TWLM in the News
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Statement on Stop AAPI Hate
Posted by Andres Magana · March 19, 2021 2:47 PM
For too long the Asian American and Pacific Islander community has experienced prejudice in our nation. That prejudice and hatred has been increased by the former presidential administration by calling them names and making them responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today we see increases of attacks, hatred, verbal violence, white supremacy and bigotry against that community in Los Angeles, San Francisco and throughout our nation. Those attacks reflect the smallness of the human capacity to accept all humanity as God’s children and it must stop.
We must stop the ignorance. We must stop the hate. We must educate our community about the uniqueness of our different cultures. We must all come together to hold those accountable for the destruction of body and soul.
The members and supporters of The Wall Las Memorias say NO to hate! We stand with our brothers and sisters from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community to support them during these difficult and challenging times.
We are ready to walk with you side by side to fight this hate.
Together we will overcome.
Statement by The Wall Las Memorias (TWLM)
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Statement on US Citizenship Act of 2021
Posted by Andres Magana · February 22, 2021 4:05 PM
Yesterday, Thursday, February 18, 2021, Rep. Linda Sanchez of California and Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey introduced the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, which if passed, would provide an eight-year citizenship path to over 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States.
In response, President Joe Biden reiterated that the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 is part of his administration’s commitment to modernize the current flawed immigration system and provide a clear roadmap to citizenship for undocumented individuals. The proposed bill will not only, “restore humanity and American values to our immigration system,” but also “[provide] hardworking people who enrich our communities every day and who have lived here for years, in some cases for decades, an opportunity to earn citizenship,” according to the Biden Administration.
“The bill will stimulate our economy while ensuring that every worker is protected. The bill creates an earned path of citizenship for our immigrant neighbors, colleagues, parishioners, community leaders, friends, and loved ones – including Dreamers and the essential workers who have risked their lives to serve and protect American communities,” as noted on The White House official website.
“We applaud the action of congress members Representative Linda Sanchez and Senator Bob Menendez for their vision in bringing justice to the American dream for so many of our brothers and sisters,” said Richard Zaldivar, executive director of The Wall Las Memorias. “This legislation will help our country heal from the suffering of the past and help provide clarity to live the American dream.”
Under the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, modernization of the current U.S. Immigration System would include clearer pathways to citizenship and strengthened labor protections, prioritization of smarter border controls, and addressing root causes of migration.
Statement by The Wall Las Memorias (TWLM)
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Statement on Pope Francis Acknowledgement on Gay Civil Unions
Posted by Andres Magana · October 23, 2020 11:27 AM
On behalf of so many LGBTQ members of the Roman Catholic community, we welcome the statement by Pope Francis on the acknowledgment and acceptance of gay civil unions.
As a Catholic gay community leader, my fiancé and I attend our local parish church on a weekly basis. You can usually find us at 10:00 a.m. mass every Sunday sitting in the front row on the side of the altar. We sit there purposely.
For too long we would sit in the rear of a church for fear of rejection as a gay couple. We quickly understood the importance of challenging that fear and took ownership of our place in our church. This simple act, albeit intentionally personal, went on to show to others that each of us should be proud of our love and devotion to God. It is just to believe that everyone is deserving of sitting in the front row.
Today, we are often stopped by parishioners asking for our assistance to help host discussions with family members so they can become more accepting of their gay children. We see too often that families are torn apart because the authenticity of their child is often questioned. In having these discussions, so many members of our community can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Since the beginning, we have heard statements from clergy condemning homosexuality as sinful and intrinsically evil. In our Latino community, many still believe that whatever the local priest says is the literal word of God. Today, we have hope. We have a compassionate and loving Pope Francis who is leading the church through difficult times to bring healing to the many who have been disregarded by church leaders as sinners. Pope Francis truly cares about humanity and the sanctity of our spirit.
We know that the conservative and fringe groups of the Catholic Church will disagree with our Pope and possibly attack him for it. Let it be clear, we are here to defend him. It is important that we come out to families and our parish priests, educating them about who we are. For you see, we are the church.
As LGBTQ Catholics, we pray for continued strength for our Pope Francis to continue to lead our church through these challenging times. And as soon as we are able to attend service in person, we invite you to join us in the front row where we all belong.
Statement by Richard L. Zaldivar, Executive Director / Founder
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Prevention Experts, Community, Sound Alarm on LA’s Meth Crisis
Posted by Andres Magana · August 04, 2020 9:41 AM
"More than 130 health and addiction experts, policy makers, and members of the LGBTQ community in Southern California joined the Zoom meeting to discuss the extent of the meth problem in Los Angeles..."
Read the full story in The Body (click here).
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Meth Epidemic Getting Worse; Researchers, Community Respond
Posted by Andres Magana · July 23, 2020 3:15 PM
"Some public health officials are looking through the intersectional lens of HIV/AIDS, STDs, mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention, however. And on July 21, Richard Zaldivar, founder and executive director of The Wall Las Memorias, a non-profit LGBTQ Latino-focused community health and wellness organization, brought a number of those top professionals together for the Act Now Against Meth virtual roundtable."
Read the full story in the LA Blade (click here).
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How George Floyd’s Death & COVID-19 Reshaped My Identity as a Gay Latinx Man
Posted by Andres Magana · June 29, 2020 8:57 PM
"After meeting two staff members from The Wall Las Memorias Project, I was encouraged to attend the organization’s support group for Latino gay, bi and queer questioning men. I nervously took them up on the invitation, and for the next few months, I began to attend the organization’s bimonthly meetings in its downtown L.A. office."
Read the full story in The LA Times (click here).