Gloria Casarez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gloria Casarez
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Gloria Casarez delivering her "Dykes First" speech in Kahn Park for Philly Dyke March 2012
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| Born | December 13, 1971 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
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| Died | October 19, 2014 (aged 42) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
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| Monuments | Philadelphia City Hall Historical Marker |
| Alma mater | West Chester University |
| Occupation | City of Philadelphia Director of LGBT Affairs |
| Known for | social justice, civil rights, LGBTQ activism |
| Spouse(s) | Tricia Dressel (m. 2011) |
Gloria Casarez (December 13, 1971 – October 19, 2014) was an American civil rights leader and LGBTQ+ activist from Philadelphia. She worked to make sure all people, especially those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+), were treated fairly. Gloria Casarez was the first person to lead Philadelphia's Office of LGBT Affairs. While she was in charge, Philadelphia became known as a top city for LGBTQ+ equality in the United States. Before this, she was the leader of GALAEI, an organization that helped Latino communities with AIDS education.
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Early Life and Education
Gloria Casarez was born in Philadelphia and grew up in the Kensington neighborhood. She went to Sheridan Elementary School and later graduated from Haddon Township High School in 1989. When she was 17, she shared that she was a lesbian.
Gloria went to West Chester University. There, she was very active in student government and worked for social change. She earned degrees in Criminal Justice and Political Science in 1993. She was also the president of the Latino Student Union.
Working for Change
Early Activism in the 1990s
From 1991 to 1996, Gloria Casarez helped start and organize for Empty the Shelters. This group worked for housing rights and economic fairness for young people. She helped create projects like the Summer of Social Action on college campuses.
From 1995 to 1998, she worked at the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania. This center is one of the oldest of its kind in the U.S. She created new programs to support LGBTQ+ students of color and transgender students.
At 27, Gloria became the leader of the Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative (GALAEI). She led GALAEI from 1999 to 2008. During this time, she helped the organization get more funding. She also started important programs, like Philadelphia's first mobile HIV testing centers. She also created the Trans-health information project, which was the first transgender health program in the city.
Community Leadership
Gloria Casarez was always interested in helping communities lead their own efforts for change. She was a strong supporter of "harm reduction," which means finding ways to reduce negative effects, especially in health. She helped lead Prevention Point Philadelphia, which is the city's only syringe exchange program, from 1999 to 2003.
She was also a long-time board member of the Bread and Roses Community Fund. This group helps local organizations working for fairness for all people. Casey Cook, the director of Bread & Roses, remembered Gloria as a powerful force for real change.
Gloria also worked with the Philadelphia LGBT Police Liaison Committee. She helped improve safety for LGBTQ+ people and trained new police officers on LGBTQ+ issues. She also helped start the LGBT Elder Initiative in 2010.
She was a founder of the Philadelphia DYKE March, a march for lesbian and queer women.
City Government Role
In 2008, Gloria Casarez made history. Mayor Michael A. Nutter chose her to be Philadelphia's first Director of LGBT Affairs. This was the first time someone had a paid job in the Mayor's Office to directly help the LGBTQ+ community. Gloria promised to represent the community with "authenticity, integrity and respect."
Gloria led the Mayor's Office of LGBT Affairs from 2008 to 2014. Her office worked on important issues like public safety, education, and civil rights for LGBTQ+ people. In 2012, Philadelphia was ranked number two in the country for LGBTQ+ equality. This was a big achievement, especially since Pennsylvania did not yet have statewide laws protecting LGBTQ+ people.
The Office of LGBT Affairs became a permanent part of the city's government in 2015. During Gloria's time, Philadelphia also passed some of the strongest LGBTQ+ rights protections in the nation. She continued to serve as Director of LGBT Affairs until she passed away in October 2014.
Awards and Recognition
Gloria Casarez received many awards for her important work. Out Magazine named her one of the "100 Most Influential Leaders of the New Millennium" in 1999. She also received the Philadelphia Out Proud Award.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) gave her an award for her work in social and political justice. She also received the Kiyoshi Kuromiya Award for Justice from Philadelphia FIGHT, a group that helps people with HIV/AIDS.
Local and national news outlets also recognized Gloria's contributions. Philadelphia Magazine included her in a list of "Who's Who of Philly's Gay Community." She was named "Person of the Year" by Philly Gay Calendar in 2009.
In 2010, Gloria Casarez threw out the first pitch at a Philadelphia Phillies baseball game. West Chester University honored her in 2012 for her leadership. She was also the Philadelphia Pride Grand Marshal in both 2001 and 2014.
Personal Life
Marriage
Gloria Casarez was a strong supporter of marriage equality for LGBTQ+ people. She legally married her long-time partner, Tricia Dressel, in New York on August 12, 2011. This happened shortly after New York State allowed same-sex marriage. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter performed a special ceremony for them in Philadelphia.
Gloria told a reporter that their marriage was very meaningful. She said, "This isn't 'gay marriage,' this is marriage. This is significant." In May 2014, a judge ruled that Pennsylvania's ban on same-sex marriage was against the law. This meant Gloria and Tricia's marriage was legally recognized in their home state of Pennsylvania, just a few months before Gloria's death.
Health and Passing
Gloria Casarez was diagnosed with a serious type of breast cancer in March 2009. She bravely shared her experiences living with cancer in a blog. The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation honored her in 2012. Mayor Michael A. Nutter said Gloria was a "fighter" who never wanted the focus to be on her illness.
Gloria Casarez passed away on October 19, 2014, after living with cancer for over five years. Two weeks before she died, she led the LGBTQ+ flag-raising ceremony at City Hall. She started this tradition in 2010, making it the first time the rainbow flag was raised at a city building in Philadelphia.
Memorial
After Gloria's passing, Philadelphia ordered the LGBTQ+ rainbow flag at City Hall to be flown at half-mast. Her funeral was held at Arch Street Methodist Church. The Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus encouraged people to display rainbow flags in their windows to remember Gloria.
Philadelphia FIGHT honored Gloria for her activism. They said she was "a kind, generous, and fun person" who bravely fought her cancer. Civil rights activist Amber Hikes said Gloria was "a giant, a living legend," who showed that there was a place for queer people of color in the community.
Legacy and Impact
Posthumous Awards
After her death, Gloria Casarez continued to be honored. She received the Lifetime Service Award from the Diabolique Foundation in 2014. The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund gave her the Lifetime Legacy Award in 2015.
In April 2019, Gloria was featured in an exhibit at the Governor's mansion. This exhibit highlighted 32 Pennsylvania women who were "Game Changers." In 2021, West Chester University named her one of the 150 most influential women in the university's history.
Gloria Casarez Way
In 2015, the Philadelphia City Council passed a resolution to name a street in Center City Philadelphia "Gloria Casarez Way." This street also featured a mural called "A Tribute to Gloria Casarez" by artist Michelle Angela Ortiz.
Gloria Casarez Residence
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The Gloria Casarez Residence opened on May 14, 2019. This building provides safe and affordable homes for young adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It is especially welcoming to LGBTQ+ youth. This was the first permanent supportive housing of its kind in Pennsylvania.
State Historical Marker
A state historical marker honoring Gloria Casarez was placed at Philadelphia City Hall on October 8, 2021. This ceremony also included raising the rainbow flag for National LGBTQ History Month, a tradition Gloria started. This marker was the first in Pennsylvania to honor a person of Latin or Hispanic descent.
Many people supported the historical marker, including Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. Social worker Ninoshka Montas spoke at the unveiling. She said Gloria's work inspires her to advocate for her community.
Gloria Casarez Elementary School
In June 2022, Philip H. Sheridan Elementary School was renamed the Gloria Casarez Elementary School. Students, parents, and community members voted for the change. The school's assistant principal, Julio Nunez, said the new name represents the school's goal of inclusion. Gloria Casarez herself attended Sheridan Elementary School.
Arts and Culture
Artists in Philadelphia have created murals to honor Gloria Casarez. In October 2015, a two-story mural called "A Tribute to Gloria Casarez" was unveiled.
In December 2016, poet Christian Lovehall dedicated a song to Gloria called "See Ya Later." The song included parts of a speech Gloria gave at the 2014 Philadelphia DYKE March.
In March 2020, artist Hope Hummingbird created a porcelain portrait of Gloria for Women's History Month.
In December 2020, the original mural of Gloria Casarez was painted over without warning. This caused national news. The artist, Michelle Angela Ortiz, projected an image of the mural onto the white-washed wall. She added the message, "YOU CAN'T ERASE OUR HISTORY." The company responsible later apologized.
In October 2021, Gloria was featured on a new mural at Giovanni's Room Bookstore. Another artist, Tish Urquhart, also created a tribute to Gloria in January 2021.
Artist Alloyius Mcilwaine painted a portrait of Gloria in June 2021. This portrait will be kept at Haddon Township High School, where Gloria went to school.
In September 2021, artist Symone Salib created a mural honoring Gloria called "My Existence is Resistance." This mural is located in Norris Square, Philadelphia.
During the June 2022 Philadelphia Pride March, organizers put up a large copy of Michelle Angela Ortiz's mural. It was placed at the original mural site.
See also
- Civil Rights Leaders
- LGBT Rights Activists
- Philadelphia Gay News
- LGBT social movements
- Michael Nutter
