VIDEOS
VIDEOS WERE
NOT
NOT SUBJECT TO FEDERAL PROSECUTION.
PROSECUTION. THE NEW LAW MAKES THOSE ACTS
EIGHT FEDERAL CRIME.
CARLO: WE HAVE A LOOK AT HOW
THINGS HAVE CHANGED FOR THE
LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
LGBTQ COMMUNITY. THERE ARE CHALLENGES THEY FACE
LGBTQ COMMUNITY. THERE ARE CHALLENGES THEY FACE.
IN SOME AREAS THEY ARE SUBJECTED
TO HORRIFIC TREATMENT.
VARIOUS CULTURES DEALING WITH
SIMILAR ISSUES.
SIMILAR ISSUES. WE SPOKE WITH THOSE WHO
EXPERIENCE COMING OUT IN THE
LATINO COMMUNITY, WHICH IS
EVOLVING IN MANY WAYS.
REPORTER: WE LOOK AT THE
STRUGGLES AND WHY THEY THINK
THINGS ARE MOVING IN A POSITIVE
DIRECTION.
DIRECTION. THEY BELIEVE THEIR STORIES ARE
SIMILAR TO ANY CULTURE, NO
MATTER YOUR RACE OR RELIGION.
>> IT FELT GOOD AND WARM AND
SAFE.
SAFE.
SAFE. REPORTER: FROM A YOUNG AGE, HE
KNEW WHERE HE WANTED TO BE, ON
STAGE AND IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
>> I REMEMBER THUNDEROUS
APPLAUSE.
APPLAUSE.
APPLAUSE. REPORTER: HIS TALENTS EVENTUALLY
LANDED HIM A SUCCESSFUL CAREER
AS A TV NEWS REPORTER.
BUT BEHIND THE FAME AND FORTUNE,
HE WAS TORMENTED BY A SECRET.
>> WHEN YOUR LIFE IS BASED ON A
LIE, THERE IS NO HOPE.
REPORTER: HE WAS GAY GROWING UP
IN A TRADITIONAL MEXICAN
AMERICAN FAMILY, AND
EXPECTATIONS WERE CLEAR.
>> A MAN IS MACHO, THE HEAD OF
THE HOUSEHOLD, HE LIKES MANLY
THINGS.
THINGS.
THINGS. REPORTER: HE HID THE TRUTH FROM
HIS FAMILY.
HIS FAMILY. YEARS OF LIVING A DOUBLE LIFE
ADDED TO THE PAIN HE ALWAYS
FELT.
FELT.
FELT. IT
FELT. IT WAS A CONSTANT INTERNAL
BATTLE.
BATTLE.
BATTLE. >> BEFORE I WOULD LEAVE THIS
EARTH, I WANT MY SEXUALITY TO BE
SOMETHING THAT BRINGS ME JOY.
AND NOT JUST PAIN.
REPORTER: THAT WAS IN THE
MID-1980'S.
MID-1980'S. DECADES AWAY FROM THE PRIDE WE
SEE TODAY.
SEE TODAY. >> AT THE TIME I CAME OUT, I WAS
MET WITH HOSTILITY AND
HOMOPHOBIA.
HOMOPHOBIA. REPORTER: FERNANDO LOPEZ IS THE
DIRECTOR OF SAN DIEGO PRIDE.
HE SAYS IT IS DIFFICULT COMING
OUT IN ANY CULTURE, HE TALKED
ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE IN A LATINO
FAMILY.
FAMILY.
FAMILY. >> I REMEMBER MY GRANDMOTHER
TELLING ME I WAS GOING TO HELL
TO BURN FOR ETERNITY.
>> ANY CULTURE, WE HEAR THESE
MESSAGES, AND IT TAKES A LONG
TIME TO STEP WHO WE ARE.
-- A LONG TIME TO ACCEPT WHO WE
ARE.
ARE.
ARE. INCLUDING THE LATINO CULTURE,
FAMILIES ARE IMPORTANT.
THE IDEA OF LOSING YOUR FAMILY
FOR COMING OUT IS VERY PAINFUL.
REPORTER: THE IMPORTANCE OF
FAMILY AND A TRADITIONALLY MACHO
CULTURE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS
IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR LATINO
LGBTQ MEMBERS TO FIND ACCEPTANCE
IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
BUT THINGS ARE CHANGING.
>> IN MANY PLACES FOR MANY
FAMILIES, GENERALLY IT IS
BECOMING EASIER.
BECOMING EASIER. REPORTER: PART OF THAT IS DUE TO
INCREASED OUTREACH AND
EDUCATION, AND MORE SUPPORT FROM
RELIGIOUS FAITHS.
RELIGIOUS FAITHS. >> I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT
EVOLUTION AND OPENNESS IN
CHURCHES.
CHURCHES.
CHURCHES. IT HELPS OUR FAMILY.
>> MY GRANDMOTHER CAME AROUND.
REPORTER: AT HER FUNERAL
EVERYONE TOLD HIM HOW PROUD SHE
WAS OF THE WORK HE IS DOING IN
THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
>> NEVER DID I THINK I WOULD BE
IN A SITUATION IN THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH HEARING THAT.
REPORTER: AFTER YEARS OF
FIGHTING INTERNAL DEMONS, HE
MADE AMENDS WITH HIS FAMILY AND
HIS IN A PLACE OF PEACE AND
SELF-ACCEPTANCE.
SELF-ACCEPTANCE. >> MY LIFE IS STILL WITH
OPPORTUNITY TO CARRY THE MESSAGE
TO THOSE WHO SUFFER.
REPORTER: HE IS USING HIS ROLE
AS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER
TO'S BREAD THAT MESSAGE OF
POSITIVITY AND ACCEPTANCE.
BARBARA-LEE: IT IS ALWAYS
INTERESTING TO HEAR HOW THINGS
HAVE CHANGED.
HAVE CHANGED. CARLO: AND A STRUGGLE FOR PEOPLE
TO LIVE THEIR TRUE LIVES.