The Latino Equity Alliance (LEA) is a left-of-center community activist organization focused on the Latino LGBT population in and around Los Angeles. The organization runs various programs to promote LGBT activism, including several programs that are geared towards students in public school districts, as well as activism geared towards the decriminalization of drug use. ^{1 2 3 4}

Founding and History

The Latino Equity Alliance was formed in 2009 to continue the campaign against California Proposition 8 that attempted to end state recognition of same-sex marriages in the state. As an outgrowth of the “No on Prop 8” campaign, LEA was founded as an intersectional organization focused on Latino and LGBT issues. While LEA uses the term “Latino” in its title, in its literature, it has used the controversial left-wing neologism “Latinx.” ¹

Finances

As a fiscally sponsored project of Community Partners, the Latino Equity Alliance does not publish its own tax filings; however, in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, Community Partners provided LEA a grant of $35,500 that was separate from its fiscal sponsorship. The money was used to fund 22 scholarships. ⁵

LEA has received funding from Health Happens Here, California Community Foundation, the California Endowment, Good Neighbors Campaign, the Vernon Community Fund, and L.A. Care Health Plan. ⁶

Policies and Projects

The Latino Equity Alliance is focused on various issues that affect the LA Latino LGBT community. These issues include public health, education, and activism. ¹

Reclaim LA

LEA is involved in Reclaim LA, a project founded in 2019 for the purpose of promoting LGBT values and activism in the Los Angeles Unified School District. This activism includes advocating for LGBT curriculum in schools, the creation of gender and sexuality clubs, and the creation of “queer friendly campuses”.  In the past the program has run a day long summer camp for students, parents, teachers, and school administrators for the purpose of activism education for promoting LGBT values and institutions at schools in the district. ²

Mind Over Matter

Mind Over Matter is an intersectional project of LEA that is focused on LGBT youth and drug and substance abuse and promotes “restorative justice” rather than criminalization. It argues that substance abuse should be treated as a mental health issue rather than a criminal one. The program is focused on students at the Montebello Unified School District and the East Los Angeles College. ³

Tobacco Cessation

LEA is involved in anti-tobacco activism. It argues that the tobacco industry has predatorily targeted the LGBT population and states that its goal is to eliminate tobacco use by 2035. It is a member of the We Breathe campaign coalition that is focused on tobacco use in the LGBT population. LEA is also a member of the Out Against Big Tobacco campaign that seeks to eliminate tobacco sponsorship from LGBT pride parades and to make flavored tobacco products illegal in California. ⁷

QT Connect

Queer Trans Connect is a program focused on substance use and abuse and harm reduction among the LGBT population in Boyle Heights, Southeast Los Angeles, and Gateway Cities. ⁴

Leadership

Eddie Martinez is the executive director and cofounder of the Latino Equity Alliance. He was on the organization’s board for 6 years before becoming the executive director. He has worked in nonprofit management for at least 20 years, and formerly worked for the Wall Las Memorias Project, which is an AIDS awareness and advocacy organization based in Los Angeles. ⁸

1. “Our Mission and History.” Latino Equality Alliance. Accessed May 11, 2023. https://www.somoslea.org/our-mission-and-history.html.
2. “REC-LA.” Latino Equality Alliance. Accessed May 13, 2023. https://www.somoslea.org/rec-la.html.
3. “Mind Over Matter.” Latino Equality Alliance. Accessed May 13, 2023. https://www.somoslea.org/mind-over-matter.html.
4. “QT Connect.” Latino Equality Alliance. Accessed May 13, 2023. https://www.somoslea.org/qt-connect.html.
5. Community Partners, Return of an organization exempt from taxation (Form 990), 2020, Part I.
6. ^[1] “Our Mission and History.” Latino Equality Alliance. Accessed May 11, 2023. https://www.somoslea.org/our-mission-and-history.html.
7. “Tobacco Cessation.” Latino Equality Alliance. Accessed May 13, 2023. https://www.somoslea.org/tobacco-cessation.html.
8. “Our Team.” Latino Equality Alliance. Accessed May 11, 2023. https://www.somoslea.org/our-team.html.