LULAC's History of Support for LGBT Issues
Background
As the largest and oldest Hispanic membership organization in the United States, the League of United Latin American Citizens has a long-standing history of support of advancing equal justice under law for all Latinos—including our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender sisters and brothers. Through direct action and national resolutions, LULAC and its membership have stood firm on the right for LGBT Americans to be protected from hate crimes, the right to work free from discrimination, the right to serve openly and honestly in the U.S. Armed Services, the right to allow bi-national couples to stay together by updating antiquated immigration laws, and officially oppose federal marriage laws that discriminate against couples who have entered legal unions in their state. LULAC’s work follows in the footsteps of great civil rights leaders like César Chávez. Chávez was the first major civil rights leader to support gay and lesbian issues and was a keynote speaker in the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
In 2006 the LULAC Rainbow Council #4871 Founded in Dallas, Texas to create dialogue between the Hispanic and LGBT community which have a common goal: full equality.
In July 2007, LULAC 4871 held “Diversity Session” to talk about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender acceptance at the LULAC National Convention in Chicago, IL.
In 2008, the LULAC national membership passed a resolution to support the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) and in 2009 a resolution to support a fully-inclusive Employee Non Discrimination Act that covers Transgender citizens. Our LULAC national office denounced a federal marriage amendment and has come out for marriage equality.
In 2010, LULAC joined as a partner of the National Veterans Lobby Day on DADT, a project of Servicemembers United and the Human Rights Campaign calling for the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell; recognized LULAC Dallas Rainbow Council 4871 as LULAC National Council of the Year; and then LULAC National President Rosa Rosales is honored as the Grand Marshal of San Antonio Pride Parade.
In 2011, LULAC hosts 30 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Latinos and Latinas for a leadership summit organized by Unid@s--The National Latina/o LGBT Human Rights Organization during the 82nd LULAC National Convention from June 27 to July 2, 2011 in Cincinnati, OH.