Puerto Rican GLBT leaders create fundraising group

Puerto Rican GLBT leaders create fundraising group
By Amy Wooten
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
April 22, 2009
http://www.chicagofreepress.com/node/3405


Several community leaders recently banded together and formed a group charged with promoting GLBT contributions in the Chicago Puerto Rican community.

The group of leaders named the formation Boricua PRIDE. Steering committee member Jorge Felix said that while the GLBT Puerto Rican community has been “pretty active” over the years, meeting in gay-friendly spaces in Humboldt Park, an official group was never formed. But he and others felt that now, in the midst of an economic recession, was a critical time to take action.

“In this climate, a lot of organizations are struggling,” Felix said. “This is an opportunity to network and bring our strengths together to help out.”

The newly formed Boricua PRIDE will hold its first fundraiser on May 7. The event will feature live music and performance, as well as Puerto Rican food, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Tumbao Bar & Grill, 3213 W. Armitage. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Contributions will benefit the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, the nation’s first museum of Puerto Rican art and history, which will open later this year at 3015 W. Division. Boricua PRIDE aims to have its name added to IPRAC’s Founder’s Wall.

“When the museum opens, it will be great to see a gay and lesbian group that was a critical fundraiser on the Founder Wall,” Felix said. “Their name will be seen by future generations.”

While helping raise funds for IPRAC is its first goal, Felix said the group will find other ways to help both the Puerto Rican and GLBT community. Felix said that postcards sent out to inform people about the group have already generated conversation in the Puerto Rican community, causing some individuals to come out of the closet and several allies to come out of the woodwork and show their support.

Get tickets to the upcoming fundraiser at Café Colao, 2638 W. Division, or e-mail boricuapridechicago@hotmail.com.