Each year, Hispanic Heritage Month is meant to be a celebration. From September 15 to October 15, parades, proclamations, and cultural events highlight the history and contributions of Latinos across the U.S. But in 2025, celebrations feel heavier. Lawmakers say this is not just a month of pride but also a moment of resistance.

Hispanic Heritage Month arrives at a tense political moment

The State Innovation Exchange’s Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council (SiX RFLC) announced that Latina state lawmakers across the country are introducing resolutions and proclamations to formally recognize the cultural, economic, social, and political contributions of Hispanic and Latino people.

These efforts are taking place against a backdrop of civil rights rollbacks. Hispanic and Latino communities are experiencing reproductive violence in immigration detention, abortion bans, insurance denials, and ongoing ICE harassment when seeking essential services, including health care, according to SiX RFLC.

“In the face of harmful policies and civil rights rollbacks, Hispanic and Latino state lawmakers are fighting every day for equity and justice,” said Laura Hernández, Senior Policy Associate, Reproductive Rights at the State Innovation Exchange. “Latina lawmakers, in particular, continue to lead with courage and clarity—defending reproductive freedom, advocating for immigrant rights, and standing up for their communities.”

Latina lawmakers highlight reproductive rights

Illinois state representative Barbara Hernandez pointed to her own journey as a first-generation Mexican American and the youngest Latina serving in the General Assembly. “One of my biggest motivations in my work is defending reproductive rights so all women have the freedom to make choices about their own bodies and access the care they deserve,” Hernandez said in a statement shared by SiX RFLC.

Utah state representative Angela Romero, who also serves as the President of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, echoed that stance. “Marginalized communities, especially communities of color, face unique and disproportionate barriers to reproductive health care,” Romero said. “As the first Latina, Chicana, to lead my Caucus, I’ve always fought to uplift the voices of our communities. I remain committed to protecting the right to make personal, private health care decisions, free from political interference or systemic barriers.”

Remembering the long legacy of leadership

SiX RFLC emphasized that today’s Latina leaders are part of a longer story of advocacy. “From Dolores Huerta’s groundbreaking labor rights advocacy to Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s historic appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court, Hispanic leaders have long shaped the story of this nation,” the organization stated.

That legacy continues. In 2025, 214 Latinas are serving in state legislatures, the most in history. These lawmakers are reshaping policies on reproductive freedom, immigrant rights, and community health at the state level.

Hispanic Heritage Month becomes a space for both pride and protest

Local celebrations also reflect the tension of the moment. In Chicago, Mexican Independence Day parades and festivals were canceled or postponed because of fears tied to Donald Trump’s immigration raids. Community leaders told NJ.com that residents across New Jersey felt nervous about attending public events due to the presence of ICE in nearby cities like Newark and Jersey City.

Yet despite the fear, many leaders insist on moving forward with cultural celebrations. Paterson deputy mayor Maria del Pilar Rivas told NJ.com: “We have to celebrate this month. We have to celebrate our cultures. We have to celebrate that we are together as a people. We have to celebrate united. I think that for me, that is Hispanic Heritage Month.”

A call to see Hispanic Heritage Month as action

For Latina lawmakers, this year’s commemorations are about resilience. Their message is clear: cultural pride is inseparable from political advocacy. Whether in Illinois, Utah, or New Jersey, the month is about showing up for community rights, even under threat.

As Laura Hernández of SiX RFLC put it, “This month, and all year long, we celebrate the more than 200 Latina state lawmakers who are making history and advocating for their communities.”

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