Students “Come Out” as Gay and Undocumented

The Gay Community Rallies in Support of Undocumented Students On the Eve of a Critical U.S. Senate Vote on the Immigration DREAM Act

LOS ANGELES, CA: More than 100 people filled the Village courtyard of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center on Sunday, September 19, 2010, to raise community awareness and scholarship funds for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) undocumented UCLA students at a reception, “Standing With the Students: Out, Proud, and Undocumented.” Critically, there are more than 300 undocumented students enrolled at UCLA. Since the 32% fee hike earlier this year, one in five of these students has had to withdraw from college because they could no longer afford the fees and others have lost scholarship opportunities because of their status.
 
According to Witeck-Combs, Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-32) discussed her support for the Federal DREAM Act, which is a rider to a defense-spending bill to be voted on this week by the U.S. Senate. The DREAM Act would create a path to citizenship for undocumented students and members of the armed forces who meet the eligibility requirements. Rep. Chu spoke of a former campaign volunteer that she later learned was gay, undocumented and consequently ineligible for government financial aid and struggling to pay for college. The Congresswoman was so moved by his story that she paid for his first quarter at UCLA.
 
Four students spoke of their struggle to complete their education and their complex identities as being openly gay and undocumented. Diego Sepulveda, of IDEAS (the organization of undocumented UCLA students) and head of the National Queer Student Coalition, spoke of the importance of “coming-out” as undocumented to friends, professors, and lawmakers to put a human face on the plight of these students. He spoke of the growing solidarity between the immigrant rights movement and the LGBT community struggle for equality.
 
Diego explained that he learned of his undocumented status when he began to apply for college. He was brought to the U.S. as an infant and attended school here all through High School, like all his friends had. He and the other students explained the financial struggle to achieve their educational goals and the emotional challenge of knowing that even if they graduate, employment opportunities will be closed to them.
 
Roland Palencia, a political refugee from Guatemala and UCLA alum, spoke of his own struggle to survive when he crossed the U.S.-Mexico border during the 1970s.  Representing the Latino Equality Alliance, Mr. Palencia explained, “We have invested so much in the education of these students that it only makes sense that we legalize our investment. We desperately need an educated workforce to compete in the global economy. The DREAM Act will give these high-achieving students an opportunity to prosper and contribute back to society. This is a win-win.  I urge the LGBT community to help the students complete their education through financial support and encourage you to contact your Senators and ask them to pass the DREAM Act.”
 
A broad coalition of LGBT organizations sponsored the event, including the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, Latino Equality Alliance, FAIR, HONOR Fund, Immigration Equality, API Equality-LA, BIENESTAR, the Human Rights Campaign, Roots of Equality and The Wall/Las Memorias. Organizations and individual sponsors may contribute online at www.LibertyHill.org search “UCLA DREAM FUND”.