“I am a miracle. I am a product of what a community does to help a child achieve her dreams.”
–– Rev. Carmen Hernandez on her life in The Bronx
Rev. Carmen Hernandez has dedicated her life to a host of worthwhile causes, but one, in particular, that hits home is the fight for gay rights in her Bronx community. “We fought for LGBTQ rights to marry in The Bronx, and we won with hard work,” she told me recently.
Selfless, hard work is second nature to Rev. Hernandez. Getting her start as the co-founder of the Bronx Hispanic Chamber of Commerce led her to become the Founder and President of the first New York City LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to her efforts, the organization is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.
Over the past decade, she’s helped local shops, restaurants and other small businesses, which are the heart and soul of The Bronx community. “We really do care about our members,” she said. “They have to let their voices be heard and be counted,” she explained.
Rev. Hernandez isn’t afraid of being heard. She’s gone head-to-head with New York State Sen. Ruben Diaz, who’s been one of the biggest opponents of gay rights, including protecting LGBQT youth in schools. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do in The Bronx to bring unity and respect to the LGBTQ community," she said. “We’re not going anywhere.”
Rev. Hernandez was born in Puerto Rico but raised in The Bronx. Among a long list of accolades, The Bronx Times has chosen Rev. Hernandez as a recipient of the “25 Bronx Influential Women Award” for 2015. She is currently at work on her book “There Is Hope in a Mixed-Up World.” When she’s not working, you might find Rev. Hernandez at Joe’s Place Restaurant, one of her favorite spots in the borough.
Fighting the Good Fight:
Rev. Carmen Hernandez Continues Her Work for The Bronx’s LGBTQ Community
By Tracy Kaler
DISCRIMINATION: GENDER IDENTITY