Carlos Padilla wants to help queer youth come out. That's why, as part of United We Dream, he helped create the #nomoreclosets campaign which ends in 2 days. You can help. The #nomoreclosets campaign seeks to count the experiences of queer immigrants by having lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer people who are undocumented, DACA (holders of a stay of deportation)-mented, lawful permanent residents, naturalized citizens, people on a visa, or US born children of immigrants fill out a survey and tell their stories. They are also asking allies to spread the word and to listen to the stories of people all around them.
Padilla knows the impact of closets personally. He was in the closet about being undocumented until 2006. Padilla chose to come out as undocumented, unapologetic and unafraid despite a hostile anti-immigrant environment keen on passing anti-immigrant legislation. Back then Padilla also debated coming out as queer. He later came out to his family and community. He found support and love from both.
Padilla and others call on queer immigrants to come out in the video for the campaign. They encourage everyone to reject any closets that force a person to hide an integral part of their reality.
The youth interviewed by United We Dream say in the #nomoreclosets campaign, "immigrant rights are queer rights and queer rights are immigrant rights." Take a look at the video below and share it widely. For more information visit: http://unitedwedream.org/
The #NoMoreClosets Campaign is a first of its kind national survey to document the lives of LGBTQ+ immigrants in the U.S.The objective of the survey is to humanize and uplift the real lived experiences of LGBTQ immigrants living in the U.S. with the goal to transform the immigrant and LGBTQ movements to adopt an intersectional analysis in their efforts to advance and build power for the rights of both communities.Join us & take the survey at: UnitedWeDream.org/NoMoreClosets
Posted by Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project on Tuesday, November 17, 2015
