Visionary Voices: U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres is a Representational Hero in the Media and Political Sphere

 

Ritchie Torres (Photo Credit: En.wikipedia.org)

Ritchie's Road to Representation 

"I see myself as no more hardworking or no more talented than many of the people with whom I grew up." As U.S. Representative for New York's 15th congressional district, Ritchie Torres is bringing a whole other level to the word, representational. Usually we feature artists on this blog with the intent to shine a brighter light on those who are deserving of more recognition for their LGBTQ+ representational role in the media. For today's post we are making another special feature, but instead of an artist, we thought it was more than necessary to mention a figure that is not only in the media spotlight, but a figure who has been making inspirational improvement in the world - and his impact has been happening from the start. Allow us to introduce you to a hero who most certainly needs no introduction, but whose inspirational story is one deserving of more recognition. His name is Ritchie Torres. And just like other inspirational stories we have covered on the LGBTQ+ Media Lens, Torres seems to have been destined to be in the political position he is in today. It also seemed to have been written in the stars that Torres would grow up to be the inspirational figure that saw a vision from an early age and was determined to fulfill a fate that was inevitable to change the world. As New York's 15th congressional district U.S. Representative, Ritchie Torres is certainly making this happen. And what started out as a vision, has been turing thoughts into powerful actions for a greater good everyday since then.

From an early age, Torres witnessed the firsthand struggles of what it was like to grow up in less than ideal circumstances. His single mother raised him and his two other siblings in a public housing project of the Bronx, an upbringing that would later inspire him to uplift others in the very communities he called home. This also exposed him and his family to unhealthy and hazardous living conditions that soon turned into an unstoppable driving force in his fate to become a political figure. And despite some of the odds that might have otherwise brought the representative down a much different path in life, there remained in him a light that would refuse to be dimmed, diminished, and ultimately, never destroyed. And while he grew up knowing from an early age what his purpose in life would become, Torres also was learning more about himself - an identity that he would also later struggle to come to terms with. And that very struggle was his sexuality. It was not until around junior high school, that the U.S. Representative was starting to realize that he identified on the LGBTQ+ spectrum and despite initially hiding this fact about himself, it would later come to be a part of him that not only shaped his self acceptance, but had the power to shape a state and country. 

Ritchie Torres (Photo Credit: Twitter.com)

Torres Today, Torres Tomorrow

And that shape would soon come to break barriers like our political system has never seen before. And as with many figures who first step out on the scene, Torres' firsts were to be completely unparalleled. Joshua Bote of USA Today referred to him in his article as being, "one of the first Black men to serve in Congress and the first gay Afro-Latino person to serve in Congress." And these firsts certainly did not stop there, as Bote then when on to mention that Torres was also, "the first LGBTQ person to represent the Bronx in the New York City Council, where he was also the city's youngest elected official." And at only thirty-two years old, Torres is certainly on his way to making firsts for not only the citizens of New York, but other members in the LGBTQ+ community. As a member of Congress, the U.S. Representative is serving representation in a new and important way that is significant for our blog to give recognition to. It seems that only within the last decade, has our political sphere been shaped by members of those that identify as being on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. And while the few who do get recognized in these positions, it seems that that recognition is barely respected. And while it is just as important for members of the LGBTQ+ community to get representation in the media as artists, political figures are certainly just as deserving of that same appreciation. This is also because those such as Torres, who are in political positions, have a platform that is telling of a future that will become more open and accepting to more visionary voices and representational roles than what history has for far too long been allowing in its spaces. 

Ritchie Torres (Photo Credit: Nytimes.com)

And as long as our country keeps giving spaces to heroes like Torres, it seems that our tomorrow stands a better chance of what history has been repeating in terms of the lack of representation given to those in the LGBTQ+ community. And it is political figures like Torres of today who are securing this vision and fulfilling a promise to promote a better future for all. In taking up the important issues of public housing, poverty, gang violence, and many other critical hardships that citizens are facing daily, Torres is also a champion for LGBTQ+ advocacy. And with many of his firsts, he has proven to be a force and humbling hero who gives back to the very community he too grew up in. With his powerful impact, he was able to open the first homeless shelter for LGBTQ+ youth in the Bronx and in addition to this, he helped to fund senior centers to serve those in the community as well. And since January of this year, Torres assumed his office tenure after winning a general election back in November of 2020, proving that his voice is one that the people are not only in want of, but seem eager to keep listening to. 

And with all of this mentioned, I can not help but wonder why I have only just recently heard of the hero myself, as I am completely inspired by not only Torres' story, but his relentless courage. And like so many other LGBTQ+ representational features that have been mentioned on this blog, I but feel a strong sense of gratitude in knowing that the world is a better place because of representative figures like Torres. Running a blog like this has certainly introduced me to many inspirational heroes, and I hope that this experience has been yours just the same. I also hope that in reading this post, you find peace in knowing that despite all of the hardships of history or what might have occurred yesterday or what still must get done today or even what lies in store for tomorrow, and the day after that, there is a better future because of heroes like Ritchie Torres and others in the LGBTQ+ community who are not only changing the world, but making it a much better place to be in. This future seems to have been a long time coming, but it is certainly a future worth the wait and worth fighting for. 

Ritchie Torres (Photo Credit: Bxtimes.com)

Also, here is a link to Joshua Bote's article that was mentioned in this blogpost.

And, for an extra bonus, please take a moment to watch this inspirational video on U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres that was filmed by The New Yorker:

Thank you for your time. See you in the next post!

*None of these images or videos belong to me and were found on Google.