Amigas Latinas Records

Amigas Latinas began in 1995 as a small group of caring and concerned lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning Latinas who met to discuss, socialize and support each other in a safe environment. Co-founded Evette Cardona, Mona Noriega, Alicia Amador, Aurora Pineda, Karen Rothstein-Pineda, Norma Seledon, Mary Torres and Lydia Vega, Amigas Latinas grew from a monthly discussion group (platicas) to a non-profit organization providing services and events for LGBTQ Latinas and their allies. As a non-profit organization, it continued to provide advocacy, programming, and support for an array of issues facing LGBTQ Latinas in the Chicagoland area from July, 1995 to July, 2015. By offering monthly plácita (discussions) in members’ homes, the intimate spaces allowed for safe conversations about identity and the Latina community’s diversity. Conversation topics included relationships, homophobia, mental health, domestic violence, immigration rights, and legal issues. The organization eventually grew, addressing legal and political issues, providing workshops, educational training, scholarships, support groups, and focused advocacy. The organization combatted invisibility, reminding legislators, funders, and other nonprofit organizations to consider the intersections of culture, language, gender, race, and sexual orientation faced by LBTQQ Latinas. It folded in 2015 after 20 years of support, advocacy and education for Chicago-area LGBTQ Latinas. The organization was inducted into The Chicago LBGT Hall of Fame in 2016 and more information about the organization can be found on the Hall of Fame website: https://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/amigas-latinas/