El/La Para TransLatinas

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El/La Para TransLatinas is a non-profit organization that provides legal, fiscal, educational, health, and other services to transgender Latinas.[1][2] The organization was founded in San Francisco, California, in 2006.[2][1]

El/La Para TransLatinas logo

Foundation[]

El/La Para TransLatinas emerged in 2006 after the closure of Proyecto ContraSIDA por Vida and has since then continued their work in accordance with their mission statement of "[building] a world where translatinas feel they deserve to protect, love and develop themselves. By building this base, we support each other in protecting ourselves against violence, abuse and illness."[3] Initially, El/La Para TransLatinas started as an HIV prevention organization for the LGBT community. Marcia Ochoa, Alexandra Rodriguez de Ruiz, and Isa Noyola are credited as the founders of El/La Para TransLatinas.[4][1] As of May 2019, the interim executive director is Maritza Penagos.[5]

Financial struggles[]

In 2009, El/La Para TransLatinas was severely underfunded as they has lost much of their government funding because the city of San Francisco instead began allocating El/La's money towards Instituto Familiar de la Raza Inc.[6] They eventually found a way to receive the funding back, but ran into financial problems in 2013.[7] El/La was seeking an additional $80,000 from the city of San Francisco, "in order to hire a full-time case manager and expand the work it is doing around the domestic violence that trans Latinas experience."[7] However, later that year they won a grant of $200,000 from the San Francisco Human Rights Commission.[1]

Work and its significance[]

El/La Para TransLatinas joins Janetta Johnson on stage at the 2016 San Francisco Trans March.
Members of El/La Para TransLatinas speak on a stage in the Compton's Transgender Cultural District, at the 2019 San Francisco Trans March.

El/La Para TransLatinas continues their HIV and AIDS prevention efforts and have collaborated with organizations like Native American AIDS Project and Mobilization against AIDS.[6][1] El/La provides transgender Latinas with, "support and referrals for immigration, housing, name changes, and other services. Many of El/La's clients speak only Spanish and have sought asylum in the United States because of transphobic violence in their home countries – primarily Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean."[6] Many transgender Latinas are afraid to seek the authorities or any government resources because of their legal status and fear of facing more harassment.[8] El/La aims to create a safe space where transgender Latinas "feel comfortable talking about any violent experiences and also case management."[9]

They also provide anti-violence resources as their 2013 $200,000 grant was awarded to fund their anti-violence efforts.[8] The organization planned on using this grant in order to train "luchadoras" fight against transphobic crimes and intimate partner violence.[8]

In 2015, El/La fundraised money for the funeral of outreach coordination and transgender activist Joana Luna and created an altar in their office space for her.[10]

On Friday June 26, 2015, El/La Para TransLatinas worked with the San Francisco Trans March for their 12th annual Trans March.[11] Additionally the organization was featured in a news segment by the popular US-based Latino and Spanish TV channel, Univision on November 19, 2015.[12] This marked a significant step as they were acknowledged as a legitimate organization by the conservative Latino community. A significant feature found within the organization's website is the presence of both English and Spanish in each individual section. This feature was highlighted within the article "Trans Latinas: You're not your mother's little boy anymore"[13] from a Berkeley journalism article from UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, wherein the issue of a language barrier is brought up.

Nominations and awards[]

In 2017, El/La Para TransLatinas was nominated for the award Organization Grand Marshal which is recognized in San Francisco's Annual Pride Parade.[14] This award nominates people and organizations that have made significant contributions in the LGBT community.[15] The winner of the Organization Grand Marshal is selected by the public via online voting.[15]

In 2013, El/La Para TransLatinas was recognized and awarded a $200,000 grant by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission for their anti-violence work.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Hing, Julianne (November 5, 2014). "Facing Race Spotlight: Trans Latina Activist Isa Noyola". Colorlines. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "El/La Para TransLatinas (fiscally sponsored by Community Initiatives)". idealist. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  3. ^ "El/La Para TransLatinas - Mission". El/La Para TransLatinas. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  4. ^ Miguel, Yolanda Martínez-San, and Sarah Tobias. Trans Studies: The Challenge to Hetero/Homo Normativities. Rutgers University Press, 2016.    
  5. ^ Sawyer, Nuala (May 8, 2019). "Redstone Sale Is a Win for S.F.'s Only Trans Latina Organization". SF Weekly. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c Hemmelgarn, Seth (October 1, 2009). "Trans Latina Group Loses Funding". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Bajko, Matthew S (May 23, 2013). "Trans Latinas Seek City Funds". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c Hemmelgarn, Seth (December 12, 2013). "El/La to Get Anti-Violence Funding". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  9. ^ "Translatina Safety 2014". Prezi. November 22, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  10. ^ Gebel, Meira (August 20, 2015). "Funeral Service for SF Transgender Activist, Jovana Luna, Annouced [sic]". Mission Local. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  11. ^ "Marcha con/March with El/La & Radical Monarchs @ Trans March!". www.wherevent.com. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  12. ^ "Translatinas, buscando una vida mejor en San Francisco". www.univision.com. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  13. ^ Maria, Ramirez, Rosa (2012-12-31). "Trans Latinas: You're not your mother's little boy anymore". Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
  14. ^ Sawyer, Nuala (February 20, 2017). "SF Pride Announces Grand Marshal Candidates". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b "Parade – Grand Marshals & Honorees". San Francisco Pride. Retrieved March 2, 2017.

External links[]

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