• Equality
  • Community
    • Health
    • Youth
    • Seniors
  • Voices
    • From CEO Lorri L. Jean
    • Take Five
    • Why I Give
  • About the Center
  • Galleries
  • Calendar
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Los Angeles LGBT Center Condemns the Supreme Court’s Overturning of Roe V. Wade
  • Los Angeles LGBT Center Hosts Pride Picnic, a Celebration of Joy and Community at Hollywood Forever on June 26
  • Los Angeles LGBT Center Presents Trans Pride L.A. 2022
  • Los Angeles LGBT Center Mourns the Passing of Legendary LGBT Activist and Leader Urvashi Vaid
  • Incoming CEO Joe Hollendoner Poised to Continue Moving Center Forward
  • Lorri L. Jean: “Great Things Must Come to an End”
  • Los Angeles LGBT Center Welcomes Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx as Artistic Director of the Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center
  • Perfect Partner: Center Chief of Staff Darrel Cummings Has Been Ideal Complement to CEO Lorri L. Jean
Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube
LGBT News Now
Learn about career opportunities at the Center
  • Equality
  • Community
    • Health
    • Youth
    • Seniors
  • Voices
    • From CEO Lorri L. Jean
    • Take Five
    • Why I Give
  • About the Center
  • Galleries
  • Calendar
LGBT News Now
You are at:Home»Community»Dia de Los Muertos at Mi Centro Honors LGBT Lives

Dia de Los Muertos at Mi Centro Honors LGBT Lives

0
By on November 24, 2018 Community

By Greg Hernandez

More than 250 people gathered at the Center’s Mi Centro location in Boyle Heights for the second annual Calavera event as part of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, for a remembrance of LGBT community members who have been lost because of homophobia and transphobia.

“By highlighting the presence of death in our community, we’re also highlighting the need to fight for the resources we need in order to survive,” said Hugo Lujan, a 28-year-old community organizer, during the event. “That’s why it’s essential to remember what happened and to put attention on what needs to happen in the future and to show that we as a community are moving forward.”

A large candlelit alter took up one corner of the outdoor section of the party. It included photos of the victims of last year’s shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando as well as names and photos of nearly two dozen recently murdered transgender women.

“There are people dying because of homophobia and transphobia,” said Ari Gutierrez Arambula, co-founder and president of the Latino Equality Alliance (LEA) advisory board. Mi Centro is a partnership between LEA and the Center. “There are people not living their best lives because of it. This is unacceptable and we want to be able to change it.”

The Calavera event is an opportunity for the LGBT community to connect with the Latino community in culture and in language.

“Our work is about reaching out and connecting with the families, reaching out to the youth and letting them know that this is a safe space – not just for LGBT people, but for the whole community,” said Arambula.

LEA Executive Director Eddie Martinez told the crowd, “It’s your love that gives us strength. It’s your love that’s going to help change our Latino community to be more accepting and loving of the LGBTQ community.”

Calavera, named for the skull imagery associated with Dia de Los Muertos, is an important fundraiser for youth and family programming at Mi Centro.

Youth member Charlie Ruiz Vazquez took the stage with their mother, Mary Ruiz, who spoke about how the family has become community activists through Mi Centro.

“I came here to seek refuge from not being out to my family, not being out to my community and to connect with other young people about my experience,” said Vazquez. “I didn’t think I would find a family here and that’s what I found. But I wouldn’t be up here without the support of my mom.”

Mary Ruiz, also joined with her husband and mother, told the crowd: “La familia is out!”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Los Angeles LGBT Center Condemns the Supreme Court’s Overturning of Roe V. Wade

Los Angeles LGBT Center Hosts Pride Picnic, a Celebration of Joy and Community at Hollywood Forever on June 26

Los Angeles LGBT Center Presents Trans Pride L.A. 2022

Comments are closed.

Upcoming Events

Jun 26
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Pride Picnic

Jun 29
11:30 am - 3:30 pm

Pride Open House

Jul 9
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

El Sabor de Mi Centro

View Calendar
Learn about career opportunities at the Center
About Us

LGBT News Now

LGBT News Now is a publication of the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, the Center is the largest LGBT organization in the world, dedicated to building a world where LGBT thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society. Learn more at lalgbtcenter.org.

Follow Us on Instagram

lalgbtcenter

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is building a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.

Los Angeles LGBT Center
The Center’s Nick Panepinto shares how Liberatio The Center’s Nick Panepinto shares how Liberation Coffee House creates a safe space where everyone can feel comfortable coming in for whatever they need. 
Read more at https://bit.ly/3Nj4SMb Link in bio!
#LGBT #LGBTQ
The Los Angeles LGBT Center strongly condemns the The Los Angeles LGBT Center strongly condemns the decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade. There is no right to privacy or bodily autonomy for
the queer community when reproductive rights can be ruled away.
ABORTION MUST BE PROTECTED.
#AbortionIsAnLGBTQIssue #AbortionIsQueerLiberation #AbortionIsBasicHealthcare
See the full press release: https://bit.ly/3A6CaeD See the full press release: https://bit.ly/3A6CaeD (link in bio)
#AbortionIsAnLGBTQIssue #AbortionIsQueerLiberation 
#AbortionIsBasicHealthcare
Chef @susanfeniger is partnering up with @masterca Chef @susanfeniger is partnering up with @mastercard this #Pride month to raise money for the Center! 

Join us for this exclusive family-style multicourse feast for the last day of Pride Month on June 30. You'll start with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at Liberation Coffee House before touring the Culinary Arts training kitchen to see students and teachers at work. Dinner will be served on the Center's rooftop with views of the Hollywood sign and live music, while Susan tells stories and talks through each course. 

Close out Pride month in style, link in bio.

#priceless #chefsusanfeniger
There is still time to have a #priceless Pride exp There is still time to have a #priceless Pride experience! We've partnered with @mastercard to make a truly unforgettable pride dinner party! Enjoy an amazing family-style meal curated and prepared by chef @susanfeniger! Sip cocktails at our very own Liberation Coffee House and join a tour of our culinary kitchen. Celebrate Pride with Susan and Center Leadership while enjoying a stunning view from the Center's rooftop. Exclusively for Mastercard® cardholders. Terms Apply. Quantities limited. For more info visit link in bio!
The Los Angeles LGBT Center is the nation’s larg The Los Angeles LGBT Center is the nation’s largest community-based provider of LGBT-related legal services, supported by a team of staff and volunteer attorneys, law students, paralegals, and interns.

We serve the legal needs of all LGBT people with a special focus on survivors of violence, undocumented immigrants, and transgender people. We also provide workshops, trainings, and technical assistance for institutions and service providers.

Our Legal Services Department and the Immigration Law Project provides support to LGBTQ+ asylum seekers.
All of our services are provided in English or Spanish.
Contact ILP@lalgbtcenter.org or call 323-993-7670 for more information.

#WorldRefugeeDay2022 #ImmigrationLawProject #lgbtq
Join us at the @bespun "Showcase Your Pride" Queer Join us at the @bespun "Showcase Your Pride" Queer Pole Jam on Saturday, June 25 from 6-8pm. Enjoy special performances, try some pole moves, participate in the raffle, and come have fun! All proceeds benefit the Center. Register to attend: bit.ly/3tSC1HH

#BeSpun #PoleDance #PoleDancing #LGBT #LGBTQ #Pride #PrideMonth
There is only one way to do pride right! That's ou There is only one way to do pride right! That's outside with your community at Hollywood Forever! Pride Picnic is only 2 weeks away! Spots at our tastefully outfitted @joybird VIP outdoor lounge are going fast! Make sure to nab your Pride Picnic tickets today! For more info head to lalgbtcenter.org/picnic (link in bio)
Unfortunately, our TGI/ENBY+ job fair that was sch Unfortunately, our TGI/ENBY+ job fair that was scheduled for this Thursday has been cancelled.

The next TEEP TGI/ENBY+ Job Fair will be on Wednesday, September 14, from 9:30-2PM, in partnership with the Transgender Advisory Council and the City of Los Angeles. Registration and location info will be available soon!  @transpride.la
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Stay Connected
Subscribe

Copyright © 2022 Los Angeles LGBT Center

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us
Copyright © 2022 Los Angeles LGBT Center
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.