8 Ways to Celebrate Pride and Be a Good Latino Ally

The shadow of two women putting their hands together to make the shape of a heart on a pride flag

One of the coolest things about being Latino is how strong our sense of community usually is. Most Latinos are taught to stand up for the people they love and stand beside them. The great thing about that is that we can take what we’re taught about solidarity, compassion, and community, and extend it to everyone around us, not just our families and friends. Celebrating Pride and being a good ally to the LGBTQ+ community, especially the Latino section of it, is a great way to do that. Here are 8 ways to do exactly that and support our queer fellow humans:


Understand that queerness is natural

a girl with a painted pride flag in her facePhoto by Andra C Taylor Jr on Unsplash

If you’re not a part of the LGBTQ+ community, when did you realize you were straight? You’ve probably never had to ask yourself that question before because your sexual orientation isn’t something you chose. It’s just who you are, and the same can be said about queer people. Queerness is a natural part of someone’s being; realizing that and explaining it to others is essential to showing them respect and understanding.

Respect someone’s pronouns

LGBTQ+ background with two pronoun wordsPhoto by Katie Rainbow 🏳️‍🌈 on Unsplash

Misgendering isn’t something to be taken lightly because it can be hurtful. Not to mention invalidating. It’s always a good rule of thumb to ask for someone’s pronouns. Social media is also a good way to check someone’s pronouns, as they’re usually added to the person’s bio. If checking social media isn’t an option at the moment or you’re too socially awkward to ask, you can start by using “they,” which is gender-neutral, and go from there. Whether you ask or go the gender-neutral way, you can be a million dollars the person you’re addressing will feel seen and valued.

Correct misgendering whenever you can

person holding a white board with the text: "Hello, my pronouns are"Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

Whenever you hear someone misgendering a person you know or someone who has made their pronouns clear, correct them. It can be exhausting for trans and non-binary people to do it themselves, so they often opt for letting it slide. Having someone step in and support them can mean the world to them. It’s also the right thing to do! We’re all humans, we deserve to be addressed in a way that makes us feel as such.

Don’t assume anyone’s preferences

woman posing for photo with pride scarfPhoto by Ana Enriquez on Unsplash

One common mistake a lot of people make is assuming the preferences of queer people. Generally, it’s important not to assume that just because someone is gay, pansexual, asexual, or anything in between, they’re attracted to every person of the same gender or they’re incapable of attraction, respectively. While interesting and open conversations can be had about this topic in confidence, it’s important to respect people’s boundaries.

Educate other people about being allyship and queerness

a group of people walking down a street holding signsPhoto by Aiden Craver on Unsplash

Understanding queer people and being a good ally for the Latino LGBTQ+ community requires us to educate ourselves. There’s no way around that! The more we learn, the better we’ll be able not just to engage with queer people and talk about the issues that concern them, but also educate other people. One way to educate people around you is to just discuss things you’ve learned about the LGBTQ+ community with friends and family. Correcting people when you hear them making ignorant comments and having conversations is another way to do it.

Share your platform

woman in a march holding a heart-shaped sign, painted with the pride flag and with the text: "I am not confused"

Photo by Diana Reyes on Pexels

It’s no surprise to anyone that cisgender and heterosexual people often dominate conversations. That’s why making space for queer voices, especially within your Latino community, is so important. Whether your platform is small or large, amplifying queer voices, experiences, and stories is an effective way to create awareness, promote inclusivity, and acknowledge diverse viewpoints.

Provide financial support whenever possible

group of people under pride flagPhoto by Mercedes Mehling on Unsplash

Donating money to organizations and charities that support LGBTQ+ youth and adults, including Latinos, is a great way to put your money where your mouth is. Even $1 can make a difference if you can’t afford anything more and you can also encourage people around you to donate. Whatever donation you make can improve their lives a little and go towards creating opportunities for them to thrive.

Acknowledge your privilege and use it for good

Man holding a sign at a Pride pride march. The sign says: "Seamos iguales"

Photo by Antonio Herrera Palacios on Pexels

If you don’t identify as LGBTQ+, you must become aware of the few privileges that it has given you in life. At the very least, you haven’t experienced discrimination or alienation just because of your gender identity or sexuality. Once you acknowledge your privilege, you can use it to defend people who are marginalized and discriminated against. Standing on the sidelines is no way to be a good ally and it only perpetuates injustices. Actively contribute to making the Latino community and society at large more inclusive for the queer community.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).

bop the bigot video game logo

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.