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.
“untitled”
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
Written by: Efrain Gomez, Philadelphia
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.
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.
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
for years, black and latino gay men and men who have sex with men have been ringing the alarm on how HIV has been ravaging our communities. we have consistently been asked “where are the statistics? where are the numbers? where is the proof?” of course, our lives and experiences were never enough. we needed a government study to tell us what we already know. yesterday the proof arrived. are we surprised? fuck no! but that does not take the sting away.
according to a new CDC study,
1 in 2 black gay men and 1 in 4 latino gay men will become HIV-positive
if the current rate of infection continues. this shit means that black and latino gay men are more likely to contract HIV than white gay men. but
again, we have already known this – for years!
since the
release of this report, there been a few articles shining light on
this and rightfully so. unfortunately, most have them failed to include the voice and perspective of
latino gay men. this cannot continue. just because an advocate says “gay
men of color” does not give them permission to speak for us – we have
our own god damn voice. to prove this fact, here are the responses of latino
gay/queer* men to the CDC report. our tongues are untied.
Eddie Santiago Beck – Miami, Florida
Luis Berrios, Philadelphia
Ayden Castellanos - Rio Grande Valley, Texas
Richard LaBoy – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Xander Lopez, – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Anthony Leon – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Louie A. Ortiz-Fonseca, Washington, DC