Latinos at the White House LGBT reception honoring Stonewall 40

Above: President Barack Obama with Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez (photo courtesy of Jesse Garcia).

Late to the game again but I wanted to share the list of Latino folk who attended the invite-only reception at the White House on Monday in commemoration of the 40th year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. I asked the National Lesbian and Gay Task Force's Lisa Emina Weiner-Mahfuz and her partner Lisbeth Melendez Rivera of UNID@S to allow me to share some of their personal photos from the events (there they are with actor Jennifer Beals between them). And I added a couple of pics taken by Jesse Garcia as well.

Each invited guest was allowed to bring a guest so this listing is by no means complete (actor Wilson Cruz, left, brought his brother as well, and I also see a photo of Chicago's Amigas Latinas founder Evette Cardona even though she is not listed in the official list). I also don't know if everyone who was listed officially actually attended but here you go:

* Jarrett Barrios, President, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)


* Evette Cardona, fonding member, Amigas Latinas, Chicago, IL (below)
* Wilson Cruz, actor, West Hollywood, CA


* Ingrid Duran, Co-Founder of D&P Creative Strategies, Falls Church, VA


* Daniel Galindo, Washington, DC


* Luis Adolfo Garay, of PFLAG for Families of Color and Allies NYC, New York, N

Y [Luis was there with his mother, Carmen Robello, who is also a member of PFLAG FOC NYC]
* Jesse Garcia, President, League of United Latin American Citizens 4871 (LULAC 4871), Dallas, TX
* John Gonzalez, Washington, DC


* Lisbeth Melendez-Rivera, Board Member, Unid@s

, Washington, DC
* Kathy Padilla, Philadelphia, PA
* Diego Sanchez, Legislative Assistant to Congressman Barney Frank, Washington, DC
* Sheriff Lupe Valdez, Dallas, TX

The meeting itself was called historic in some fronts while others called it too little too late and window-dressing for what some consider a lack of meaningful movement on LGBT issues from the Obama administration. Earlier this week, Andy Towle posted an array of reactions over on Towleroad. Monica Roberts also posted this critique at TransGriot from her perspective as a trangender woman of color.

One last pic: That's Jesse Garcia next to Diego Sanchez, on the left (courtesy of Jesse himself).

I am so proud of all of them for representing the Latino LGBT community at what must have been an unforgettable event and thank Jesse, Lisbeth and Lisa for letting me share some of their photos. Thanks much!

In the meantime, if you missed President Barack Obama's address to those who attended the event, below is the video posted on the White House's YouTube page.

Historic: Latino becomes 1st openly transgender person to serve as a legislative staff member

New England's Bay Windows reports that one of the key Latino LGBT community leaders in the United States has been appointed as the legislative assistant to openly gay Democratic Congressman Barney Frank ("Mr. Sanchez goes to Washington", Dec . 17, 2008).

Diego Sanchez (right), the director of public relations and external affairs for the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, will be leaving his long-time post as a community health advocate in Boston and begin his new job in early January. He becomes the first openly transgender person to have ever been appointed as a legislative staff member and will serve as the Congressman’s point person on LGBT rights.

Congressman Frank has come under fire from transgender activists in the past, particularly those who felt that he was too quick to drop language that would have extended protections for transgender individuals in the long-gestering, never passed federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), and Sanchez will undoubtedly be getting some flack from those who might feel he has sold out.

The appointment seems to explain comments from Congressman Frank made at the Victory Fund luncheon that I attended on December 6th in DC as part of an LGBT bloggers gathering. It was as close as I have heard him say that the next push for ENDA might include a push for transgender protections.

I wish Diego the best in his new post and extend warm congratulations for being appointed to the Congressman's staff.

Previously:

• DNC names Latina lesbian and Latino transman as at-large Democratic Convention delegates (Jan. 15, 2008)