LATINO EQUALITY ALLIANCE MARKS 15 YEARS FIGHTING FOR LATINX LGBTQ+ RIGHTS AND EQUALITY
The Latino Equality Alliance (LEA) celebrated its 15th anniversary in grand style this past weekend as the Quinceañera-themed Purple Lily Awards raised close to $100,000 to help create safe spaces for Latinx queer and trans youth and their families.
“The Latino Equality Alliance’s history and survival underscores the importance of providing critical resources and positive support for LGBTQ+ youth struggling to find a safe space. We are proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with the Latinx community for 15 years and are excited about the promising future ahead of us,” said Founder and Executive Director Eddie Martinez.
This year’s honorees include:
- Ari Gutiérrez Arámbula, co-founder of the Latino Equality Alliance.
- Liberty Hill Foundation
- Salina Estitties, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 Contestant
Mariachi and a special performance from Mexican singer Doris Anahi brought the close to 250 people in attendance to their feet.
The sponsors included Keck Medicine of USC, Kaiser Permanente, Molina Healthcare, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Weingart Foundation, Liberty Hill Foundation, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Somos Group, Bank of America, SomosLOUD, Walmart, California Community Foundation, L.A. Care, SoCalGas, Port of Long Beach, First Citizens Bank, Kikori Whiskey, Tequila 4 Juanes, Wesley Health Centers, Del Records.
Key Historical Highlights of LEA:
LEA was founded to refocus LGBTQ services and rights out of West Hollywood to highlight and serve people who live in all regions of the LA basin and in communities of color.
LEA was the first in-culture, in-language parent and family education support program.
LEA has two locations in what was considered as LGBTQ support “deserts” (Boyle Heights and Bell Gardens).
LEA was the first community and school LGBTQ youth civic policy advocacy and empowerment program to lower dropout rates, bullying and increase graduation rates.
LEA has collaborated with unions and community advocacy organizations to be inclusive of the Latinx LGBTQ community.
LEA established the first LGBTQ Latinx scholarship program as part of its next-gen leadership development program.
“As extremist lawmakers in state houses across the country continue advancing a record-breaking number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills in state legislatures (more than 500 in 2023), our work to educate Latinos in culture and language is absolutely critical if we are going to create safe spaces for our youth,” said LEA Community Advisory Board Chair Stephen Chavez, who is the CEO at ChavezPR.
For more information about LEA, visit www.somoslea.org or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/somoslea/.
About the Latino Equality Alliance:
The Latino Equality Alliance (LEA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the equity, safety, and wellness of the Latinx Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer + community. Founded in 2009 in response to discriminatory legislation, LEA has tirelessly worked to promote inclusivity, social justice, and LGBTQ rights within the Latinx community and beyond. Through scholarships, campaigns, and community outreach, LEA continues to make a lasting impact on the lives of Latinx LGBTQ+ individuals and their families.