Back in October 2004, LLEGO, the nation's only Latino/a HIV and AIDS prevention/education organization closed its doors without warning due to massive HIV/AIDS budget cuts. This was caused by the Bush administration's shift of focus to funding unrealistic "faith-based" and "abstinence" programs. LLEGO was the voice of the Latino/a LGBTQQ community, and its closing left a black hole in the community's leadership.

Major cities have chosen to take the task of creating local organizations to fill this void, and, Orgullo en Accion is Chicago's result of this effort. We are activists, educators, health care workers, community leaders, teachers and students, and we have come together to give the Chicago Latino/a LBGTQQ community a progressive voice and a safe space.

We will be listed in a publication soon to be put out by Sigamos Adelante, a national Latino LGBTQQ board that is now working on organizing these local groups.