Not surprisingly, President Obama’s announcement last week in support of same-sex marriage appeared to mobilize his gay supporters. But, contrary to what some might expect, it also appeared to mobilize his Latino supporters, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Latinos, who are predominately Roman Catholic and who are more often associated with immigrant rights than gay issues, happen to support gay rights in larger numbers than the rest of the American populace. In a survey conducted last year by the Pew Research Center, 59 percent of Latinos said homosexuality should be accepted by society, compared to 58 percent of the general population.
Shirl Mora James is lead co-president of the non-partisan National Tequila Party Movement, which encourages Hispanic voter registration, promotes the DREAM act, and supports children regardless of their sexual orientation. She is also gay. Sister Molly Maria Luisa Munoz is a Roman Catholic nun who works with migrant farm workers, people living with HIV/AIDS, and the gay and lesbian community.