Pedro Julio Serrano

Pedro Julio Serrano (born October 2, 1974 in Ponce, Puerto Rico) is an openly gay and HIV+ human rights activist and executive director of Puerto Rico Para Tod@s, a non-profit organization that strives for inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals and for social justice for all in Puerto Rico since 2003. He currently works as Senior Advisor of San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz and collaborates with the reform of the Puerto Rico Police Department.^[1]

Biography

Serrano grew up in Isla Verde, a district of Carolina, which is part of the San Juan metropolitan area. He attended primary and secondary school at the Colegio La Piedad and later studied Communications at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus.^[2]

In 1998, Serrano made history when he became the first openly LGBT and HIV+ person to run for elective office in the history of Puerto Rico, when he announced his candidacy to the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico.^[2] He is also a cancer survivor, after he won a battle with oral cancer in 2010.^[3]

He began his career in activism when he served as Director of Policy and Media for the Fundación de Derechos Humanos (Human Rights Foundation) in Puerto Rico. Later, he served as Director of Communications of LLEGO, the National Organization for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Latinos in the United States, which was based in Washington, DC. In 2005, Serrano moved to New York City where he worked as Program Coordinator for Voices for Equality at Freedom to Marry, an organization that fought for marriage equality. He then worked for seven years in New York City as Director of Public and Media Relations for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, one of the LGBT movement's leading organization in the United States.^[2] He then worked as Senior Advisor at the New York City Council,^[4] where he oversaw the scheduling and advance department, as well as manages a portfolio of LGBT, Puerto Rico and Latino issues.

Pedro Julio now works as Senior Advisor for San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz and also, collaborates with the reform of the Puerto Rico Police Department. Serrano has received numerous awards for his fight against social injustice and for the rights of LGBT communities in Puerto Rico, the United States and internationally.

Boards

Serrano has been a member of the Commission for Combating Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination of the Puerto Rican Bar Association and a member of the Advisory Board of the Puerto Rico Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. He has also been a member of the Advisory Committee on Human Rights of the Civil Rights Commission of Puerto Rico and the Advisory Committee of the Puerto Rican Initiative to Develop Empowerment (PRIDE), an organization that advocates for the Puerto Rican LGBT community in New York City. He also served as co-chairman of the National Latino Coalition for Justice, which advocates for equality in marriage. These efforts culminated with the establishment of "Unid@s", the national Latino Human Rights LGBT organization for Latinas/os in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Serrano served as co-chair of Unid@s.^[2]

Media spokesperson

Pedro Julio has participated in countless interviews in the media^[5] in local, state, national and international outlets such as BBC, CNN, Univisión, RCN, Telemundo, NPR, ABC, the New York Times, USA Today, among many others. He has been reviewed with profiles on ABC News, Univision, El Nuevo Día, Primera Hora, El Vocero, among others. He has written hundreds of op-eds in national and international newspapers such as Metro, El Nuevo Día, El Vocero, El Diario / La Prensa, La Opinion, among many others. And he has been a pioneer in the use of social networking sites to bring his message of equality to many people through his verified page on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the list of PRparaTOD@S.

Puerto Rico Para Tod@s

In 2003, he founded “Puerto Rico Para Tod@s” (Puerto Rico for Everyone), a nonprofit organization that fights for equal rights and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and transsexual communities (LGBTT). It also advocates for social justice of all human beings in Puerto Rico.

Since 2003, as executive director of Puerto Rico Para Tod@s, Serrano has maintained an active online presence. To this date, more than 100,000 people interact with his social media accounts, blog and listserv regarding the struggle for LGBT rights and social justice in Puerto Rico and the World.

Activism

Speaker

Pedro Julio has given speeches and conferences in Puerto Rico in several campuses of the “Universidad de Puerto Rico^[6]” and the “Universidad Interamericana”, “Universidad del Sagrado Corazón” and “Pontifica Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico”, as well as “Universidad del Turabo and Universidad del Este”. He has also given conferences at the Universities of Yale,^[7] Brown,^[8] Syracuse, Swarthmore,^[9] UConn, Mount Holyoke College,^[10] Hostos Community College and the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College.^[11] He has also been the keynote speaker at various conferences such as the 9th LLEGO meeting – the National Organization for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Latinos/as, in the Second Educational Day Against Homophobia and the Third Colloquium “Del otro la’o?”(From the other side): Perspectives on queer sexualities.

Pedro Julio has been a prominent voice in the fight against hate crimes, denouncing and demanding the investigation of possible crimes motivated by prejudice against sexual orientation and/or gender identity. He led a historic visit of elected officials from New York and Illinois^[12] who visited Puerto Rico in solidarity with the fight against hate crimes against LGBT people.

Campaigns

Also in 2010, thanks to a campaign initiated and led by Pedro Julio, the #1 Puerto Rican television program, SuperXclusivo, publicly apologized^[13] to LGBTT communities and people living with HIV, for using derogatory language against him. As a result, the television station, WAPA TV, also released “In WAPA we Respect Diversity”,^[14] a historical public service campaign to educate on the use of offensive language, eliminate discrimination and respect diversity.

LGBT Pride Parade in Boquerón

In mid-2014, with just one month to prepare, Pedro Julio and his organization “Puerto Rico Para Tod@s” took charge of the LGBTT Pride Parade of Boquerón.^[15] Together, with his brother Héctor and his company Mújica Group, produced the best parade in the history of Puerto Rico and the busiest, as well, with more than 40 thousand people in attendance, according to police and media.

Boycott SuperXclusivo (La Comay)^[16]

In late 2012 and early 2013, Pedro Julio was one of the leaders and spokespeople^[17] of the Boycott to La Comay, a movement of people who managed to bring together more than 80,000 people who managed the cancellation of SuperXclusivo a program of WAPA TV due to its homophobia, xenophobia, sexism, classism, racism and other forms of intolerance, as well as the attack on the individual and collective dignity of the Puerto Rican people.

LGBT laws in Puerto Rico

In early 2013, he worked directly with Senator Ramón Luis Nieves in the establishment of the Senate Project 238^[18] to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment. Also, he collaborated with Representative Luis Vega Ramos in the filing of House Bill 488^[19] to include sexual orientation, marital status and gender identity in the protections of Law 54 that regulate domestic violence. These projects became Law 22 and Law 23 of 2013 when Gov. Alejandro García Padilla signed them at a ceremony at La Fortaleza with several guests, which included Pedro Julio.

After meeting with the Secretary of Labor, Vance Thomas and Arturo Rios, the advisor of Labor Affairs of Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla, an executive order was issued to give the benefit medical plan to cohabiting couples. Later, two bills gave that right to LGBT couples in the public and private sector. Also, Pedro Julio was instrumental in pushing the administration in issuing an executive order to allow transgender people to change their birth marker in the driver's licenses.^[20]

Marriage equality in Puerto Rico

In a historic move and under the leadership of Pedro Julio, his organization “Puerto Rico Para Tod@s” joined as a co-plaintiff in the federal lawsuit^[21] filed by Ada Conde and Ivonne Alvarez to achieve the right to marry for LGBT people in Puerto Rico. In an effort led by Lambda Legal, four couples and “Puerto Rico Para Tod@s” joined the lawsuit in June 2014. Marriage equality became a reality in the United States in June 2015 and in Puerto Rico it was reaffirmed by a decision from the federal appeals court in July of that same year.

Puerto Rican Day Parade & Pulse shooting

Parade

In what is probably the highest honor received to date, Pedro Julio Serrano has been announced as one of the key honorees of the Puerto Rican Day Parade^[22] in 2016, where he was named “Orgullo Puertorriqueño” or Puerto Rican Pride, the same title that famed artist Lin Manuel Miranda received the prior year. His advocacy led the National Puerto Rican Day Parade to dedicate its 2016 parade to the LGBT struggle to celebrate the win of marriage equality and to honor the contributions of LGBT Puerto Ricans.

Pulse

In June, 2016, a horrible tragedy happened in Orlando, when a shooter killed 49 people and wounded 53 more in a gay bar named Pulse. This tragedy happened the same day that Pedro Julio was honored at the National Puerto Rican Day Parade.^[23] This led him to buy a ticket and travel the next day to Orlando.^[24] There, he met with survivors, with grieving families, with authorities, he did more than 100 interviews with local, state, national and international outlets.^[25] His advocacy during these days, led him to visit 14 of the 23 families of the Puerto Ricans that were killed and 11^[26] of the survivors.^[27] His advocacy was recognized by Puerto Rican superstar Ricky Martin.^[28] Puerto Rico is still mourning its victims.^[29]

Awards and recognitions

Pedro Julio has received numerous awards for his struggle for social justice and for the rights of the Puerto Rican and Latino LGBTT communities. At his high school graduation in 1992, he won the "Sister Sheila O'Brien Award", the highest honor given at his school, for his outstanding contribution to the community. He also received the Leadership Award from the Rotary Club of Isla Verde.^[2]

In 2000, he was awarded with the Solidarity Award as Male Activist of the Year from the Healing Christ Church. In 2003, he was recognized as one of the most outstanding LGBTT activists in Puerto Rico by OrgulloBoricua. In 2004, he was recognized as one of Top 10 LGBT activists in Latino community by Ambiente. In 2005, he was recognized as one of five most outstanding LGBT activists by Tentaciones. In 2007, he received the Pride Award by the PRIDE organization in New York City.

In 2009, he received the Bronze Star, Silver Star and the Bravo Award by public acclamation at the LGBTT Pride Parade in Boquerón. He was also the grand marshal of the 7th. LGBTT Pride Parade of the West in Boquerón, Puerto Rico. In addition, in the same year was he was chosen by MyLatinoVoice.com as one of the 25 most influential LGBT Latin@s. In 2010, he was named one of the 5 most promising Puerto Ricans in New York by the newspaper AM New York.

In 2010, and one of the most important moments in his career, Pedro Julio received the Puerto Rican Pride Award – through a video – by the Puerto Rican superstar Ricky Martin.^[30] This prize is awarded by Comité Noviembre, an organization that brings together the most important and recognized boricuas institutions of New York City to extol the identity of the Puerto Ricans in recognition of the immense social, cultural, political and artistic contributions of the Puerto Rican community in the United States.

In 2011, he received the annual award of the Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee and dedicated the prize to a young Puerto Rican 13 years old boy who is openly gay and founded a support group at a school for kids. Pedro Julio was also recognized as “Outstanding Insurgent” during the 9th. Colloquium “Ni Una Vida Más Para La Toga de la Facultad de Derecho Eugenio María de Hostos” at Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. That same year, Pedro Julio and his family, including his parents Alicia and Héctor and his brothers Waldemar Héctor Antonio and Antonio Gabriel, were awarded the Pride Award for “exemplary family”.

In New York City for LGBT Pride Month in 2011, Pedro Julio was recognized by the Bronx Pride Community Center, Boogie Down Pride and BrainPower with the LGBTQ Pride Award and Allies in the Bronx.^[31] In addition, the Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer, recognized him with a proclamation declaring June 23, 2011 as the “Pedro Julio Serrano Day at the Manhattan Borough^[32]” at the annual celebration of LGBT Pride. Also, El Diario/La Prensa – the second largest Spanish-language newspaper largest circulation in the US – recognized him with “EL” Award,^[33] which honors the most influential and prominent Latinos in New York.

In addition, in 2011, he was recognized as one of the Ten Outstanding Young People of Puerto Rico in 2011 by the Junior Chamber International of Puerto Rico.^[34] This recognition is historic because it is the first time they picked a young openly gay man to receive such a distinction. The Latino Queens LGBT community, through Jessenia Marie Rosa, gave a recognition to Pedro Julio as the leading activist at the Paparazzi Awards in New York City.

In 2012, he was also recognized as one of the most influential Latino activist by the Huffington Post. He was also named Honorary Trans America by the TransLatinasNYC group for their solidarity with the trans community in New York City. At the end of 2012, he was named one of the main protagonists of 2012 by the magazine Caras in a collector’s edition that recognizes the most outstanding figures of the year in Puerto Rico.

In early 2013, it was also chosen in the Top Ten LGBT activists in Puerto Rico by Primera Hora and was on top of that list. “Pedro Julio is characterized by his elegance and for using simple, clear language. He's the most consistent in their mission”, read the description of activism from Pedro Julio.

In mid-2013, he was awarded the Dennis DeLeon Voice Commitment Award at the Cielo Latino Gala of the Latino Commission on AIDS^[35] for his tireless advocacy for the rights of the LGBT community and people living with HIV.

In late 2013, Pedro Julio was named as one of the 20 Latin@s Trailblazers of the Year by Being Latino – one of the most important social networks of the Latino community in the US. In addition, after eight years in New York City, he returned for a year to his homeland to continue the fight. Also, in early 2014, Pedro Julio was recognized as one of the rising stars by the Hispanic Latino Coalition.^[36] This recognition is given to 40 leaders under 40 who have excelled in various areas in the Latino community.

In what is probably the highest honor received to date, Pedro Julio was one of the key honorees of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, where he was named “Orgullo Puertorriqueño” or Puerto Rican Pride. In December, the University Gardens High School dedicated it's Puerto Rican celebration to Pedro Julio for his activism in creating a more just society. Also, in late 2016, Pedro Julio was a keynote speaker and the recipient of the special recognition at the Puerto Rican Leadership Summit in Orlando, Florida and was named as one of the 11 most prominent LGBT Latin@s by NBC Latino.^[37]

New York City Council

Pedro Julio served, from 2015 to 2016, as senior advisor to the Speaker of New York City Council, Melissa Mark Viverito.^[1] He oversaw the scheduling and advance department, as well as has LGBT rights, Puerto Rico and Latino issues under his portfolio.

Living in Puerto Rico

After 10 years living in New York City, Pedro Julio moved back to his homeland in June 2016.^[38] He is now working as senior advisor to San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz and is also slated to work with the reform of the Police Department in Puerto Rico. He is still the Executive Director of Puerto Rico Para Tod@s. He lives with his dog Luna Libertá and is also author of his own blog, PJ's Blog, which is published on his own website pedrojulioserrano.com.[1]

External links

• Official Website
• Profile on Pedro Julio Serrano from ABC News
• Puerto Rico Para Tod@s

References