After an application process spanning several weeks, seven local LGBT Latinx community members were selected to attend a national conference being held in Philadelphia next month.
The Philly Latinx LGBTQ Embajadores will participate in the National LGBTQ Task Force’s annual Creating Change conference.
“A lot of [the applicants] talked about wanting to have that community space with other fellow queer Latinos,” said GALAEI Youth Program Coordinator Fran Cortes, a member of the host committee that selected the winners. “Some of them were specific and said there were no other spaces where they can connect with other queer Latinos.”
Elicia Gonzales, another member of the host committee, said the winners vary in age, gender and ethnicity. The winners include David Acosta, Emmanuel Correano, Wit Lopez, Felix Perez, Alexis Rodriguez, Nolita Tejada and Alexander Velez.
“As a member of the Latinx community, it’s exciting to get the opportunity where my voice is finally being heard,” said Correano, 19. “It’s awesome.”
The Embajadores, which translates to “ambassadors,” will be trained in professional-development workshops prior to Creating Change and will continue to hone the skills learned at the conference while meeting on a monthly basis afterwards.
Correano, who identifies as non-binary, said they were looking forward to networking with others at Creating Change.
“I want my people to share their stories — talk about issues openly and unapologetically about the stuff we go through, especially in the queer community,” Correano said. “I want to build relationships with tons of people from all over the country.”
Acosta, 58, is the founder and former executive director of GALAEI. Since he brings his former work experience into the program, he plans to provide insight about activism. However, he also is looking forward to listening to younger activists.
“I’m hoping to be able to listen to what younger Latinx activists think is important, get ideas about how they plan to tackle those issues and to perhaps offer some insight into coalition-building,” Acosta said.
The program began as part of the conference’s all-day institute promoting activism in the LGBT Latinx community, Unión-Fuerza. Members of this institute asked previous Creating Change attendees in the Latinx community to create a host committee supporting the conference on a local level.
“It’s important to have local voices to make sure that we showcase the beauty of the city,” Cortes said.
Additionally, the host committee set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for conference registration, meals and transportation. As of presstime, the page raised $1,016 of its $2,000 goal.
“I think building community is one of the most beautiful things we can do and if you can support that by donating $5 or $10, I think you’re doing a great job,” Cortes said.
The Embajadores will meet for the first time Dec. 19 for a social-media training by the National LGBTQ Task Force. Additionally, the group will meet next month before finally putting their skills into practice at Creating Change Jan. 18-22 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown.