Hand and Hand

Starting this month, the Pride Center of Western New York launches a new program, Mano a Mano (“hand in hand”). This new program assists in raising awareness of and fostering greater understanding for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Latino people. Mano a Mano was designed specifically to engage LGBT Latino young adults in workshops, discussion groups, and community service around the issues of advocacy, community education, and skill building.

The overall goal of the program is to raise the level of social consciousness and political power for LGBT Latino young adults in Western New York as a means to strengthen their own organizing efforts, while building the visibility of the LGBT Latino community. Mano a Mano’s young leaders will help to create real social change in their community through street outreach, monthly base-building events, advocacy, LGBT-issues-related education, and presentations at service organizations who target Latino youth and young adults.

Mano a Mano will tap into established social networks, engaging LGBT Latino young adults in the language, culture, and style that is specific to the Latino community. Mano a Mano outreach team members will do regular street outreach and help present workshops at other organizations about Mano a Mano’s work and their experiences as LGBT and Latino young adults in Western New York.

Meetings will be conducted primarily in Spanish by Damian Martinez, program assistant at the Pride Center, and the group members will help to organize the program and lead discussion on current topics and issues facing themselves and their community.

The group will work with other LGBT and Latino organizations, including Alianza Latina, AIDS Community Services, Empire State Pride Agenda, and others. By focusing on a minority community that is often overlooked within the larger LGBT movement, the Pride Center hopes to empower all of our communities to live safe, healthy, and satisfying lives as LGBT people.

For more information on Mano a Mano, please call Damian Martinez at 852–PRIDE or email Damian@pridecenterwny.org.

Para obtener información sobre LGBT Latino Hispanic jóvenes adultos programa pueden ponerse en contacto con Damian Martinez at 852–PRIDE o correo electrónico Damian@pridecenterwny.org.

—bryan whitley-grassi

Buffalo has a large and diverse gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. For further information about its numerous organizations and activities, visit www.pridecenterwny.org, or call the Western New York Pride Center (852-7743). Gaywatch listings are free and may be edited for length. Publication is not guaranteed; please send updates to proudones@pridecenterwny.org. Organizations interested in classified advertising Artvoice can call 881-6124. Press announcements can be sent to editorial@artvoice.com. Photos are welcome!