HR0461 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0461 LRB100 13006 MST 27215 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Mariela Castro, daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro, and President of the National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX) invited the Puerto Rican Cultural Center of Chicago (PRCC) to lead a delegation to Havana from May 9-15, 2017; and

WHEREAS, The goal was to create an ongoing transnational dialog around HIV/AIDS transmission, how transmission rates are amplified by homophobia and transphobia, and how to confront and eradicate homophobia and transphobia in Cuba and the Puerto Rican/Latino communities in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Juan M. Calderon, PRCC Chief Operations Officer, coordinated the effort in the U.S.; he has gathered a complement of 18 LGBT activists, community organizers, elected officials, and business owners from New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois; and

WHEREAS, In Havana, CENESEX has hosted the "10ma Jornada Contra La Homofobia y La Transfobia Por Escuelas Sin Homofobia Ni Transfobia" conference of highly visible activities, cultural events, parade and educational efforts that aim to confront and eradicate homophobia and transphobia in Cuba, and in general to promote its mission, which is "The development of a culture of sexuality that is full, pleasurable, and responsible, as well as to promote the full exercise of sexual rights"; and

WHEREAS, The Puerto Rican Cultural Center Juan Antonio Corretjer will be celebrating the 39th Annual Puerto Rican People's Parade, participate in Chicago's Gay Pride Weekend and Parade and host various community activities, receptions and community forums; and

WHEREAS, Andy Aquino Aguera, Director of Community Relations of the National Center of Sex Education and Malu Cano, Trans Cuba Coordinator visited Chicago to participate activities led by the Puerto Rican/Latino LGBTQ community; and

WHEREAS, Andy Aquino Aguera will be sharing best practices, discussions, conferences, workshops will help the PRCC enhance services for all the Puerto Rican/Latin@ LGBTQ community, but particularly the most vulnerable, the trans community in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, The Puerto Rican Cultural Center and TransLatina Coalition will honor the work and world wide leadership of Malu Cano, Trans Cuba Coordinator as this year's Paseo Boricua Ambassador and Honored Queen 2017 at the 10th annual Coronation of the Paseo Boricua Cacica Queen 2017 Gala; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois embraces the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Puerto Rican/Latin@ community and works to foster equality and inclusiveness statewide; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with its time-honored traditions, to recognize and applaud partnerships abroad, events which foster ethnic pride and exemplify the cultural diversity which represents and strengthens the fabric of the communities of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize and commend the Puerto Rican Cultural Center and the National Center of Sex Education transnational partnership on issues of wellness facing the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Puerto Rican/Latin@ community and enhances the profile of diversity which so strengthens the fabric of the community of the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution, suitably engrossed, be presented to Andy Aquino Aguera, Director of Community Relations of the National Center of Sex Education and Malu Cano, National Coordinator of Trans Cuba.