Page 8 - Adelante Magazine February 2025

Your Health

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By: Jerry P Abraham, MD MPH CMQ
Photo by: Building Future © BiancoBlue | Dreamstime.com

¡Creando Cambio (Creating Change): A Vision for 2025!

As we look to the future, it’s vital to
reflect on the journey the LGBTQ+
Latin@ folx have taken over the
past few years. The road hasn’t
been easy, especially in light of
political turbulence, environmental
disasters, and global health crises.
Yet, the resilience of this com-
munity stands as a testament to
the power of unity and resistance.
In 2025, we are not only survivors
of these challenges but are also
the change makers shaping a
brighter, more inclusive future.

The years during Trump's first
term were tumultuous for many, it
felt like an era that tested both our
endurance and our ability to or-
ganize. Under the administration’s change has been a test of our en- this year will focus on the theme of Latinx are increasingly visible and
regressive policies, we witnessed vironmental survival. The devas- "Building the Future: LGBTQ Lat- empowered, not just as survivors,
the rollback of transgender rights, tating impact of climate disasters, inx Leadership in 2025." With but as leaders and activists, advo-
attacks on healthcare access, and including the recent wildfires in LA speakers from across the Latin@ cating for change in our com-
increasing rhetoric of hate and di- including the Pacific Palisades and diaspora, it will explore how Latinx munities and beyond. Whether it’s
vision. For many of us, it was a Altadena fires, has disproportion- queer individuals are stepping into fighting for LGBTQ rights in the
time to dig deep, to build solidarity, ately affected marginalized com- leadership roles in local govern- face of political opposition, ad-
and to fight back. Now that we munities, including LGBTQ Latinx ments, social justice organiza- dressing the urgent threats of cli-
have found ourselves back in the populations living in areas most tions, and businesses to drive mate change, or attending
same situation, it is time to re- vulnerable to natural disasters. policy change, uplift our voices, transformative events like
member that we have a voice that Hurricanes, wildfires, and floods and make sure we have a seat at NLGBTQTF CC25, we are carving
will not and cannot be repressed. have ravaged neighborhoods, the table. The session aims to out spaces for ourselves, demand-
forcing us to confront not just the highlight the importance of men- ing respect, and showing the world
One of the most critical aspects of physical destruction, but the eco- torship and the ways we can sup- that we are here to stay.
surviving this period was our resil- nomic, emotional, and psycholog- port the next generation of LGBTQ
ience in defending all intersection- ical toll it takes on our Latinx leaders. The journey of survival is not over,
ality of our identities. As Latinx neighborhoods. but it is a journey that has shaped
people, we were not only fighting What sets NLGBTQTF CC25 us into a powerful force for pro-
for our right to love but the rights Looking forward, we find hope and apart from other LGBTQ confer- gress. As we continue to face chal-
of ourselves and our loved ones to power in events like NLGBTQTF ences is its emphasis on cultural lenges, let us remember that the
be seen as living, breathing CC25—an extraordinary gathering pride and intersectionality. Attend- strength of our community lies not
people whose roots in this country that brings together the global ees can participate in art exhibits, just in the ability to survive but in
run proud and deep. The urgency community of LGBTQ+ Latinx in- film screenings, and performances the determination to create lasting
of defending our rights as immi- dividuals for solidarity, education, by LGBTQ Latinx artists who rep- change. Together, we are building
grants, children of immigrants, as and celebration. This year's event resent the vibrant creativity within the world we want to see—a world
queer individuals, and as people is a milestone, marking over 50 the community. For many of us, that honors our identities, our cul-
of color became a common thread years of advocating for the rights these experiences are a powerful tures, and our shared humanity.
in community organizing. To- of LGBTQ Latinx people world- reminder that our identities as And Remember, you can visit Dr.
gether, we mobilized, supported wide. The celebration includes queer, Latinx, we are not separate Jerry P. Abraham and the JWCH-
each other through advocacy, and panels, performances, and work- from our cultural heritage—they Wesley HIV Street Medicine Team
found strength in protest. This is a shops that focus on topics like are deeply intertwined, creating a at the Tempo Nightclub every Sun-
power we have not lost and can mental health, climate justice, po- dynamic force for social change. day night! Come get STI-tested,
continue to utilize for as long as litical advocacy, and intersectional PrEP’d, and all your LGBTQ+ sex-
we need to. queer identities. As we near the end of the first ual health questions answered!
month of this new year, our
If the Trump presidency was a test One of the event's key sessions strength lies in our unity. LGBTQ
of our political resilience, climate
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