Honor 41 has announced the fifth edition of “The 41 List,” which celebrates 41 LGBTQ Latinx role models. Included in this year’s list is GLAAD’s Director of Spanish-Language & Latinx Media and Representation Monica Trasandes.
“Honor 41 promotes awareness and positive images of the Latinx LGBTQ community. Celebrating this year’s honorees and sharing their stories is an incredible personal honor,” said Alberto B. Mendoza, founder of Honor 41 and Producer of The 41 List. “Their work is paving the way for the Latinx LGBTQ community to come out and embrace their lives with authentically and with orgullo.”
“GLAAD is unequivocally committed to equality and acceptance for LGBTQ Latinx people and their fair and accurate representation in Spanish-Language media, and we are so fortunate to have Monica leading us in this work,” said GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis. “We couldn’t be more proud that her tireless work is being recognized. This will energize us to continue and strengthen our work with Latinx and Spanish speaking communities.”
Monica’s recent work through the GLAAD Media Institute has included working with the US Consulate and LGBTQ advocates in Tijuana, Mexico. She has been working with entertainment creators in Spanish-language media, ensuring authentic and fair representation in scripts, casting, and promotion of novelas, films, and series. Monica has been presenting to college and university faculty and students, including USC, UCLA, DePaul University, the Public Relationship Society of America, and the Communications Society of America. She was a presence on the red carpet at the Latin Grammys, speaking with Latinx honorees and nominees about LGBTQ acceptance.
At GLAAD since 2008, Monica has helped increase LGBTQ representation in American and Latin American media. She often does interviews in Spanish-language media and has helped prepare over 100 community members and leaders to tell their stories. Born in Uruguay, she studied International Relations then earned her MFA from Emerson College in Boston. She’s also a writer whose book “Broken Like This” was published in 2012 by Thomas Dunne Books. Most importantly, she’s the proud mommy of a 7-year-old daughter.
Beginning April 21, video interviews of each honoree will be released on the organization’s social media channels and website. The videos highlight each of the honoree’s personal experience with coming out and how religion, culture, family, and HIV/AIDS have impacted their lives.
There are nine different countries representing Honor 41 honorees, including the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela, Spain,Cuba, and Uruguay. Honorees come from twenty different cities. Thirty percent are under the age of 30. Twenty-five percent identify as transgender or gender-nonconforming.
Honor 41’s name originates from an anti-gay hate crime that took place in Mexico City. In the 1901 incident, 41 men were beaten, arrested, and eventually disappeared for their sexual orientation. Since then, the number 41 has been used as slang in Mexico to refer to gay men. Honor 41 reclaims the number to honor inspirational individuals in the LGBTQ community and their tireless work toward acceptance and equality.
To view a video of all 41 honorees click here.