May 18 to 22 marks a time of pro-LGBTQ advocacy for Zero Homophobia/Zero Transphobia, a campaign of the Latino Commission on AIDS. The campaign coincides with the annual global awareness initiative International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT), an opportunity to raise awareness of issues facing the LGBTQ community and to advocate for laws and policies that protect their rights. This year’s theme is “At the heart of democracy.”
Similarly, the Latino Commission on AIDS launched its Zero campaign in 2019 to “combat homophobia and transphobia, particularly within the Latine/Hispanic community,” according to the organizers. “Our mission is clear: to create awareness about the harmful effects of discrimination and hate based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Our goal is to foster a more respectful and loving society.”
The 2026 Zero campaign’s theme is “Our Pen, Our Mic.” The commission explains:
The narrative pushed by mainstream media and coordinated anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns stops here. Queer people have always written our own stories—rich, colorful, and resilient—and we’re not waiting for permission to speak.
We are facing unprecedented attacks. In 2025, we saw 616 anti-LGBTQ bills, the most ever, overwhelmingly targeting trans people. ICE deaths also hit a 20-year high last year.
But we fight back by centering our own liberation.
Join Zero’s May Week of Action from May 18–22, 2026, to continue writing our narrative.
We have two vital events:
• El Arte Sana: Featuring Latinos in the South, Desco Teatro, Q-Latinx, and Antonio Alanis.
• Centering Sexual Liberation: Focusing on pleasure, prevention, and liberation, in partnership with AIDS United, Trans Latinx DMV, and Mpact Global.
The heart of democracy beats with us or not at all.
English/Spanish interpretation available.”
To learn more about the intersection of Latinos and HIV, click #Latino. You’ll find articles such as:
Andrew Spieldenner, who leads MPact, on the cover of POZ, June 2026
And be sure to check out POZ’s June 2026 cover story (pictured above), “Pride in Global Action,” which highlights the 20th anniversary of MPact, an LGBTQ, HIV and human rights advocacy group.
