Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos (GLLU) was founded in 1981, only a dozen years after the Stonewall rebellion and only a few years before the HIV/AIDS pandemic began to ravage LGBTQ communities.
GLLU was one of the first Queer Latine organization in the greater Los Angeles area. This website chronicles events surrounding GLLU at a pivotal time in the history of LGBTQ equality, women’s rights, and civil rights movements that shaped the destinies of GLLU’s communities for decades to come.
The RADIO QGLLU podcast is the show that TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT THE QUEER, GAY, AND LESBIAN LATINE COMMUNITY IS TALKING ABOUT. RADIO QGLLU, fearlessly plunges into the vibrant and diverse world of the Queer community in Los Angeles, Southern California, and beyond.
Show Hosts and Producers include:
Rita Gonzales
Eduardo Archuleta
🎙️ Welcome to the RADIO QGLLU Podcast! 🌟
Join us as we carry forward the legacy of GLLU's groundbreaking Radio GLLU program, which first hit the airwaves in 1986. For decades, this trailblazing show has amplified the voices and stories of the Queer, Gay, and Lesbian Latinx community, sparking meaningful conversations and fostering unity.
Now, in its modern podcast form, RADIO QGLLU continues to celebrate our vibrant culture, explore pressing issues, and shine a spotlight on the narratives that shape our lives. Whether you’re a longtime listener or new to the journey, we’re thrilled to have you here.
Tune in, connect, and be part of our evolving story. This is RADIO QGLLU — where our history inspires the conversations of today and tomorrow. 🌈🎧
Image description: Black and white photograph of a Radio GLLU taping at KPFK studios, featuring one of the sound engineers and original co-hosts Eduardo Archuleta and Rita Gonzales.
Image credits: Louis Jacinto, “Radio GLLU Taping at KPFK Studios,” 1986. Black and white photograph. Louis Jacinto’s collection.
Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos (GLLU) was founded in 1981 and quickly became the most visible and impactful queer Latinx organization in Southern California.
In order to reach more queer Latino community members, they started hosting a half hour radio show on KPFK Radio Pacifica once a month with the help of IMRU, an LA-based LGBTQ+ radio program. In 1986, their show, Radio GLLU, made history on the airwaves as the first bilingual LGBTQ+ radio program in the United States.
Radio GLLU tapings like the one pictured here took place on Saturdays at KPFK Studios in North Hollywood with the leadership of co-hosts Rita Gonzales (right) and Eduardo Archuleta (middle), GLLU members, and sound engineers (left).
Chronological Timeline of Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos (GLLU):
1981 – Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos (GLLU) is founded in Los Angeles, California, as a grassroots organization focused on advocating for the rights and visibility of LGBTQ+ Latinos.
1980s – GLLU becomes one of the leading Latino LGBTQ+ organizations in the U.S., hosting cultural and political events, engaging in AIDS activism, and fostering community-building efforts.
1987 – GLLU plays a role in organizing the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, advocating for LGBTQ+ Latino issues on a national stage.
1990s – The organization expands its influence, participating in policy advocacy, supporting LGBTQ+ Latino artists, and collaborating with other civil rights groups.
1999 – GLLU disbands due to internal challenges and shifts in the broader LGBTQ+ movement, but its legacy continues through other Latino LGBTQ+ organizations inspired by its work.
See More: Timeline