Lorena Borjas was a force to be reckoned with; a and immigration activist, an HIV/AIDS champion, a proud Mexican immigrant, a confident mentor, a leader in her community, and, most of all, our beloved friend and colleague.

Lorena's life is a true testament to her courage, optimism, compassion, and activist spirit. Born in Veracruz, Mexico, in 1960, Lorena crossed the border into the United States when she was twenty years old. She made her way to City, where she would spend the majority of her life. Once in the U.S., Lorena quickly became a shining example of trans resilience by turning her attention to activism.

She guided trans and gay immigrants to comprehensive resources such as ESL classes, GED tests, community colleges, HIV screening, immigration lawyers, and HIV research studies. She worked with numerous HIV and AIDS organizations and dedicated her entire life to fighting transphobia, homophobia, stigma, discrimination, and xenophobia.

And she didn't stop there. Lorena would walk up and down the streets in her neighborhood of Jackson Heights, NYC, handing out free condoms to sex workers, enlisting them to HIV testing, and guiding them on how to navigate the systems in NYC. In doing so, she raised awareness of the epidemic of sex trafficking in the transgender community and helped transgender women escape exploitation.

In 2014, she became a Board Member of TransLatin@ Coalition, a national coalition whose mission is to fight for immigrant transgender rights. Lorena received numerous accolades throughout her life, and her devotion proves that self-determination and resiliency can change lives.

Lorena acquired COVID-19 in mid-March, yet, this did not stop her from helping others during the crisis. While feeling ill and awaiting COVID-19 test results, she continued to use social media by posting resources for emergency food and shelter on her Facebook page. Lorena fought for equal access to services up until the end of her life.

In the early morning hours of March 30th, 2020, Lorena Borjas passed away at Coney Island Hospital due to complications associated with COVID-19. Although COVID-19 took her life, we must keep Lorena Borjas' dream alive by treating transgender immigrants with dignity and respect. She is survived by her long-term partner, the HIV/AIDS community, Latina immigrant women in , and countless LGBTQ rights activists. May her legacy continue to guide us, inspire us, and move us with compassion and love. ¡Que Viva Lorena- La Reina de Queens!

Sincerely,