Many people know that I’m a staunch feminist. I’m not ashamed to say it publicly. I’m not ashamed of my collection of books on women’s rights. In fact, I am proud to be one. I wear my feminism on my sleeve and as a badge of honor. But not for the reasons most people think: I’m a straight Latino male not looking for kudos points from my female friends and colleagues. Dominican to boot [we sure have the machista and mujeriego reputation preceding us but that’s for another discussion].
I truly believe that if everyone was given an opportunity to succeed, to get an education, to sit on that board as founder, co-founder and ceo, they would bring unprecedented progress to the world by leaps and bounds. I’m a diversity, multiracial, multicultural, coed pusher, if you must; extremely suspicious of those who demand a homogenous and dogmatic world.
As founder of Upliftt (United People for Latinos in Film TV and Theater) along with a great team behind the cause, I’m also an advocate of having an influx of women in front and behind the camera (United People for Women in Film TV and Theater). Because we need the change to balance out the public’s perception of women and ourselves. To end once and for all the culture of misogyny.
There are people who argue that if women want to be in these positions of power or written into shows, to do it themselves and stop whining about it. Unrightly so. It’s a false argument. An argument based on malignant prejudices. There are qualified women who have been trying for eons but not given the right opportunity. At least not as many and as readily available as the ones given to men. In order to create high quality content one needs money and most of the people holding on to that proverbial bank account happen to be males.
Change is not going to happen overnight. However, we also don’t have to take short steps to accomplish it. One of the networks that is commendably working on this change is HBO. HBO Latino continues to bring its a-game with with its 10th installment in the “Habla” series, Habla Women. Premiering on April 18 (8 pm/7c).
I was invited to an exclusive screening of the series by our editor, Eileen Rivera, who was on triple duty that day: being the eyes and ears of Being Latino, UPLIFTT, and keeping an eye on my socially torpid ass.
Overall, I had an amazing time. We laughed, we cried, and we beamed with pompous pride as we watched strong, intelligent, and beautiful Latinas tell their stories of resilience, ingenuity, compassion, realization, liberation, and redemption.
I saw familiar faces and was introduced to vibrant ones: Food NetworK Chef, Daisy Martinez, NASA Planetary Geologist, Adriana C. Ocampo, Poet and Activist, Caridad de la Luz “La Bruja”, Publisher & CEO of El Diario-La Prensa, Rossana Rosado, Model, Denise Bidot, Comedian, Rosmery Almonte, Violence Intervention Program Executive Director, Cecilia Gaston, Producer, Kadine Anckle, Actress, Gina Rodriguez, Teacher and Writer, Peggy Robles, Psychotherapist, Sebastian Colon-Otero, and CNN Senior Producer, Rose Arce.
Special shout-out to Alberto Ferreras, Trina Bardusco, Karla Lozano, Jessica Vargas, and Diana Heald for putting together such an outstanding series/event.
You don’t want to miss it. It’s a life-affirming special and a real eye-opener for those who refuse to see that women are as capable as men to run things. Mayhap better.