Dan Maldonado and Ronnie Veliz are both from the San Fernando Valley, a community rarely depicted in media as it truly is. The area is 41.8% Latino and thus impacted by nationwide policy debates regarding immigration, access to healthcare, education and equity for LGBT people and families. Organizers are working on the first annual San Fernando Valley Latin@ Pride Conference to bring together people from the community to forge responses and find resources for the intersected realities residents face. Because of inaction on many legislative fronts, valley residents face deportation, detention, unequal access to education, healthcare and family protections. At the same time, organizers also want to spread pride and celebrate the strength and resilience of LGBT Latin@s and their families who continue to work for a better future.
“I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, and when I came out, I had a hard time finding resources to help me and my family,” said Dan Maldonado. “This is an important event to me as a gender queer Latin@ because we are creating a community that is supportive and loving for LGBTQ youth.”
“This event is meaningful because many LGBTQ youth are growing up in the Valley feeling isolated and without support. We are gathering to show young people that they are in fact loved and there is a safe space for them to be themselves and grow healthy,” said Ronnie Veliz, co-founder of Somos Familia Valle.
The event will take place on Sunday, October 12th. You can visit the following page to learn more.