The loss of that fight in November 2008 was devastating. And, when asked, she answered the call to co-chair the San Diego No on 8 Campaign. Along with her late wife, Aida Mancillas, she also grew active in marriage equality, engaging Latino leadership - straight and gay - in the movement. She threw herself into the intersectional work of The Center, serving on the board in multiple capacities over 11 years, including vice chair and chair of the board. In 2004, Andrea joined The San Diego LGBT Center’s board of directors, where she was a founding member of its Latino Advisory Council and helped launch the nation’s first LGBTQ Latino/a/x organization in San Diego, where queer Latinx youth, adults, and their families could find support, dignity, and vital services. She was a founding member of ActUP! San Diego, served on the board of San Diego LGBT Pride as member and co-chair, and was elected to the board twice as president of the storied San Diego Democratic Club (now San Diego Democrats for Equality). After the March, Andrea sought to be of service in equality and justice movements.
She met local activists who would be her mentors over the years, among them Larry Baza, Albert Bell, and most importantly, Jeri Dilno.
The momentum of 250,000 people in the streets of the nation’s capital fed the fire for justice that has lit her path ever since. Pride was the locus of her activism until 1987 when Andrea quit her job to attend the March on Washington for LGBT Rights, an event that would change her life. It was there on the lawns near the shuffleboard courts that her father told them about his father - a day laborer who immigrated from Mexico to help build the iconic Cabrillo Bridge for the 1915 Panama Exhibition.
Founded in 2004 by Nicole Murray Ramirez, the Imperial Court de San Diego and The Center, the Wall of honor is a recognition of the significant affirmative influence in the San Diego County LGBT community.Īt this years ceremony, Chris Shaw and Doug Snyder, Julia Legaspi, Connor Maddocks, Tracie Jada O’Brien, Teresa Oyos, Venice “Lady Pepper” Price Brook, Maureen Steiner and Andrea Villa are to be inducted, continuing the wall’s tradition of remembering, honoring and educating the community’s history.Ģ019 Inductees Andrea Villa, Community ActivistĪs a child, Andrea and her family spent their summer days in Balboa Park. Eight trailblazers of the San Diego LGBT community and its allies are to be inducted into The Community Wall of Honor at The San Diego LGBT Community Center on Oct.