Brenda Torres, the co-founder of the city’s first-ever Latino Pride festival and former co-owner of a local LGBT Latino bar, died Sept. 3 at age 45.
Torres was a resident of North Philadelphia and a former project manager at Philadelphia Gas Works.
In 2007, she and Iris Melendez opened Rainbow Eye in North Philadelphia, a Latino LGBT club. The following year, the pair launched Latino Pride Festival, which drew 2,000 people in its first year.
In an interview with PGN in 2009, Torres said the Pride festival was an effort to build community within LGBT Latino circles.
“It’s time for us to say, ‘Yes, we’re Latino,’ and ‘Yes, we’re in the LGBT community’ and come to our barrio, our backyard,” Torres said, adding that her “grandfather always said that the first time you do something great, you earn applause and the second time, you earn respect, so that’s what we’re hoping for.”
Melendez said Torres worked effectively with stakeholders from across the city in her efforts.
“The professionalism and articulation she applied with zest in every endeavor or task she took on earned her the admiration and respect of community lawmakers, business owners, friends, family and an entire community,” she said.
“Her big focus was getting the Latino LGBT community together, in any way and shape she could,” added Jose Figueroa, the former manager at Rainbow Eye. “She would work with City Council to close the block down in front of the bar and get everyone together for a nice barbeque, just out of the blue. She wanted everyone to feel welcomed.”
Figueroa said Torres was generous in both her professional work and personal relationships.
“She was an awesome person. She’d give you the shirt off her back,” he said. “She was always a fun-going, warm-hearted, family-oriented person, who always put other people ahead of herself. She would always make sure she treated everyone as if they were a part of her family.”
Vicky Visconto was a patron of Rainbow Eye who became friendly with Torres through visiting the establishment.
“She was very welcoming, always there with a smile, a hug. She was there to watch baseball games with, football games with, talk politics with,” Visconto said. “She was that person who could just sit silently next to you and you knew you had a support system. She was there for people, whatever they needed, in whatever way they needed.”
Outside of her community work, Melendez said, Torres loved to dance, sing karaoke and visit the beach.
“She will most be remembered for her laughter, compassion towards others and the abundance of generosity she bestowed on so many of us,” Melendez added.
Torres is survived by her daughter, Tatiana Castro.