Washington, D.C.— In celebration of International Women’s Day, Latino Victory Project released a statement to address the importance of increasing Latina representation.
This year’s theme, “Break the Bias,” is a call to action to urge all women and allies to break the bias that exists for Latinas in the political landscape. Many Latina candidates are breaking the bias by running for office as their authentic selves and leading issues centered on women’s rights, inclusivity, and social justice for marginalized communities. Latino Victory Project wants Latinas to know that if they wish to see positive change in their community, they own the power to use their talents and skills to make it happen—and running for office is within their reach.
Nathalie Rayes, Latino Victory Project president and CEO, issued the following statement:
“On this International Women’s Day, we renew our call to action to fight for a world where women and girls are empowered and free to exist. That means creating a society where all women have equal access to education, health care, and opportunity and complete control of their lives and bodies.
“One of the best ways to safeguard and improve women’s rights is by advancing women’s political participation at all government levels—from the voting booth to the ballot box—to ensure that our elected government reflects the women it represents. That’s why Latino Victory vows to continue fighting to elect more Latinas. There is a legion of Latina candidates running to support access to quality education, affordable health care and housing, reproductive rights, and job opportunities. They’re running because they understand that every woman has the right to take up space and speak up at the table where the laws and policies that impact their families and communities are made.
“We are more than capable of leading in Congress, state legislatures, and city halls across the country. Let’s break the bias that has kept Latinas on the sidelines for far too long by running for office and by supporting Latinas who run. Latinas are not passive observers in society—we are active participants and agents of change.”
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The Latino Victory Project develops a pipeline of Latino leaders and shapes public discourse to reflect the growing influence of the Latino community while also building cross-constituency alliances that can move the country forward.
