Hero in shooting of Arizona congresswoman to speak at Pridefest

Milwaukee’s Pridefest will be held Friday June 10 through Sunday, June 12 at Henry Maier Festival Park, 200 N. Harbor Drive. Daniel Hernandez, the young intern who has earned the recognition for saving Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ life after she was shot in January, will be a featured guest on a panel discussion at the event. Hernandez will speak about building relationships and outreach within a community.
“In the midst of Arizona’s divisive anti-immigrant law, the rise of a public hero who is Latino, who is the son of an immigrant and who is gay, sends a powerful message to the value and contribution of all people in America,” said Jeanne Geraci, board member of Equality Wisconsin, organizer of the event.
Hernandez is widely credited with saving Giffords’ life after a gunman shot her and 18 other people.  
Hernandez will be joined by Wisconsin’s first Latin a Representative, JoCasta Zamarripa, and other local community leaders to address several dimensions of the Latino and LGBT communities.  Issues will include civic engagement, immigration, HIV-outreach, youth, education and LGBT rights. 
Other speakers include Jose Salazar from the 16th Street Clinic, Jeanne Geraci from Equality Wisconsin, Pedro Perez from Voces de la Frontera/Youth Empowered in the Struggle, and Max E.R. who is organizing a Gay-Straight Alliance at his High School in Madison.