Robert Garcia, Congress' First Gay Immigrant, Is Becoming the Queer Role Model He Never Had
U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia carried a protestor's spirit into Pride 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-LGBTQ 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 Stonewall Inn, where Pride originated following the namesake 1969 Stonewall riots. A lot has changed since the unassuming gay bar was enshrined into history, but exactly 54 years later, a new wave of oppressive laws and harmful misinformation continue to control the conversation around LGBTQ+ rights.
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