-
[* cheers* ]
-
Hello everyone!
-
I just want to take this moment to...
-
My name is Jerssay Arredondo,
-
I am undocumented, queer, unashamed, and unafraid.
-
I am sharing these identities with you right now
-
because yesterday morning I was forced back into the closet.
-
The Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project,
-
a project of United We Dream,
-
was invited by the Human Rights Campaign
-
to speak at the rally to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA.
-
Prior to getting on stage my speech was revised.
-
I was told not to share the reality of what it means to be an undocuqueer immigrant in this country.
-
Our real life struggles and daily challenges as LGBTQ people are not acknowledged,
-
but rather continue to be pushed into the closet and excluded from the dominant narrative.
-
It is not enough for LGBTQ communities to say that they are in solidarity with our struggle.
-
Solidarity is love reflected through actions and support.
-
Our intent yesterday was to share our stories, our struggles and our experiences,
-
to shed light on the complexity of the issue,
-
and we weren't even afforded that opportunity.
-
As an immigrant youth movement, we hold each other accountable,
-
and we will hold LGBTQ and immigrant rights organizations accountable
-
to ensure that we are working towards social justice for all.
-
In order to ensure continued solidarity,
-
we are asking for a public apology from the Human Rights Campaign's leadership.