FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2023
(Washington, D.C.) – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists remembers the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting seven years ago in Orlando, where 49 people were killed and more than 53 wounded. As we mark this horrible tragedy today, NAHJ reaffirms our commitment to protecting the human rights of our LGBTQIA+ communities in honor of those who died.
Among those lost during the massacre on June 12, 2016, was Puerto Rican NAHJ member and Telemundo staffer Jonathan A. Camuy Vega. Every year, NAHJ awards a scholarship In Jonathan’s name for students studying Spanish-language journalism.
Luis Joel Méndez González and David Cordero Mercado, co-chairs of NAHJ’s LGBTQIA+ Committee, shared their support by saying they stand in solidarity and welcome our LGBTQIA+ members and colleagues with open arms.
The NAHJ is committed to fostering a supportive, inclusive and discrimination-free environment for our LGBTQIA+ members at our upcoming national convention in Miami, Fla. In recognition of member concerns, NAHJ has increased security, updated policies and bolstered the voice of community members through our LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee.
“At a time when the LGBTQIA+ community is under attack across the country, it’s important that we take a stand against intolerance and bigotry,” said NAHJ President Yvette Cabrera. “As allies, we welcome our LGBTQIA+ members to any space that we share and will work to elevate their voices and concerns.”
The NAHJ does not tolerate harassment of any kind. Should any member feel threatened, harassed or discriminated against because of their gender identity or sexual orientation during the conference, they should seek out NAHJ staff or board members. Everyone attending the conference agrees to abide by NAHJ’s Code of Conduct upon registering. The recently-updated anti-harassment policy will be displayed throughout the conference.
As part of our commitment, we will also partner with Florida nonprofits to develop initiatives to help and support LGBTQIA+ communities. In addition to encouraging NAHJ members to patronize local LGBTQIA+ businesses, our organization has also committed to hosting any private events in queer-friendly spaces. A gender-inclusive bathroom will be available at our convention hotel.
The LGBTQIA+ advisory committee will also release an updated Spanish-language LGBTQIA+ Guide during the convention. Committee members have been key contributors to conference workshops designed to equip journalists to report responsibly on LGBTQIA+ communities.
The mission of the NAHJ is to support and empower Hispanic and Latinx journalists and that includes our LGBTQIA+ members. We are honored to extend that support to Florida’s LGBTQ+ communities at the July convention.
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About NAHJ:
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is the largest organization of Latino journalists in the United States and is dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. Established in April 1984, NAHJ created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists. The mission of NAHJ is to increase the number of Latinos in the newsrooms and to work toward fair and accurate representation of Latinos in news media. NAHJ has more than 3,500 members, including working journalists, journalism students, other media-related professionals and journalism educators. For more information please visit NAHJ.org or follow on Twitter @NAHJ.
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