{"id":5084213,"date":"2020-05-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-18T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ctlatinonews.com\/east-haven-native-receives-national-lgbtq-honor\/"},"modified":"2020-05-18T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-05-18T04:00:00","slug":"east-haven-native-receives-national-lgbtq-honor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/ctln\/2020\/05\/18\/east-haven-native-receives-national-lgbtq-honor\/","title":{"rendered":"East Haven native receives national LGBTQ honor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Vicki Adame,<\/a> CTLatinoNews.com<\/a><\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n

Brandon Gomez understands that being a young, gay Latino journalist; he has a responsibility to tell the stories of his community.<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cAll through my career, I\u2019ve covered stories on the Latino community and LGBTQ community. I committed that the work I do as a gay man and Latino is to tell those stories year-round,\u201d said Gomez, an East Haven native.<\/p>\n\n\n

Now living in Brooklyn, Gomez works as an associate producer for CNBC\u2019s Squawk on the Street.<\/p>\n\n\n

This commitment has taken on extra meaning after Gomez was named to \u201cThe 41 List<\/a>\u201d which celebrates 41 LGBTQ Latinx role models. The list is put out by Honor 41, a national nonprofit, which promotes awareness and positive images of the Latinx LGBTQ community, according to Alberto B. Mendoza<\/a>, Honor 41 founder and producer of The 41 List.<\/p>\n\n\n

The 41 in the name Honor 41, refers to the 1901 arrest and subsequent disappearance of 41 Mexican men in Mexico City from a dance in a private home. Many of the men were wearing women\u2019s clothing. As the story goes, there were actually 42 men at the house. The 42nd<\/sup> is the son-in-law of Porfirio Diaz, Mexico\u2019s president at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n

Gomez, who is Puerto Rican and Italian, came out when he was 19. <\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cI think I might be gay.\u201d<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n

\u201cI was nervous when I first started telling people. I mentioned it to two close friends. I told them \u2018I think I might be gay.\u2019 I knew then that it was just a matter of telling everyone in my life,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n

When Gomez began telling others close to him, he would call and get on their calendar to have a sit-down conversation. <\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cI did this so I could reveal this thing about myself,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n

But telling his family \u2014 his mom and older brother \u2014 was more difficult for the 28-year-old.<\/p>\n\n\n

His plan was to tell his mom and brother when he went home for Easter break. <\/p>\n\n\n

Brandon recalled standing in the hallway of the family\u2019s Connecticut home and receiving a text from a friend asking if he had told them yet. His mom saw the text and panicked. She cornered him insisting he tell her was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n

It just so happened Gomez was standing in front of the family\u2019s altar. <\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cI was raised Catholic and am still very faithful. I was standing in front of the altar and I have to tell my mom. I was very anxious and scared,\u201d Gomez recalled.<\/p>\n\n\n

While the reaction from his brother was quick and positive \u2014 \u201cGreat, thanks for telling us,\u201d Gomez\u2019s mom was more reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cShe had to navigate the reality and that I kept something from her for so long. Now we\u2019re at a place where I feel truly, fully accepted,\u201d Gomez said. \u201cThe struggle was really at the beginning. With time and conversation, we were able to move on. And it has actually strengthened our relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

Being named to the list is an amazing opportunity, \u201ceven in the chaos our world is facing right now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n

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