LHP names “Mujeres” award winners
Annual event honors contributions and accomplishments of local queer Latina women
The Latino GLBT History Project (LHP) has released the names of three individuals who will be honored at the organization’s annual “Mujeres en el Movimiento” awards and happy hour event on Thursday, April 9.
The event, held annually in the springtime close to March, which is nationally recognized as Women’s History Month, seeks to honor LBT Latinas who have made significant contributions to their local community that may otherwise go unnoticed or unheralded, often tackling larger, complicated issues of social justice.
“We are extremely excited and proud to be highlighting the stories of and honoring three courageous queer Latinas,” said Esther Hidalgo, the chair of this year’s “Mujeres” event. The event typically draws upwards of 100 women.
Being honored this year with Rising Star Awards are Maria Alejandra Salas-Baltuano and Joanna Cifredo. Rising Star Awards are given to up-and-coming queer Latinas who have shown dedication, commitment, and promise as community leaders. Salas-Baltuano works as an education organizer for Many Languages One Voice (MLOV) and has also been involved in creating “safe spaces” at the Latin American Youth Center and in supporting English Language Learner students in the District. Cifredo, the writer and founder of FireBreathingTGirl.com and a transgender advocate, also works as the brand ambassador for the DC Rape Crisis Center (DCRCC). She is currently collaborating with DCRCC to launch “SIS to Cis,” dealing with building bridges and coalitions between cisgender and transgender people of color.
Earning this year’s Legacy Award is Dulce Benavides, a practicing psychologist who has been an advisory board member at the Lesbian Services Program at the former Whitman-Walker Clinic, and a co-chair of San Antonio Lesbian Gay Assembly while at the University of Texas in San Antonio.
“These women have demonstrated their commitment through their outstanding work in the areas of women’s empowerment, racial justice, and activism at the intersections of the Latino and LGBT communities,” Alexa Rodriguez, LHP’s recently re-elected vice president, said in a statement.
LHP’s “Mujeres en el Movimiento” awards and networking happy hour will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 9 at Jin, 2017 14th St. NW. A $5 donation is suggested. To register for the event, visit mujeresenelmovimiento.eventbrite.com. For more information, visit latinoglbthistory.org/women.
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