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Robert Garcia, Congress' First Gay Immigrant, Is Becoming the Queer Role Model He Never Had

June 28, 2023

U.S. Rep. Robert (link is external)Garcia carried a protestor's spirit into Pride (link is external)Month this year, aware that in spite of the annual parades and celebrations that bring some levity to the moment, many queer and trans people stand fearful of the future right now as far-right, anti-(link is external)LGBTQ (link is external)rhetoric seeps into mainstream.

"Our community's under such attack — especially our trans community and our young people," the 45-year-old congressman tells PEOPLE. "We've got to get back to those Pride roots, especially now, in this moment."

Garcia — who was sworn-in as the first gay, immigrant member of Congress in January — is sipping a beer at The (link is external)Stonewall (link is external)Inn, where Pride originated following the namesake (link is external)1969 (link is external)Stonewall (link is external)riots. A lot has changed since the unassuming gay bar was enshrined into history, but exactly 54 years later, a new wave of oppressive (link is external)laws and harmful misinformation continue to control the conversation around LGBTQ+ rights.

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