Olga Orraca-Paredes

Olga Orraca-Paredes is a champion of LGBT rights in Puerto Rico and South and Central Americas. She is the former co-chair of the National Latino/a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Organization (LLEGO) and has organized numerous conferences on Latino/a LGBT civil rights.

Orraca-Paredes served as the Director for the Puerto Rican Coalition of Lesbians and Homosexuals, Puerto Rico's largest coalition of LGBT rights organizations. During her tenure, the coalition published Sal Ba Fuea, a magazine which addresses issues of importance to the Latino/a LGBT community. She successfully led the fight against Puerto Rico's Article 103, which banned homosexuality.

In 1992, she helped to organize Encuentro, which brought together lesbian feminists from throughout Latin America. She is the recipient of the Colin Higgins Courage Award.