Luis Cruz was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and moved to Lorain, Ohio, at 13. As a queer Latino, he faced isolation in a community with limited LGBTQ+ and culturally sensitive resources. After graduating high school in 2008, he came out, beginning his journey toward advocacy and self-acceptance. He later founded the Multi Cultural Queer+ Association (MQA+), a nonprofit that provides culturally responsive resources, mental health support, and leadership development for LGBTQ+ individuals of color. Luis leads with empathy, believing inclusion means making sure everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
My name is T'Relle Cruz-Smith and I am the COO of Multicultural Queer Association. I have a background in healthcare with a focus on cardiovascular health and recently I've stepped into this role with MQA+ to focus on disparities in the LBGTQ+ community with a focus on Hispanic and BIPOC communities.