Martin Sigal: Juan Carlos Cruz
Meet Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean man driving positive change for LGBTQ+ rights. As an advisor to Pope Francis since 2021, he has leveraged his role to convince the Pope that being gay "isn't a crime"—a big win considering the Catholic Church's history. As an abuse survivor, Juan Carlos pushed the Church to address clerical sexual misconduct, sparking an investigation that removed abusive Chilean bishops. His advocacy goes beyond the Church; Juan Carlos earned medals for supporting Ukrainian civilians and soldiers during Russia's invasion. Currently serving on GLAAD's board, he continues fighting for global equality and condemning discriminatory laws like Uganda's death penalty for homosexuality. Juan Carlos' tireless efforts make the world safer and more accepting for LGBTQ+ people, proving that sharing your personal story can ignite real change.
