Drago Renteria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dragonsani "Drago" Renteria
Renteria giving the keynote speech at the Northwest Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf [NWRAD] Lifestyle Leadership Camp, 2006.

Dragonsani "Drago" Renteria is a remarkable leader, artist, and activist. He works hard for social justice, especially for LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and others) rights and the Deaf community. He is known for starting important organizations and using the internet to connect people.

Drago is the CEO of DeafVision, a company he founded. He also started and leads the Deaf Queer Resource Center (DQRC). He has lived in San Francisco for a long time and has led many efforts to support Deaf LGBTQ+ people.

Early Life and Education

Drago Renteria was born in El Paso, Texas. His family has Mexican and Italian roots, and he grew up in the Chicano culture. Spanish was his first language. When he was 11, he got very sick with spinal meningitis. After two days of high fever, he became deaf.

In the late 1970s, at age 12, he began to understand his identity. In the late 1990s, he bravely transitioned from female to male. He was one of the first deaf people known to do this.

He attended Gallaudet University from 1986 to 1988. There, he was president of the student LGBTQ group, the Lambda Society. He also held roles with the school newspaper, Buff & Blue, and was involved with Hispanos Unidos en Gallaudet. He then transferred to the University of California at Berkeley (UCB) and earned his bachelor's degree in 1993. Later, he studied at the City College of San Francisco. He earned certificates in photojournalism and professional portrait photography.

Making a Difference

Fighting for Fairness

At Gallaudet, Drago learned the power of organizing people to make changes. Since then, he has worked on many important causes. These include fighting for fair housing and helping people of color. He has served on the boards of several organizations. These include FTM International (an organization for transgender men) and the Transgender Law Center.

He has given many workshops, presentations, and speeches across the country. He has spoken at events like the Transgender Leadership Summit and the National Association of the Deaf Conference.

Early Online Ventures

In 1997, Drago became the CEO of DeafVision. This was one of the first internet companies owned by a deaf person. DeafVision, based in San Francisco, helps many deaf LGBTQ organizations host their websites. These include Trans Ally and the Buckeye Rainbow Association of the Deaf.

Drago also created some of the very first websites for specific deaf communities. He made the first website for deaf women (Deaf Women Resources). He also created the first website for the deaf Latinx community (Deaf Aztlan).

From 1992 to 1995, Drago was the director of the Deaf Gay and Lesbian Center (DGLC). This program helped deaf LGBTQ people in the San Francisco Bay Area. He realized that many deaf LGBTQ people outside big cities needed support too. He saw the internet as a way to connect and empower the community nationwide. He imagined an online community center.

He also founded the National Deaf LGBTQ Archives in 1993. He was the editor of DCARA News from 1995 to 1996. From 1991 to 1995, he founded, published, and edited the Coming Together Newsletter (CTN).

Deaf Queer Resource Center

In 1995, Drago Renteria founded and became the executive director of the Deaf Queer Resource Center (DQRC). This was one of the first websites for the Deaf community focused on LGBTQ+ issues. He wanted to create a national organization to serve deaf LGBTQ+ people everywhere.

The DQRC officially launched on September 1, 1995. It quickly became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The DQRC offers many services. These include peer support, support groups, and information. They also hold educational workshops and work to increase visibility for the community. They educate others on accessibility and help preserve Deaf LGBTQ history.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the DQRC provided important information. They also hosted regular online events for the Deaf community. The DQRC gets over 15,000 visits each month. They also share resources on social media like Facebook and Instagram. Drago continues to create videos for the National Deaf LGBTQ Archives. These videos are published on the DQRC's Facebook page to save historical moments of the Deaf LGBTQ community.

Through the DQRC, Drago started National Deaf LGBTQ Awareness Week in 2018. This week happens every April. He hopes deaf schools will celebrate it to empower Deaf LGBTQ youth.

Photography and Photojournalism

Since 2015, Drago has worked as a photojournalist for El Tecolote. This newspaper in San Francisco's Mission District is published in English and Spanish. He covers issues that affect Latinx people and other people of color in the Mission District. His photos often show how neighborhoods are changing. He uses photography and silent documentaries to show these changes.

He has presented his work at the National Technical Institute of the Deaf. His art has been shown in exhibits like the Bay Area Deaf Arts exhibit. He also curated art exhibits at the Dyer Arts Center.

Personal Life

Drago Renteria has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1989. He has lived in the Mission District since 1999. He lives with his long-time partner, Jennifer Mantle. Jennifer is an ASL interpreter and a minister. They also share their home with their service dog, Magnus, a Schnoodle.

Publications and Mentions

Drago Renteria has been featured and quoted in several books and articles. In the book Innovations in Deaf Studies, he shared his thoughts. He noted that Deaf LGBTQ history was often left out of history books. He realized that both Deaf history books and LGBTQ history books were not documenting their stories. So, he decided to start documenting this history himself.

A poem by Drago Renteria is included in the 1993 book Eyes of Desire: A Deaf Gay & Lesbian Reader. He is also mentioned in other publications. These include Out's Gay & Lesbian Guide to the Web (1997) and The Transgender Child (2008).

Awards and Honors

Drago Renteria has received many awards for his important work:

• 2019 Changemakers, Disability Changemakers
• Laurent Clerc Award, Gallaudet University, 2018
• Trailblazer Award, DeafHope, 2015
• 41 Latin@ LGBTQ role models, 2015
• Honorary Grand Marshall, Seattle LGBT Pride, 2006
• Appreciation Award, Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf, 2005
• DCARA Hal Ramger Distinguish Service Award, 2003
• Appreciation Award, Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf, 2003
• LGBT Local Hero Award, KQED San Francisco, 2002
• Community Service Award, San Francisco Board of Supervisors, 2002
• Appreciation Award, California State Assembly, 2002
• Woman of the Year Award, Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf, 2001
• Deaf Queer Role Model, Youth Advocates, 2000
• Leadership Award, Rainbow Lambda Society of the Deaf, 1999
• Baltimore Leather Association of the Deaf Life Brother Emeritus, 1998
• Grand Marshall, San Francisco Freedom Day Parade, 1995
• Special Recognition Award, San Francisco Board of Supervisors, 1993
• Leadership Award, Lambda Society of Gallaudet University, 1987

The Drago Renteria Commitment to the LGBTQA Community Award

Each year, Gallaudet University's LGBTQA Resource Center hosts the Lavender Graduation ceremony. This event celebrates graduating students who are part of the LGBTQIA community. It also honors allies and role models. They are recognized for their efforts to promote fairness and understanding for LGBTQIA members on campus.

The Drago Renteria Commitment to the LGBTQA Community Award is a very special honor. It is given to a student who has shown amazing service and leadership. This student helps strengthen the LGBTQA+ community. They also encourage awareness and understanding of LGBTQA+ issues at Gallaudet University and in the wider Deaf community.