent studies by the Pew Hispanic Center, Bendixen & Amandi International, 2012 Opportunity Agenda and SSRS found strong support among Hispanics for a number of LGBT issues.
Familia es Familia, according to a news release, is bilingual campaign providing resources and information that are culturally appropriate to empower voices within and from Latino families and communities.
The campaign will provide training, technical assistance and support to the 21 founding organizations and will spearhead a national effort to educate with a bilingual website and social media tools.
"The polling shows that many in the Latino community already understand that there is one struggle for equality, a struggle that benefits from appreciating common mission," said Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel, MALDEF. Familia es Familia is a campaign that will help to deepen the understanding that a discriminatory deprivation of rights on any basis is a cause of concern for all. Together, we can overcome all of the irrational biases that adversely affect any member?of the Latino community,"
Janet Murguia of National Council of La Raza said, "NCLR is deeply committed to the civil rights of all Americans, including our friends and family in the LGBT community. We are very proud that this ground-breaking public education campaign, 'Familia es Familia', is being launched at our Annual Conference this year in Las Vegas."
Brent Wilkes, Executive Director of League of United Latin American Citizens, the nation's oldest Latino civil rights organization said, "Since its inception, LULAC has fought for the equality of minorities. All individuals regardless of their race, ethnicity, country of origin or sexual orientation, deserve equal rights."
Freedom to Marry provided the seed funding and serves as fiscal sponsor for Familia es Familia. The Gill Foundation has also committed to providing additional resources.
The founding partners include: Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), Cuban American National Council, Dolores Huerta Foundation, Hispanic Federation, Hispanic National Bar Association, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), LatinoJustice PRLDEF, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), MANA - A National Latina Organization, Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF), National Association of Hispanic in Publications, National Council of La Raza (NCLR), National Hispanic Council on Aging, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, National Hispanic Media Coalition, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Puerto Rican Coalition, SER Jobs for Progress, Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, US Hispanic Leadership Institute.
For more information, please visit www.familiaesfamilia.org.
The campaign is called "Familia es Familia."
Public opinion polls show that Latinos really do lead the way when it comes to attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Several recent studies by the Pew Hispanic Center, Bendixen & Amandi International, 2012 Opportunity Agenda and SSRS found strong support among Hispanics for a number of LGBT issues.
Familia es Familia, according to a news release, is bilingual campaign providing resources and information that are culturally appropriate to empower voices within and from Latino families and communities.
The campaign will provide training, technical assistance and support to the 21 founding organizations and will spearhead a national effort to educate with a bilingual website and social media tools.
"The polling shows that many in the Latino community already understand that there is one struggle for equality, a struggle that benefits from appreciating common mission," said Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel, MALDEF. Familia es Familia is a campaign that will help to deepen the understanding that a discriminatory deprivation of rights on any basis is a cause of concern for all. Together, we can overcome all of the irrational biases that adversely affect any member?of the Latino community,"
Janet Murguia of National Council of La Raza said, "NCLR is deeply committed to the civil rights of all Americans, including our friends and family in the LGBT community. We are very proud that this ground-breaking public education campaign, 'Familia es Familia', is being launched at our Annual Conference this year in Las Vegas."
Brent Wilkes, Executive Director of League of United Latin American Citizens, the nation's oldest Latino civil rights organization said, "Since its inception, LULAC has fought for the equality of minorities. All individuals regardless of their race, ethnicity, country of origin or sexual orientation, deserve equal rights."
Freedom to Marry provided the seed funding and serves as fiscal sponsor for Familia es Familia. The Gill Foundation has also committed to providing additional resources.
The founding partners include: Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), Cuban American National Council, Dolores Huerta Foundation, Hispanic Federation, Hispanic National Bar Association, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), LatinoJustice PRLDEF, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), MANA - A National Latina Organization, Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF), National Association of Hispanic in Publications, National Council of La Raza (NCLR), National Hispanic Council on Aging, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, National Hispanic Media Coalition, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Puerto Rican Coalition, SER Jobs for Progress, Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, US Hispanic Leadership Institute.
For more information, please visit www.familiaesfamilia.org.