Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! This holiday was established in 1968 to celebrate the cultural influences created by Hispanic Americans. In honor of our heritage month, we are outlining 4 badass Latinas who have broken social and gender boundaries!
Ellen Ochoa
In 1993, Ellen Ochoa became the first Latina astronaut in space. Later on, she became the first Latina director of the Johnson Space Agency in 2013.
Ochoa completed her astronaut training in 1991 after being chosen by NASA to participate in their astronaut program. In April 1993, she served as a mission specialist for the STS-56 mission of the space shuttle Discovery.
During her time as Director of the Johnson Space Agency, she oversaw work on the Orion. This project aimed at furthering human exploration in space with destinations as far as Mars.
“I hope to continue to inspire our nation’s youth to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math so they, too, may reach for the stars.” – Ellen Ochoa
Gwen Ifill
Gwen Ifill left her mark as one of the first Black women to host a nationally televised public affairs program in the United States. Her contributions have paved the way for other journalists of color.
The television anchor of Panamanian and Barbadian descent went on to moderate for two vice-presidential debates. Her moderation received high marks for equal treatment of both candidates.
Ifill has worked for The Washington Post, The New York Times, and PBS. Her alma mater, Simmons College, launched the Gwen Ifill College of Media, Arts, and Humanities in her honor.
“Diversity is essential to the success of the news industry, and journalists must include diverse voices in their coverage to reach broader audiences. We have to tell, but many in our audience have stopped listening because they can tell that we’re not talking about them.” – Gwen Ifill
Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Sotomayor made history by becoming the first Latina U.S. Supreme Court Justice on August 8, 2009.
The New York native attended Yale Law School for her education. She advocated for more Latino staff and students at the institution. During her early legal career, she worked as an assistant district attorney handling cases such as police brutality, shoplifting, prostitution, and murders. Sotomayor was instrumental in notable rulings such as J.D.B. v. North Carolina. The Supreme Court ruled that age is relevant when determining if a person in police custody has Miranda rights.
President Barack Obama nominated her for a Supreme Court seat. Since joining the Supreme Court, Sotomayor is an advocate for criminal justice reform and women’s rights.
“I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.” – Sonia Sotomayor
Sylvia Rivera
Sylvia Rivera is a bisexual trans-Latina activist who advocated for queer and transgender people during the gay-rights movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The Puerto Rican and Venezuelan icon became an orphan by the age of 3. After living with her grandmother, she left home at the age of 11 and lived with a local community of drag queens who named her Sylvia.
She started her activism by forming S.T.A.R. (Street Transgender Action Revolutionaries), aimed to achieve rights for the trans community and to provide them with social services. Rivera also focused on women’s rights, poverty, and race.
In her later life, she fought for more recognition for trans people in the LGBT community. Rivera expressed how she felt marginalized in her community.