MEDIA ADVISORY
May 2019
Philadelphia, PA — Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement (Familia:TQLM) is excited to welcome over 150 trans and queer Latinx immigrants for a powerful convening May 17-19, 2019 in Philadelphia. This gathering will bring together activists and organizers in the LGBTQ+ and immigrants’ rights movements.
Jorge Gutierrez, Executive Director of Familia: TQLM, said the following about this national convening:
“We started Familia five years ago because the needs of trans and queer immigrants weren’t being met. Since its inception, Familia has worked with detained trans and queer immigrants at the border to highlight the struggle that they face. Together, with our members, we’ve been able to stop the construction of more detention centers, and have helped free people who are detained by ICE.
“Our first national convening will be an amazing opportunity to celebrate our fifth year anniversary as an organization, be in community with trans and queer Latinxs, and strategize together as we know that there is still much to do to ensure that trans and queer people can live freely.”
WHO: LGBTQ+ Latinx immigrant activists from across the country
WHAT: 2-day national gathering, which will include workshops, panels, and presentation of awards to acknowledge the dedication of activists in the country
WHEN: Friday, May 17, 2019, through Sunday, May 19, 2019
WHERE: Friday – William Way LGBT Community Center (1315 Spruce St. – Philadelphia, PA – 19107)
Saturday – Taller Puertorriqueño ( 2600 N 5th St, Philadelphia, PA 19133)
Sunday – William Way LGBT Community Center (1315 Spruce St. – Philadelphia, PA – 19107)
Familia will present nationally recognized activists, and Familia:TQLM advisory board members, Isa Noyola and Louie Ortiz-Fonseca with awards for their dedication to the LGTBQ+ immigrant rights movements.
Isa Noyola will receive the Chingona Award for her extensive work for the release of transgender women from ICE detention and an end to all deportations. Isa is a translatina activist, a national leader in the LGBT immigrant rights movement, and the deputy director at the Mijente, a political, digital, and grassroots hub for Latinx and Chicanx organizing and movement building. She is a member of the advisory boards of BreakOUT, El/La para Translatinas, and the International Trans Fund.
Louie Ortiz-Fonseca will receive the Fierce Award for his work in bringing awareness to the importance of including HIV positive people into all spaces. Louie is an HIV Positive Queer AfroBoricua award-winning HIV activist and artist. He is the 2015 winner of the Hispanic Choice Awards for Creative Artist of the Year for his digital storytelling project The Gran Varones, a platform that amplifies queer history and the stories of gay, queer, trans and bisexual men. Louie is a Ford Public Voices Fellow.
For interviews, media passes, email or call Emilio Vicente at 919.200.8239 or emilio@familiatqlm.org.
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Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement works at local and national levels to achieve the collective liberation of trans, queer, and gender nonconforming Latinxs through building community, organizing, advocacy, and education.