Dear Friends,
Thank you for supporting LGBTQ+ compassion in action. In this issue:
- Pride Month Killings in Guatemala + Emergency Aid
- June 26: Visit the Rainbow Bus in The Castro - San Francisco
- 2022 Cuba & Guatemala Travel Dates
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TRANS MURDERS IN GUATEMALA - EMERGENCY AID |
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Brave Trans Activists Andrea González and Cecy Ixpatá were murdered this month.
We are saddened to report that Cecy Ixpatá and Andrea González, prominent transgender activists in Guatemala, were killed this month. Both were members of OTRANS (Otrans Reinas de la Noche, or Queens of the Night). We were talking with Andrea just two days before her murder. Andrea was shot near her home in Guatemala City and Cecy died from injuries after being beaten in Salamá.
For several years now, RWF has supported OTRANS, a non-profit based in Guatemala that seeks to vindicate the rights of the transgender communities in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras by helping them to fight stigma, discrimination, and violence.
RWF was first introduced to OTRANS during a humanitarian visit to Guatemala in 2008. Since then, we have provided financial support to the Guatemalan trans community for safety and health care, HIV/AIDS prevention programs, and emergency shelter.
There are no legal protections for LGBTQ+ people in Guatemala. Trans leaders risk their lives by being politically active, raising awareness for trans people, and advocating for better trans medical treatment. Under any circumstances, this would be a difficult thing to do. But it is made all the harder in a country such as Guatemala that continues to struggle with high rates of poverty, crime, drug trade, and instability.
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VISIT US IN THE CASTRO - SATURDAY, JUNE 26 - HELP LGBTQ REFUGEES |
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Throughout Pride month, we will be raising funds to help LGBTQ+ refugees.
Although San Francisco will not be celebrating Pride with a mega parade and party this year, we invite you to join us as we celebrate Pride and also help our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters in need.
On Saturday, June 26, RWF's Rainbow Bus will be parked in the Castro from 10 am to & pm. The Bus has a lounge interior and it will be open up for visitors. We will be raising funds for the many programs we support that help LGBTQ+ refugees.
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CELEBRATE PRIDE IN CUBA MAY 12-22, 2022 |
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A likeness of Che Guevara at Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba.
Encounter a new land and a people in a way that values them, deepens your spirituality, broadens your worldview and begins to heal the world. We will learned about Cuban history, from its colonial past to its revolutionary present, plus how the complex historical relationship between the U.S and Cuba remains ever-changing.
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ENCOUNTER GUATEMALA JULY 28 - AUG. 7, 2022 |
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The Santa Catalina Arch in Antigua, Guatemala.
Walk with a legendary people, learn about Mayan spirituality, and explore human rights issues with a people whose traditions span centuries of development. Experience ancient, colonial, and modern influences that have molded a people of unique strength and deep faith. Help deliver medical and educational supplies... be forever changed.
We will learn from Guatemalans about the realities in their country by visiting projects that serve the people and engaging in social, cultural, and artist exchanges. The trip includes visits to diverse communities, meeting with leaders from a variety of fields, and spending time with the LGBTQ+ community to learning about their struggle for their civil rights. Learn how you can join us.
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LGBTQ+ COMPASSION IN ACTION |
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RWF volunteers visiting a school in Guatemala City.
RWF is the world's first and only all-volunteer, LGBTQ+- based humanitarian aid organization. Our mission is to promote peace, unity, and hope by leading the LGBTQ+ movement in participating in humanitarian relief efforts. Since 2000, RWF has distributed $5 million in grants and life-saving aid and provided over 75,000 volunteer hours helping both LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ people in need around the world.
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