The White House became ''La Casa Blanca'' on Tuesday, October 13th, celebrating Hispanic musical heritage with a South Lawn concert with performances by Gloria Estefan, the Bachata music group, Jose Feliciano, and more. The event was hosted by Jimmy Smits, Eva Longoria Parker, and George Lopez. Thalia asked President Obama to dance and the Prez could be seen shaking his boo-tay! Marc Anthony, Pete Escovedo, his daughter Sheila E., and Tito ''El Bambino'' also performed. Sheila E. was musical director and leader of the house band.
Other notables at the concert included Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic member of the high court. She posed for photos with everyone who sought them. Also present were Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and members of Congress. Renowned Latin American chef Maricel Presilla was guest chef for the evening.
Earlier Tuesday, Longoria Parker, a star of ''Desperate Housewives,'' and music producer Emilio Estefan met with other members of the National Museum of the American Latino Commission to discuss plans for a possible Latino museum in Washington. Heeeeyyyy! I am very excited about that and I sincerely hope it comes to fruition! Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., said Salazar asked the commission to report back in a year on whether a museum or some other project dedicated to Latino history, art and culture is feasible. Becerra had sponsored a bill for a museum but said he'll wait for the commission's recommendation before taking further action.
Other notables at the concert included Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic member of the high court. She posed for photos with everyone who sought them. Also present were Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and members of Congress. Renowned Latin American chef Maricel Presilla was guest chef for the evening.
Earlier Tuesday, Longoria Parker, a star of ''Desperate Housewives,'' and music producer Emilio Estefan met with other members of the National Museum of the American Latino Commission to discuss plans for a possible Latino museum in Washington. Heeeeyyyy! I am very excited about that and I sincerely hope it comes to fruition! Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., said Salazar asked the commission to report back in a year on whether a museum or some other project dedicated to Latino history, art and culture is feasible. Becerra had sponsored a bill for a museum but said he'll wait for the commission's recommendation before taking further action.
And I'd like to remind EVERYONE to watch "Latino In America," a special report by CNN's Soledad O'Brien, which premieres OCTOBER 21 AND 22 at 8:00 p.m. She will uncover what it's like to be, as the name suggests, latino in America.
Granted, being latino in America is a struggle. To be sure, things have gotten a lot better since the first half of the 20th century. In terms of overcoming everyday struggles, being Latino is one thing, but being a gay/lesbian latino/latina is quite another. While Latinos have broken ground in just about everything in America, gay Latinos remain largely invisible, especially in the public arena. There exists a deep-seated homophobia within the Latino community, which has forced many LGBT Latinos to go underground...live "in the closet." Here again, though, changes are underway. Attitudes are shifting.
For example, El Diario La Prensa, one of the oldest and largest Spanish-language newspapers in the U.S., recently endorsed the rights of same-sex couples to marry. And within the past three years, lawmakers in countries as diverse as Uruguay, Colombia and Mexico have passed laws granting rights and protections to gays and lesbians.
But we still face special challenges. Like other gay people of color, Latino gays face a double bind: discrimination from mainstream culture and from their own community. This double bind presents an obstacle to Latinos who consider coming out. Their challenge: risking rejection from their family when they need their family as a refuge from racism. The family is the unit that provides the support and the one place that people can feel free and protected. It becomes doubly difficult for people to come out. Those who take that risk may pay a price.
For example, Emanuel Xavier, a gay poet and spoken word artist, says he almost destroyed himself because he couldn't find acceptance within the Latino community. The New York-based poet says he grew up knowing that his sexual identity infuriated other Latinos. He once saw kids pelt a gay Latino hairdresser with stones. He routinely heard Roman Catholic priests condemn homosexuals. His own mother called him names when she discovered he was gay, says Xavier, editor of "Mariposas: A Modern Anthology of Queer Latino Poetry." Xavier says he was so filled with self-loathing that he once sold drugs and engaged in risky sexual behavior. "I became all those things society expected me to become," he says. "I thought that was the only thing I could be." Xavier says he decided to ditch his reckless lifestyle and become a poet. He reconciled with his mother and took on a new mission. He wanted to show others that one could be Latino, gay and proud. "Fortunately, I walked away unscathed," he says of his earlier days. "I thought that God had given me a second chance, and I felt like I had to do something with that."
But we still face special challenges. Like other gay people of color, Latino gays face a double bind: discrimination from mainstream culture and from their own community. This double bind presents an obstacle to Latinos who consider coming out. Their challenge: risking rejection from their family when they need their family as a refuge from racism. The family is the unit that provides the support and the one place that people can feel free and protected. It becomes doubly difficult for people to come out. Those who take that risk may pay a price.
For example, Emanuel Xavier, a gay poet and spoken word artist, says he almost destroyed himself because he couldn't find acceptance within the Latino community. The New York-based poet says he grew up knowing that his sexual identity infuriated other Latinos. He once saw kids pelt a gay Latino hairdresser with stones. He routinely heard Roman Catholic priests condemn homosexuals. His own mother called him names when she discovered he was gay, says Xavier, editor of "Mariposas: A Modern Anthology of Queer Latino Poetry." Xavier says he was so filled with self-loathing that he once sold drugs and engaged in risky sexual behavior. "I became all those things society expected me to become," he says. "I thought that was the only thing I could be." Xavier says he decided to ditch his reckless lifestyle and become a poet. He reconciled with his mother and took on a new mission. He wanted to show others that one could be Latino, gay and proud. "Fortunately, I walked away unscathed," he says of his earlier days. "I thought that God had given me a second chance, and I felt like I had to do something with that."
Unfortunately, others aren't as lucky as Xavier.
Bottom Line: Tolerance is no longer enough. What is required is ACCEPTANCE!!
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