The Gran Varones is a legacy project that uses video and photography to tell the stories of Latino & Afro-Latino Gay, Queer and Trans men. Our stories shine light on what being “out” and “proud” means to us, our families, and our communities.
someone once said that the shortest distance between life and death was AIDS. this shit was hella true before the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (HIV treatment) in the mid 1990’s.
sadly, now the quickest way for build an empire for HIV service agencies is to say that they struggle and ideas of black & latino gay men and black & latina trans women.
these same agencies remain silent as black and latino people living with HIV continue to be criminalized.
these same agencies continue to get increasingly more money even as 1 in 2 black gay men and 1 and 4 latino gay men are projected to be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetimes.
despite their failures, these agencies continue to make a profit.
yesterday, marked the 35th anniversary the first published report by the centers for disease control (CDC) of a mysterious disease that would later become known as AIDS. while we have witnessed profound breakthroughs in treatment, black, latino and poor people continue to disproportionately impacted even as HIV service agencies have grown by leaps and bounds. THIS CANNOT CONTINUE.
remember to remember that HIV IS NOT A CRIME. AIDS PROFITEERING IS.
RECALLING ONE OF NORTH PHILLY’S FIRST LATINX QUEER NIGHTS
Louie: So how are you holding up?
Ricky: It’s been hard. I knew many people lost in the attack
at Pulse. I knew them through my days as a club promoter. Ya know, when we go
clubbing we go everywhere. That’s why I Travesura was important to me.
Louie: Yes, Travesura was lit! One of the first Latin Queer
nights in North Philly. In a North Philly straight bar too!
Ricky: We had to. Latinos like you and me are able to go
downtown and be in those other spaces. We had to learn that shit because how
else would we have survived the 90’s. We old, gurl. (LOL) But seriously, I saw
how they looked at other Latinos from North Philly. They looked at them with
disgust because they didn’t “fit” in with the downtown culture. They didn’t
want to interact act with them or even acknowledge them. That pissed me off.
Louie: Is that what inspired you to start Travesura?
Ricky: Well actually, it was started by DJ Chill Will and DJ
Who? They started having Travesura nights at some bar in North Philly. After maybe like the first two events, they reached out to me to be the
face of it. I had just moved back to Philly and was getting my life together
but I agreed. I knew it would help build a stronger connection for and with the
Latino gay community. I also wanted to be a part of a something that would
accept all of us no matter how we presented or how we acted. And believe me,
those nights at Travesura were lit as hell. People fought and argued. There was
enough drama to go around but it brought Latinos from South Philly up to North
Philly. And you saw Latino gays meeting other Latino gays for the first time. A
lot of them are still friends. Soon we took the party to Delaware because just
like Philly, there wasn’t a place for Latino gays there. It was like over 5 years
ago since we stopped but I remember it like it was yesterday.
foto courtesy of Ricardo Melendez. Travesura Latino Queer Night in Philly
Louie: Do you think you will return to promoting Latin
nights again?
Ricky: Yes. I actually just spoke to Lady LaBelle last week
because she is trying to do Latin Nights with Drag Shows in North Philly. She
wants to team up. Now it is even more important that we do this, ya know. We
need it. There is a disconnect in our community now. Everyone just stays in
North Philly and go to straight bars with their cousins. Or they have house
parties. Yeah, we go to Woody’s on Thursdays for their Latin night but you
won’t hear our music. It’s mainly English music. So me Lady LaBelle talked and
decided to put aside our differences and try to make this work. She and I are
both crazy but we are both dedicated to our community. So I will keep you
updated.
foto courtesy of Ricardo Melendez. Travesura Latino Queer Night in Philly
happy father’s day to all varones. those who are raising and nurturing. those who are guiding and leading. those who are passing along family traditions while expanding what our familia looks like. we celebrate and salute you on this day.
¡feliz día de los padres!
photo: karlos nuñez & david agosto with their lovely daughter natalia.
julio mangual aka lady labelle is one of philadelphia’s most beloved afro-boricua drag queens. he has one of the first queens to organize drag shows in the heart of north philly - a world away from philly’s gayborhood - in the early 1990s. lady labelle continues to break down barriers by performing in bars and clubs that my uncle, my bother and aunts go to.
watch our latest gran varones profile video as julio aka lady label shares their story.
sanctuary is found on the dance floor. spirits are filled and pain is paused. know that last night’s attack at pulse night club in orlando, during latino night - is an yet ANOTHER attack on all of us who have ever feared loving openly in public.
as pride month continues, remember to remember that PRIDE IS STILL POLITICAL and it is STILL NECESSARY! rage more and march harder!
we love you all so very much.
love, light and healing to everyone impacted by the pulse night club attack.
The floors have been painted,
But it was not by choice
This room was not in need of renovation
This room was filled with innovation
Masterpiece after masterpiece
What an exhibition of artistry
Yet hate brought his concept of interior design
And with it he painted the dance floor red
With his bullets
He destroyed priceless works of arts
Oh beautiful earthen vessels shattered in pieces
Hidden treasures
The world had yet to behold you
In all your splendor
Rumbling in the distance
Are the sounds of the steps of many
Which took the road less traveled
So that we could enjoy our liberty.
WE are not sick nor diseased
WE are strength, WE are bold
Damn it, WE own everything
Edgard: So Ricky was just talking about your project to me and my partner.
Louie: Wow! Really?
Ricardo Melendez [not pictured]: Yes honey! I was telling him that he needs to be a part of it.
Louie: Yes, you should. Like right now!
Edgard: Right now?
Louie: Yes, I carry my camera around just for moments like this.
Edgard: Ok.
Louie: Cool. Quote?
Edgard: People have said that we have the double whammy as gay Puerto Ricans. We say it’s not a whammy but a double blessing. Being gay and Boricua has given us the resiliency to deal with any other trials life and ignorance throws our way. We stay strong.
Louie: Awesome.
Edgard: Too long? Not enough?
Louie: It’s perfect. Thank you!
Edgard: Let us if there is anything we can do to support the project.
Louie: Will do.
Edgard (right) and his partner Rickii (left), Delaware
Interviewed and Photographed by: Louie A. Ortiz-Fonseca
gran varones creator, louie a. ortiz-fonseca reminds us that our silence will NOT protect us and that queer latin@s will NOT be shamed back into closets.
“Some of us are presently in that one in four and know first hand that the epidemic is being driven by racism, homophobia, poverty and stigma. Some of us know that we bear the great burden of HIV infection in our community. Unfortunately, only some us know that these statistics DO NOT mean that we have failed each other or that we have not been doing our best to sustain ourselves as Latino MSM. What these statistics mean is that the system and the prevention organizations charged with reaching us have failed us on many levels.”
