Activist Moisés Serrano to lead workshop, host screening of award-winning documentary on Feb. 26

Serrano will lead a workshop about immigration law and participate in a screening and question-and-answer session about the documentary "Forbidden: Undocumented and Queer in Rural America."

The Latin American Studies Program is delighted to announce the visit of immigration and queer activist Moisés Serrano to Elon and the screening of the award-winning documentary “Forbidden: Undocumented and Queer in Rural America” on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

They are presented as part of Elon’s 2020 Latin American Documentary Series: Borders and Migrations. The Elon community is invited to the following events during Serrano’s visit to the university.

All events are free and opened to the public.

Workshop with students and faculty conducted by Moisés Serrano – “Is Our Immigration System Really Broken? A Brief History of U.S. Immigration Law”
3 to 4.45 p.m., Global Commons Media Room 103 

Reception at El Centro de Español. Reception. Food will be served.
5 to 5.45 p.m.

Screening of Forbidden: Undocumented and Queer in Rural America + Q&A with Moisés Serrano. The movie will be presented by Dr. Pablo Celis-Castillo.
6 to 8.30 p.m., Turner Theater. 

Serrano is an openly undocumented and queer activist and storyteller. Since coming out as undocumented in 2010 he has relentlessly pursued equality for his community through the sharing of his narrative. His mission is to decriminalize and humanize the issue of migration while advocating for immediate relief to migrant communities.

Serrano has been described as a “consummate orator,” and his advocacy has led him to do a TEDx talk and to be named a notable Latino of North Carolina. Moises’ advocacy has been filmed in the feature length documentary, “Forbidden: Undocumented and Queer in Rural America.” The five-time award winning film was recently honored by the Television Academy. “Forbidden” was one of seven programs honored for creating awareness, enlightening, educating and/or positively motivating audiences.

Serrano continues trying to change the culture surrounding immigration and currently has released a song called “The Dreamer” with up-and-coming band, Che Apalache. The song was recently featured on Rolling Stone and Billboard magazine. Lastly, Moises was recently asked by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History to have his story recorded so the museum can keep it in perpetuity.

Elon’s 2020 Latin American Documentary Series: Borders and Migrations is presented by Latin American Studies Program and is possible thanks to the following sponsors: Department of World Languages and Cultures; Peace & Conflict Studies; El Centro de Español; Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; Office of the Provost; Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning; Elon Docs; Gender & LGBTQIA Center; International & Global Studies Program; Belk Library; Department of History and Geography; School of Communications; Human Service Studies Department; Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

Questions? Contact Juan Leal Ugalde (jlealugalde@elon.edu), Pablo Celis-Castillo (pceliscastillo@elon.edu) or Federico Pous (fpous@elon.edu).