The Second Annual Honoring Bay Area LGBTQ+ Latine Women Leaders & Allies, presented by the San Francisco Bay Times, will take place on October 30, 2026, at CANA (Cultura y Arte Nativa de las Americas) in the heart of the Mission District of San Francisco from 6–9 pm. Returning as co-emcees will be Olga Talamante, who is a co-producer of the event and a renowned activist and Executive Director Emerita of the Chicana Latina Foundation; and Rev. Miguel Bustos, who is an Archdeacon of the Diocese of California and a passionate advocate for racial and LGBTQ+ justice. Providing key support will be Viviana “Viva” Paredes, who was one of last year’s honorees and is an artist whose works have been exhibited in both regional and international exhibitions.
This year’s honorees represent numerous fields, are all highly accomplished, and have made significant contributions to the Latine and LGBTQ+ communities. The 16 honorees for 2026 are as follows:
Vanessa Camarena-Arredondo, María Cora, Baylee DeCastro, Diane Felix, Tisha Floratos-Silano, Dr. Estela Reyes Garcia, Vanessa Gonzalez, Esperanza Macias, Felicia Maria Medina, Maria Medina-Serafin, Carmen de Monteflores, Irene Pérez, Jess Sabogal, Robán San Miguel, Patricia Thumas, and M. Zamora.
We encourage you to read more about each of them in this issue of the San Francisco Bay Times. This year’s event will pay special tribute to Dr. Estela Reyes Garcia, who passed in July of this year. She was a psychologist and the Executive Director of the Instituto Familiar de la Raza, and was also the longtime partner of fellow honoree Robán San Miguel.
CANA
The new location of this annual event, CANA, is the home and namesake of a vital 501(c)(3) nonprofit grassroots organization. Located at 683 Florida Street, CANA offers a beautiful, spacious venue in the vibrant Mission District. The organization is dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and advancing Latine, Caribbean, and Indigenous cultural heritage through community empowerment and the arts.
Best known as the producer of signature cultural traditions like the annual Carnaval San Francisco and Día de los Muertos celebrations, CANA leverages artistic expression to foster social equity, environmental justice, and economic stability within the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District. Beyond its arts programming, the organization serves as an anchor for local advocacy and community resilience, spearheading essential initiatives such as the Mission Food Hub, advocating for affordable housing, and developing the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Arts Healing Center.
The timing of this year’s awards ceremony falls on the eve of Halloween night and just a few days before the Día de los Muertos observances on November 1 and 2.
National Hispanic Heritage Month
October is also part of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated annually in the U.S. from September 15 to October 15, so this will be one of the last events connected to the extended month. National Hispanic Heritage Month honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Originally established as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, it was expanded to a month-long observance by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 and enacted into law. The mid-September start date is historically significant, as it coincides with the Independence Day anniversaries of several Latin American nations, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15, followed by Mexico on September 16, Chile on September 18, and Belize on September 21. Today, the month is observed through community festivals, educational displays, artistic exhibitions, and cultural programming nationwide.
A Night of Gratitude and Celebration
You are invited to come celebrate this year’s honorees at the Second Annual Honoring Bay Area LGBTQ+ Latine Women Leaders & Allies on October 30 at CANA. The venue will be full of delicate, festive papel picado (colorful cut paper artworks) and lush bouquets. The Mission, like the Castro, is teeming with pub crawls, Halloween parties, and more at this time of year, so the event will capture some of that energy while also celebrating the important work of the sixteen honorees for 2026.
There will be delicious food—Olga Talamante selected one of the Bay Area’s finest Latine caterers—along with quality beverages including those of sponsors 1800 Tequila and V. Sattui Winery, as well as non-alcoholic options.
Talented DJ Olga T of Mango at El Rio fame will be providing music. 2026 is the 30th Anniversary year (aka “Dirty 30”) of Mango!
For tickets and additional information, go to: https://bit.ly/4B7Y7ap
2025 marked the first ever Honoring Bay Area LGBTQ+ Latine Women Leaders & Allies. Held at the stunning historic Mission District home of co-emcee Rev. Miguel Bustos and his husband Alexander Rivera, the event brought together numerous leaders of not only the LGBTQ+ Latine community, but also many others.
The inaugural award recipients were:
Adriana Ayala, Noemi Calonje, Dulce Garcia, Marga Gomez, Carla Lucero, Jes Montesinos, Ámate Pérez, Viviana “Viva” Paredes, Rev. Rhina Ramos, Ani Rivera, Elba Rivera, Jennifer Valles
Many of these former awardees will be attending the ceremony and celebration on October 30, 2026, demonstrating their support for this year’s 16 honorees.
2nd Annual Honoring Bay Area LGBTQ+ Latine Women Leaders & Allies
Published on October 22, 2026
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