In honor of Coming Out of the Shadows Week, we will be highlighting a story a day. Please keep an eye out for them. If you would like to submit your story, email Angy@nysylc.org

---

My name is Felipe I am from Brooklyn, New York but I was raised in Chicago

My parents immigrated to this country from Mexico when I was 7 years old leaving my sister and me behind, a year later in 1995 my sister and me were reunited with them in Chicago. I have been undocumented for 17 years now. I am 24 years old now and have a bachelor’s degree from The Cooper Union in New York.

Growing up I knew I was undocumented and felt fear and shame, it hasn’t been easy but I have reconciled with it embraced it, I’ve learned to love my undocumented queer body. It has taken years for me to come to terms with me being undocumented. But I have realized that I am not alone and that you are not alone either, there’s a large community of undocumented youth and allies out there. It’s because of them that now I can say that I am ready to come out and I am no longer afraid! We need to step away from the shadows of fear and shame, we can’t hide any longer, we need to come out!

Being undocumented was difficult growing up and I was faced with many obstacles. As a kid I felt I was living a lie, not being able to be myself. Not being able to enjoy simple things my friends were able to do such as having the right to drive, work and travel. I have worked hard to be where I am now, but along the way I’ve had many doors closed because of my status. I have never let my status define who I am or stop me and decide my future. I took and absorbed any opportunity that my way. Being undocumented has made me stronger and wiser; it has made me appreciate what I have accomplished. I was accepted into an Ivy League school in New York, where I was fortunately awarded full tuition. I graduated in 2009, and more than anything, I would love to use my degree to make a difference and contribute to this country. I have yet to experience the American Dream to the fullest, and I have yet to feel free!

I am tired of waiting. I am tired of living in the shadows of hate and ignorance. I am tired of people deciding and having the power over my future. I can no longer allow myself to be fooled and placated with smiles, promises and handshakes. I want actions; I want to be free! I am not sorry that I was brought to this country for a better life, and let me put this clear ‘my parents are not criminals’ and they didn’t make a mistake by bringing me here! It’s not an option and it will never be an option for me to go back to Mexico, it’s not an option because this is my country, I am American, We are Americans and we have the right to remain here!

Lets not forget that we are in a country whose history was made by immigrants. We are making history; we are part of history! This is the civil rights movement of our time! These anti-immigrant law like the ones in Arizona, Georgia and Alabama are inhumane but most importantly these laws are un-American! It’s a shame that we live in a country that prides itself on freedom but at the same time thousands and thousands of immigrants feel imprisoned and unseen in their own country by our broken immigration policy. We can no longer wait; we can no longer be oppressed.

We need to step away from this fear. The country we call our own can no longer oppress us. We need to come out! We belong here, we’re Americans. We need to unite and demand a pathway to fix our broken immigration system. We are not demanding the unimaginable; we’re demanding a human right! We are a community of undocumented youth and allies and lets not forget that an attack on undocumented youth in other states is an attack on all undocumented youth! Come out and be proud.

My name is Felipe. I am Undocumented, Unafraid, Queer and Unashamed