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HONOR Fund Seeks To Bridge Gap Between LGBT And Latino Communities In California

09/01/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
HONOR Fund is a new group dedicated to advancing the rights of Latino lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transpeople as well as promoting understanding and respect for the LGBT Community within the Latino Community inside California.

Luis Lopez, the President of HONOR Fund, stated “Now is the time to begin the work necessary to win Latino hearts and minds in the question of LGBT rights and marriage equality. It is important to have an organization of the Latino community to work collaboratively with other groups – both LGBT and Latino organizations – to build culturally and linguistically relevant programs. HONOR Fund is well poised to meet that challenge.”

HONOR Fund is affiliated with HONOR PAC, which is a Latino LGBT political action committee. HONOR PAC helped fund the ‘No on 8′ campaign. Specifically, they funded the East Los Angeles Office. The Fund’s launch happened because of the awarding of some $160,000 in grats from The Arcus Foundation, Horizons Foundation, Liberty Hill Foundation and private donors. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund is acting as fiscal sponsor for HONOR Fund.

The impetus for the formation of the HONOR Fund came out of Prop 8. A majority of 53% of the Latino voters supported Prop 8 in 2008. HONOR Fund is hoping to change those opinions.

Victor Viramontes, National Senior Counsel for MALDEF, said “LGBT rights are civil rights. Our two communities –Latinos and LGBT – understand the struggle to seek equality and constitutional protections and, therefore, we join HONOR Fund in their efforts to create one movement for both communities.”

Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Nury Martinez said “We need organizations like HONOR Fund to stand up for LGBT students and their families. LGBT youth struggle to find validation and acceptance at school and home, and that is why HONOR Fund’s work will be so important for the future success of our gay and straight community.”

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