Immigration, Trans* Rights and Challenging Obama

press release: In conjunction with the nation’s Hispanic Heritage Month, a celebration of the various racial and cultural identities encompassed by “Hispanic” Sept. 19-Nov. 1, UW-Madison will celebrate Latin@/Chican@ Heritage Month with more than a dozen events hosted by the Office of the Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer in partnership with more than a dozen campus and community partners.

This year’s themes, is the result of collaboration among more than a dozen campus academic and student ethnic and service organizations, as well as the community. “Celebrating Identities,” goes to the heart of diversity within the Hispanic community, said Philip Denis, a campus and community liaison for the Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement’s Pathways to Educational Achievement program.  

The keynote event will be “Immigration, Trans* Rights and Challenging Obama: An Evening with Jennicet Gutierrez,” a Latina activist, on Thursday, Oct. 8, in the On Wisconsin Room of the Red Gym. 716 Langdon Street.  Gutiérrez, a transgender woman, is a passionate LGBTQ rights activist and the co-founder of Familia, a 'trans queer liberation movement' and is the woman who interrupted Obama's speech during an event honoring LGBT Pride Month.  She has spoken out about the moment that propelled her into the global spotlight.