News

Executive Director Jerry Gonzalez Honored in 41 LGBTQ Latinx Role Models

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
April 14, 2020 Alberto B. Mendoza
323-383-4924
HONOR 41 Announces 2020 “The 41 List” Honorees

41 List Recognizes 41 LGBTQ Latinx Role Models

LOS ANGELES, CA – Honor 41 is proud to announce the fifth edition of “The 41 List,” which
celebrates 41 LGBTQ Latinx role models. This year’s 41 List includes a diverse group of
distinguished professors, journalists, community leaders, actors, elected officials, activists, non-profit
leaders, artists, students, entrepreneurs, and more.

“Honor 41 promotes awareness and positive images of the Latinx LGBTQ community. Celebrating
this year’s honorees and sharing their stories is an incredible personal honor,” said Alberto B.
Mendoza, founder of Honor 41 and Producer of The 41 List. “Their work is paving the way for the
Latinx LGBTQ community to come out and embrace their lives with authentically and with orgullo.”
Beginning April 21, video interviews of each honoree will be released on the organization’s social
media channels and website. The videos highlight each of the honoree’s personal experience with
coming out and how religion, culture, family, and HIV/AIDS have impacted their lives.
To view a video of all 41 honorees click here.

There are nine different countries that represent our honorees which include the United States,
Puerto Rico, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela, Spain,Cuba, and Uruguay. Our honorees
come from 20 different cities and 30 percent of them are under the age of 30, and 25 percent identify
as transgender or gender-nonconforming.

Amongst the group is a professor, a city council member, two survivors of pulse, founder of the
International Imperial court, five journalists, ten executive directors, actors, documentarians, students,
president of the Realtors Association, and more.

The 2020 honorees are:
1. Thom A. Hernandez, Palm Springs
2. Giuliani J. Alvarenga, New Orleans
3. Eddy F. Alvarez Jr. Portland OR,
4. Jamie Arangure, San Diego
5. Damian Cabrera, San Juan,
6. Nancy Cañas, DC
7. Felicia Carbajal, Los Angeles
8. Cora Cervantes, Los Angeles
9. Michaé De La Cuadra, Los Angeles
10. Brian De Los Santos, Palm Springs

11. Jose Luis Dieppa, Orlando
12. Ashley Figueroa, Orlando
13. Robert Gamboa, Los Angeles
14. Jesse Garcia, DC
15. Ana Gomez, DC
16. Brandon Gomez, NYC
17. Jerry Gonzalez, Atlanta
18. Jonatan Guerrero, Charleston
19. Yozantli J. Lagunas, Sacramento
20. Andres Martinez, Anaheim

21. Eddie Martinez, Los Angeles
22. Maritza Martinez, Oakland
23. Jorge Matamoros, Madrid, Spain
24. Julio Matamoros, Madrid, Spain
25. Morgan Mayfaire, Miami
26. Lisbeth Melendez Rivera, DC
27. Ryan Mendoza, Los Angeles
28. Xelestial Moreno-Luz, San Diego
29. Nicole Murray Ramirez, San Diego
30. Ricardo J. Negron-Almodovar,
Orlando
31. Karari Olvera Orozco, Chicago
32. Alexis Ortega, Palm Springs
33. Andre Perez, Berkeley
34. Ezak Perez, Los Angeles
35. Francisco Ruiz, Atlanta
36. Valerie Palacios, Louisville
37. Li ann (Estrella) Sanchez, Atlanta
38. Antonio Santos, Chicago
39. Robert Salcido, San Antonio
40. Monica Trasandes, Los Angeles
41. Jamie Zapata, San Antonio

Quotes from honorees:
Robert Salcido, Director of the San Antonio LGBTQ Center

“Growing up as a young Queer Latino, examples that showed me that I could
simultaneously be Queer, successful, and thrive were nonexistent. Being honored by
The 41 List is an opportunity for me to represent those qualities to our younger
generations now and in the future.”

Jaime Zapata

“Positive role models are important for the LGBTQ+ community because many of us
struggled without any kind of support in the past.  When we advocate for ourselves and
others, we shatter the stereotypes placed on us by society and break barriers for the
next generation.”

Lisbeth Melendez Rivera

“As a Puerto Rican butch dyke who was raised in Caguas, Puerto Rico, I carry the
struggles and resilience of my people with me. I am humbled to be recognized by Honor
41 for more than seven years of passion-filled work in Latinx, queer and trans, and faith-
rooted movements for social justice. I send my congratulations to all of the other
honorees. Es siempre un honor ser reconocida por y con mis compatriotas. Pa’lante
siempre!”

Ricardo Negron-Almodovar

“This labor of love done by Honor 41 is nothing short of remarkable. As a proud gay
boricua, I feel very honored to be included in a list with so many amazing, powerful and
fearless people. It’s so important for our community to have a space where we are
uplifted, celebrated  and where other LGBTQ+ latinx individuals can find leaders and
role models to look up to, learn together and create meaningful connections.”

Jerry Gonzalez

“In the Latinx community, we do need to have dignity in our GLBTQ community and the
many contributions we make.  I am a proud Latino, who is also a gay man.  I do my
work for the community and I bring my whole self to the table.  That is what makes us
more passionate and stronger about our work.”

Jonatan Guerrero

Honor41 celebrating role models in our community means this giving us a platform to
highlight the work folxs are doing in small cities and in our small communities. This
platform highlights the grassroots organizers and is giving our people the hope and
drive to keep moving forward. This nation was built by the sweat of immigrants and
highlighting our LGBTQ+ leaders is showing the process we are making for the next
generation to come! Our journey is not over yet, this is just the beginning for us! I am
honored to be part of this list and I hope my story will help influence our youth para
seguir luchando y saber que sí se puede!!!

Jamie Arangure

Es un privilegio ser parte de los #41 Honor 2019-2020 y compartir este reconocimiento
con todos los elegidos en esta edición, ya que nuestra misión es servir a los demás con
el propósito de alcanzar la igualdad justa para nuestra comunidad " LGBT+" El
reconocer a nuestros líderes activistas de la comunidad es de suma importancia, lo
cual es una motivación para seguir logrando nuestras metas, tomando esta plataforma
para crecer individual y profesionalmente.

Jesse Garcia

“It is an honor to be recognized in this virtual museum of people who not only bravely
came out of the closet but took to the streets to fight for our right to exist. So many
stories and journeys would have been lost and ignored by history books because of our
orientation, gender, skin color and/or where we originated. No more. Our revolution will
be televised.”

Why celebrating role models is important:
“I’m a storyteller and focus my podcast regularly on Latinx people who are making
positive change. I appreciate Honor 41’s similar mission of recognizing role models,
both young and old, who give hope to the next generation. These children need to see
one of us making it in this world. Our success provides them a roadmap on how to get
out of a hurtful place. So many grow up unloved, unsupported and mistreated for being
queer. Our journeys will help guide them.”

Cora Cervantes:

I am proud and honored to be a part of the Honor 41 project. This project is important to
me because it gave me a space to share a part of my story with my family, friends, and
community. My choice to participate in the Honor 41 project is rooted in the belief that
we must be for others what we needed at a young age. I wish that as a young Latina I
had access to space like this one.
It is important to increase our visibility so that the next generation can find examples of
resilience, acceptance, community, and pride. I hope that the collection of these stories
helps to continue to bridge the gap in understanding within the Latino community.

###

Honor 41’s name originates from an anti-gay hate crime that took place in Mexico City.
In the 1901 incident, 41 men were beaten, arrested, and eventually disappeared for
their sexual orientation. Since then, the number 41 has been used as slang in Mexico to
refer to gay men. Honor 41 reclaims the number to honor inspirational individuals in the
LGBTQ community and their tireless work toward acceptance and equality. For more
information about Honor 41, an independent 501(c)(3), online non-profit organization,
please visit: www.honor41.org.

Share this page: