Photo: Sharon Farmer
(L-R) Dawson, Kumar
3 QUESTIONS FOR …
ROSARIO DAWSON & MARÍA TERESA KUMAR Q: THE COUNTRY’S MID-TERM ELECTIONS ARE APPROACHING RAPIDLY, AND MANY PEOPLE ARE MOBILIZING TO GO TO THE POLLS. WHY IS NOW SUCH A KEY TIME TO VOTE? A: Rosario Dawson We’re living in a time right when a lot is happening in our country, and we face a lot of pressing issues — like the recent shooting in Ferguson — and people are trying to figure out what they can do. With the power of our vote, we can turn things around in our communities. María Teresa Kumar It’s as simple as this: If you don’t vote, you’re conceding to the opposition. Too much is at stake for our communities not to vote. Mid-term elections are crucial because they decide everything from our congressional makeup to municipal elections where our many local laws are now bubbling up to impact and shape a national agenda.
Q: ADVOCACY WORK — WHY DO IT? A: Dawson There’s a long history of advocacy in my family — and it’s always been an honor to serve and to lead. When you have your moment, you give back, you contribute to society. Growing up, I watched a lot of people who didn’t have very much giving what they didn’t have. And that’s how it works. We have the ability to help each other and to do something together. Kumar I consider myself an accidental advocate. I started my career in Congress as a legislative aide and witnessed a lot of wellintentioned people drafting policy for a growing, diverse America whose life experience policymakers didn’t understand. My passion for Voto Latino is recognizing that if a growing group of Millennials are given the tools and given information, they can navigate the political process and help define these policies for themselves. Maximum participation should be our common objectives as Americans — it ensures a thriving democracy in pursuit of equality.
Q: WHY DO YOU SUPPORT LGBT EQUALITY? A: Kumar The two civil rights issues of our time are equality for the LGBT community to enjoy the same liberties as their neighbors and immigration reform for 11 million undocumented people — 5 million of whom are children who came to this country through no fault of their own. Our children will judge where we were during these two major struggles. Dawson It’s not something that requires a lot of thinking. We take for granted the diversity of being different. We’re all part of this world. What is our society coming to when we judge one demographic over another? Two years ago, at San Francisco Pride, I took a photo with the HRC Equality sticker and put it up as my Twitter profile photo. It initiated many good conversations!
MARÍA TERESA KUMAR, the president and CEO of Voto Latino, is a frequent commentator on MSNBC. ROSARIO DAWSON, chairwoman and co-founder of Voto Latino, is an actor and political activist. Her most recent film, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, premiered in August. A nonpartisan organization, Voto Latino works to engage Latino Millenials in the civic process by leveraging the power of media, technology and celebrity voices. The group has registered nearly a quarter million voters since its founding 10 years ago. See www.votolatino.org/hrcvotes to register to vote today.
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LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL 2014
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