UndocuQueer Book

I am Javier Hernandez and I am undocumented and queer.  My family and I migrated to the United States in 1989, when I was just 6 months old.  My mother and father had the courage to leave everything behind and come to a country in which they knew it would be difficult to succeed, but also wanted the best for their children.

Growing up I knew that I was undocumented at a very young age, but did not know what it meant until my sophomore year in high school when I was told that I could not attend college . When I turned 18 and after many rumors going around, I was forced to come out of the closet and decided to be true to family, friends, and myself.  Although I had been out of the shadows since 2007, I decided to publicly proclaim that I was undocumented at a rally at Mount San Antonio College in 2009.

It’s important for me to be part of safe spaces in which all identities are acknowledged without judgment.  Being openly UndocuQueer has brought liberation to my identity and myself and I know that I must do what I can to make sure others have the safe space to be who they are.  I am currently enrolled in school and would like to major in psychology with a minor in political science. I organize with the Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Coalition, an undocumented youth-led group dedicated to empowering, educating, and creating safe spaces for all youth.