cpsylist: FW: [NLPA Members] A Year After Pulse- Orgullo Statement

[Ellen McWhirter]

Dear CPSY Community,
Please see below and attached a statement by Orgullo, a special interest group of the National Latina/o Psychological Association, on the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub killings in Orlando.
Ellen 


*****************************************************************
Ellen Hawley McWhirter, Ph.D.
Ann Swindells Professor in Counseling Psychology
Director of Training, Counseling Psychology Program
5251 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-5251
(541) 346-2443 (office)
(541) 346-6778 (Fax)

-----Original Message-----
From: members at nlpa.memberclicks.net [mailto:members at nlpa.memberclicks.net] 
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2017 6:31 AM
To: Ellen McWhirter
Subject: [NLPA Members] A Year After Pulse- Orgullo Statement

Familia,

Please find below and attached a message from Orgullo SIG about a reflection on a year after the Pulse massacre.

A Year After Pulse

Today, we, members of the Orgullo Latinx: Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity Special Interest Group (SIG) of the National Latina/o Psychological Association (NLPA), reflect on a year after the Pulse massacre. With deep sorrow, we remember and honor the lives of the sexual and gender diverse familia that were lost or victimized. We stand in solidarity with the family, friends, and community members of the injured and killed that night. No words can erase the pain they continue to endure.

The victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre were there to celebrate Latinx life in an affirming space free from the heterosexist and transphobic oppression that characterizes their daily lives. On that night, their safe space was corrupted with hate, death, and tragedy. Most of the victims were of Latinx descent; sadly, this event highlighted the grave price that comes with being a sexual and/or gender diverse Latinx individual. Now, more than ever, we must make clear our commitment to recognize the intersections within our Latinx community and interrupt instances of bias, discrimination, and oppression faced by sexual and/or gender diverse Latinx individuals. These efforts must come from within and outside of the Latinx community, as forces of oppression towards sexual and gender diverse Latinx individuals are perpetrated by the predominantly White heterosexual cisgender society, as well as both the Latinx and sexual and gender diverse communities. Together, we must honor and uplift their narratives, advocate against homophobia and transphobia, and challenge the culture of silence that is so prevalent in our Latinx community. 

We must also stand against continued threats to their lives at the hands of state and federal agencies. In 2017, conservative political leaders who claim to identify as Christian have introduced over 100 anti-sexual and gender diversity bills in 29 states, including Florida, the state where the Pulse massacre took place. The purpose of these bills is to limit the rights of underrepresented sexual and gender diverse individuals, often with no scientific basis, such as the “bathroom bills” that explicitly target transgender individuals. At the same time, the Latinx community, especially those who are undocumented, have been subjected to constant attacks by the current administration. From mass deportations and accusations of alleged crimes by Latinx immigrants to federal efforts to terrorize and mislead the public about sanctuary cities; the Latinx community, now more than ever, is at a constant state of hypervigilance. In addition, the governmental influence continues to stall immigration reform at the expense of many Latinx immigrants and families. Those who find themselves at the intersection of underrepresented sexual, gender, and Latinx identities are not only limited in their ability to thrive; but their lives are at risk every day for no other reason than for existing as their authentic selves. 

At the 2016 NLPA Conferencia in Orlando, FL, Orgullo members visited Pulse nightclub to pay respects to those who were loved and lost. We also facilitated open dialogues as a means for providing support and engendering a greater sense of community and healing. These experiences solidified the realization that what happened in Orlando could have happened to any one of us. On the first anniversary of this horrendous massacre, we wish to express our love and unwavering devotion to our Latinx communities. Join us in remembering and celebrating the victims of Orlando.  

- Your Orgullo Familia


The National Latina/o Psychological Association | 229 E Wisconsin Ave | Suite 800 | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | 53202 | United States | 

To unsubscribe from this e-list, please email members at nlpa.memberclicks.net with the subject "Unsubscribe".


-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: A Year After Pulse- Orgullo Statement.pdf
Type: application/octet-stream
Size: 1677320 bytes
Desc: A Year After Pulse- Orgullo Statement.pdf
URL: <http://lists-prod.uoregon.edu/pipermail/cpsylist/attachments/20170612/fa1a675f/attachment-0001.obj>