OC Human Relation's Tina Correa passes away after battle with cancer

Tina Correa came to the OC Human Relations Commission to work for justice, empower the poor, and protect the innocent. She left behind a career at the Welfare Department because she felt she could do that with OC Human Relations.

As a Latina who grew up in the labor camps of Irvine Ranch where her father worked in the fields, she attended kindergarten at a public school in the affluent suburban community of Irvine. As one of the only non-English speaking children of color she overcame the abject fear she faced as she walked into that first classroom to become the “comadre” of the voiceless and those who were discriminated against. Starting from those early days and continuing through three decades of service at the OC Human Relations Commission, Tina never forgot her roots and the passion for people they instilled in her.

When the civil rights laws of our country fell short of protecting the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, Tina Correa did not. She stepped up as an organizer of movements to change the world: Tina made a difference for the LGBT community in Orange County. She helped launch and sustain the county’s first high school Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) which spread to campuses across the country. She served as the chapter president of the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN), leading the movement to protect LGBT students and faculty and co-founded PFLAG en Espanol in Orange County.

The notorious “Guadalupan” case prosecuted by the OC District Attorney against a “Notario” who defrauded thousands of immigrants, left thousands of files filled with original documents from these immigrant residents seeking status. When the District Attorney came to the OC Human Relations Commission for help, Tina organized a collaboration that retrieved the files days before their destruction and organized a community-wide campaign to connect people with their priceless original documents. Hundreds of Orange County residents were reunited with their documents due to her efforts.

Tina retired from the Commission in 2010 and devoted the last five years of her life to the same struggles for justice for immigrants, the LGBT community, the mentally ill and her children and family.

An unrepentant optimist, Tina battled cancer with a smile and determination.

She died at home on 12/30/2015.

OC Human Relations is looking for appropriate ways to memorialize this amazing woman for ALL she did.

Click here to see a 2014 video about Tina, or click the video below.