Born: 1960 (Veracruz, Mexico)
Died: 2020
Lorena Borjas (May 29, 1960 – March 30, 2020) was a Mexican-American transgender and immigrant rights activist, known as the mother of the transgender Latinx community in Queens, New York. Her tireless work on behalf of immigrant and transgender communities garnered recognition throughout New York City and the United States. Borjas was not just an activist, but also a community figure and leader in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of Queens.
Born in Veracruz, Mexico in 1960, Borjas faced early hardships and challenges. When she was seventeen years old, she ran away from home and found herself living on the streets of Mexico City. Despite these difficulties, she remained determined and later pursued public accounting studies in Mexico City. It was during this time that she discovered her true identity and decided to transition.
In 1981, Borjas emigrated to the United States at the age of twenty, with the goal of obtaining hormone therapy and fully embracing her identity as a woman. Initially, she took a job in a belt factory and shared an apartment in the Jackson Heights neighborhood with twenty other transgender women who worked in the sex industry. Borjas quickly became a lifeline and advocate for these women, providing support and guidance. While her initial focus was on aiding Mexican transgender women, she later expanded her efforts to help all Latin American trans women who faced similar challenges. Borjas understood the struggles of being a transgender immigrant and knew firsthand the discrimination and abuse they had to endure.
In 1986, Borjas was granted amnesty under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, providing her with legal status and stability. Four years later, in 1990, she became a legal permanent resident of the United States. Finally, in 2019, Borjas fulfilled her dream of becoming a U.S. citizen.
Throughout the 1990s, Borjas faced numerous challenges. She battled addiction to crack cocaine, which led to riskier involvement in the sex industry. Sadly, she also experienced sex trafficking and abusive relationships during this period. These circumstances led to multiple arrests, rendering her ineligible for green card renewal and naturalization. However, Borjas’s resilience shone through as she escaped from the abusive relationship and overcame her drug addiction in the late 1990s.
In 1995, Borjas made a pivotal decision that would shape the rest of her life. She dedicated herself to activism, vowing to protect transgender victims of human trafficking, slavery, and violence, drawing from her own personal experiences. Borjas opened her own apartment to women who had been ostracized by their families, providing them with a safe space until they could support themselves. She tirelessly walked the streets, seeking out those who needed her help and advocating for their rights.
Borjas was also a powerful voice in the fight against HIV/AIDS. She herself was HIV-positive, and she witnessed the devastating toll it took on her friends and community. She became an influential figure in raising awareness about the unique challenges faced by transgender individuals with HIV/AIDS and advocating for their access to healthcare and support services.
Over the years, Borjas’s activism gained widespread recognition, both locally and nationally. Her work was instrumental in advancing the rights and visibility of transgender and immigrant communities. She fought tirelessly for justice, equality, and dignity, leaving an indelible mark on the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Lorena Borjas’s contributions to women’s history and the fight for transgender rights cannot be overstated. She was a trailblazer, a beacon of hope, and a source of strength for countless individuals within the transgender Latinx community and beyond. Her legacy lives on through the lives she touched and the communities she empowered.
Awards:
– NMAC’s Phill Wilson Buidling Power Award (2015)
– El Diario La Prensa 25 Mujeres Destacadas (2018)