By Jean-Luc Rivera, Deputy Executive Director, Latino Community Fund Georgia
Every June, Pride Month gives us the opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and recommit ourselves to building a world where all people — regardless of who they love or how they identify — can live freely and fully. For me, it’s also a deeply personal reminder of how far I’ve come and how powerful it is to be visible.
I grew up in Appalachia – a place where family, culture, and faith are everything, but where being openly gay often means being met with silence, shame, or rejection. As a young Latino boy, I knew early on that I was different. Not only was I one of the only Latino people in town, I also knew that I was gay. I knew the unspoken rules of survival already because of my ethnicity: keep quiet, stay small, don’t draw attention, be a good student, be perfect. I was terrified of coming out – not because I was ashamed of who I was, but because I was afraid of what I might lose.
Being both Latino and queer meant constantly navigating between identities – trying to belong without betraying myself. At the time, I didn’t have role models who looked like me, who loved like me, or who showed me that I could live openly and thrive. It felt lonely. It felt impossible. But even then, somewhere deep inside, I held onto the hope that one day, I could live in truth – not just for myself, but for others like me.
I waited for so long to find a role model to draw inspiration from – someone who I could look up to and imagine myself being, but I could not find someone who looked like me in the spaces I wanted to be in. I realized after many years of searching and waiting that I was the inspiration that I needed all along and that it was up to me to be the role model for others. My resilience was my strength and that allowed me to be the leader that I am today, but I want to make sure others do not have to go through the same journey I did.
Today, I have the immense privilege of serving as Deputy Executive Director of Latino Community Fund Georgia – an organization that believes in the power of our people, in the strength of our stories, and in the possibility of a more just and inclusive South. And as a proud gay Latino man, I know that visibility is not just about being seen – it’s about showing others what’s possible.
Representation matters. Queer Latinx youth deserve to see leaders who reflect their full identities – not just in politics or media, but in community spaces, classrooms, advocacy work, and beyond. They deserve to see that they are not alone, that they are powerful, and that they are worthy of love and belonging just as they are.
Every time I walk into a room as my full self, I do it with the younger version of me in mind – the one who didn’t know if he could ever be out and still be accepted. I also do it for the generations coming after me, so they don’t have to wonder if there’s a place for them at the table – they’ll know there is, because we built it for them.
At LCF Georgia, we are committed to fighting for a future where all our communities can thrive – including our LGBTQ+ family. I ask all of you reading this to join me and other advocates as part of the Host Committee for the third annual Orgullo Latinx Pride Reception on September 26th, an event where we’ll celebrate the start of Atlanta Pride season and Hispanic Heritage Month while uplifting the LGBTQ+ Latinx community across the State of Georgia. Your support in creating spaces for our community matters now more than ever because the only way we get through these challenging times is together.
Finally, to all of the queer Latinx youth reading this, I want you to know regardless of where you are in your journey: you are seen, you are loved, and you are not alone. Your story matters. Your leadership matters. And your future is bright.
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