La Gente Newsmagazine's Reflections- Winter Print 2020: Volume 48, Issue 2 by LA GENTE NEWSMAGAZINE

VOLUME 48 ISSUE 2

WINTER 2020

Letter from the Editor Reflections was born from a need to look deeper into how criticisms, pain, and societal expectations deeply affect our lives and are ingrained into our beings. The stories we cultivated represent the rich and diverse array of emotions in our communities and the power of self-love and empowerment. These stories show us the resiliency in our communities. And while our journeys may look different and take us to different destinations, the spaces we create both on this campus and beyond are testament to the power we each hold. I’d like to dedicate this issue to all the folxs who put in the endless love and labor in everything they do. It’s dedicated to the Black and Brown students who endlessly fight to make space. We see you. It’s dedicated to my team for the late nights, coffee-fueled misadventures, endless laughs, and for always keeping this Scorpio humble. Lastly, this issue is dedicated to mi mami por entender que no siempre puedo llamar or ir a casa aunque quiera. Gracias por siempre apoyarme! Te quiero un chingo! <3 Myrka Vega La Gente Editor-in-Chief

STAFF Editor in Chief

Spanish Team

Myrka Vega

Brian Jimenez-Luna

Managing Editor

Visual Team

Angela Vargas

Content Editors

Melissa Diaz Alexxa Vasquez

Copy Editors Rebecca Gutierrez Carlos Cadena

Spanish Editor

Ashley Huendo

Visual Editor

Jessica Martinez

Layout Design Editor Daisy Soto 2

INTERNS

Alvaro Hernandez Jason Gonzalez Haven Morales

Layout Design

Mariana Orozco-Berber Cristelle Hugo

Staff Writers

Kevin Bernal-Rivera Daniel Ponce

Social Media Coordinator Melissa Diaz

Radio Jessica Martinez Alvaro Hernandez Jason Gonzalez

Jennifer Arriaga Karim Hyderali Alize Magana Sarah Mejia Amanda Vest Bryce Ramirez Sandra Ocampo Janet Elizabeth Rivera Sofia Rizkkhalil Nayeli Guadalupe Velarde Casandra Georgina Chamorro Haile Savannah Arraiza Marisol Huerta-Ontiveros Laysha Macedo

CONTENTS 04 10 16

MIRROR GIRL Young girl reflects on personal appearance.

THE CURRICULUM THAT DISTANCES US Reflections of Latinx people in academia.

THE ACT OF NOT COMING OUT: QUEER RESISTANCE TO HETERONORMATIVITY

08 14 18

LATINOAMERICANO SERÉ HOY Y SIEMPRE Analysis of José Martí’s “Nuestro America.”

DEAR MATHEMATICS Exploring growth through mathematics.

REFLECTIONS PLAYLIST Songs to inspire self-reflection.

A reflection on queer identity.

OUR MISSION:

La Gente Newsmagazine is a platform for underrepresented voices in mainstream media. Our stories focus on Latinx communities in and around the Los Angeles area. La Gente is a space where creatives can grow and critically engage with issues that affect the Latinx community.

La Gente Newsmagazine is published and copyrighted by the ASUCLA Communications Board. All rights are reserved. Reprinting of any material in this publication without the written permission of the Communications Board is strictly prohibited. The ASUCLA Communications Board fully supports the University of California’s policy on non-discrimination. The student media reserve the right to reject or modify advertising whose content discriminates on the basis of ancestry, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, age, sex or sexual orientation. The ASUCLA Communications Board has a media grievance procedure for resolving complaints against any of its publications. For a copy of the complete procedure, contact the publications office at 118 Kerckhoff Hall @ 310-825-9898

MIRROR by Rebecca Gutierrez

GIRL

“Well… do you like it?” Jessie’s dad asks, standing by her side as they both look at the new vanity he made for her. The rectangular-shaped mirror is framed by bulbs that brighten the entire room. White wood and pink flowers framed the bulbs- suitable for a princess. Jessie looks at this princess mirror in awe. She flicks the lights on and off not sure how to express her gratitude to her father, “Yeah, it’s really pretty. Thanks dad.” Jessie’s father smiles down at her and ruffles her hair, “Anything for you, you deserve it.” He walks out of her room, leaving his daughter to play with her new mirror. She sits down on the matching stool and admires her face. At a young age like this, Jessie doesn’t see much wrong with her face. In fact, she thinks she looks like a real princess. She loves her slightly crooked nose. It looks just like her dad’s. She likes her thick dark eyebrows, they help her make funny expressions. She thinks her baby hairs are normal, they are growing just like her. She tugs on her dark curls, and watches as they spring back into a spiral. No matter how hard she pulls, they always bounce back. And so she stares at herself, and stares some more. She makes funny faces, making her dark brown eyes widen as big as they can, her lashes 4

reaching to touch the top of her bushy brows. She blows kisses and blows air into her round cheeks. It’s interesting how carefree and innocent young girls can be. They have a level of ignorance which allows them to find beauty in everything. But, the world can be a cruel place, especially for a young brown girl. As she grows, her perception of herself shifts, not because she no longer thinks she is beautiful, rather it seems as if the world continuously tries to tell her she is not. As Jessie moves from a young girl to a teen she no longer likes the same things. Princesses? Lame. Her dad? Super lame. Bushy eyebrows? Gross. Nose? Gosh, don’t even get her started; she has a mason jar filled with coins labeled ‘nose job.’ As Jessie sits in front of the vanity with her new friend, they start to get ready. The once pink vanity was now covered with black nail polish. Jessie’s friend is obsessed with her mirror, she thinks the vanity is cool and can’t believe Jessie’s dad built it for her. “Why didn’t he just buy one?”, her friend asks. Jessie looks at her through the mirror, hand on her cheek, she looks at her friend’s straight nose, her flat hair, her nearly invisible lashes, and eyebrows. “Why would he buy one if he knew how to make it?”, Jessie asks.

Her friend just shrugs her shoulders and plugs in the straightener. “I don’t know, easier I guess, than it would have been if professionally done.” As the straightener heated up, Jessie looks at her friend, and wonders why her dad didn’t just buy a vanity for her. “My dad just bought me one. It’s really nice, bigger than yours, and the lights change colors.” Jessie didn’t know how to reply, so she just nods her head. Jessie’s friend got her thick dark hair and began splitting it into four parts. “Dude, your hair is seriously puffy when you brush it out. How do you deal with it? I would die if my hair looked like that.” The girl chuckles as if it was a funny joke. Jessie didn’t find it

Jessie’s friend darkens her eyebrows, it almost looks like she’s trying to mimic Jessie’s, but she isn’t, because she once said that maybe she should thin them out. Jessie applies some makeup and they leave to go roller blading with some kids from school. At the rink, the girls skate, fall, and laugh. As they make a loop around the oval, Jessie’s friend takes out her phone to take a selfie. Jessie smiles so big, she can’t help it, she loves being with her friends. Both girls slow down to the side to inspect the picture. Jessie looks at it with a soft smile, they look amazing. Her hair looks different than her usual pictures but her dark tresses compared to her friend’s pale

“It’s important for young girls to enjoy their reflections for as long as they can, without anyone giving them a complex, or creating insecurities.” funny and responds, “I get it from my mom, she has a lot of hair, does it look bad curly?” “I mean with your complexion it looks nice but, if you looked different it would look weird.” “What do you mean weird?” “Like on me, that hair would look ridiculous.” Jessie looks at her friend as the smoke rises from the straightener and the smell of burnt hair lingers. “Yeah you couldn’t pull off these curls,” Jessie laughs. “What curls?”, her friend laughs back, as she brushes out Jessie’s long, dark, and now silky straight hair. Jessie looks at her hair and tugs on pieces like she used to. They don’t bounce back anymore. After

ones makes it look cool. Jessie’s friend zooms in on her own face, “Gosh I am so happy I have straight teeth, it makes my smile look so much better. I think I would die if I had crooked teeth.” Jessie’s smile never shut so quickly in her life. She looked at her own picture and saw how her two front teeth were crowded together causing her others to overlap. She didn’t think it made her look weird, or any less pretty. Well, not until now. Both girls returned their skates to the young man working the stand. As they waited for a ride home, Jessie’s friend asked to take more selfies. She couldn’t find it in herself to smile with her teeth, so with a tight lipped smile she looked at the camera. 5

Visual by Haven Morales

Jessie looks at the photo. Her friend smiles so brightly, and her eyes sparkle. Jessie’s crooked nose is making an appearance because her friend angled the camera high, and her smile is hardly noticeable over her giant nose. “I look great. Do you mind if I crop you out Jess?” Jessie shook her head no. “Cool! My dad is outside, hurry.” 6

Jessie follows her friend into their large family van. Jessie’s friend sits in the front and immediately puts her headphones in. Jessie didn’t bring hers. She says hi to Jessie’s father and sits behind her friend. But of course, he had to break the comfortable silence. “So Jessie, excited for high school?” “Yeah, I can’t wait.” “What do you think you want to be

when you grow up?” Jessie couldn’t help but light up at the question; it’s not everyday she gets to share her dreams with others. With her eyes a bit bigger and brighter, she scooted to the edge of the seat and looked at the balding man in the front of the car. “I want to be an architect. I want to design buildings.” “Like help build them? Isn’t your dad a worker like that?” Jessie’s eyebrows crinkle together. “Yeah, but I don’t want to physically build them, just design them.” “Sounds like a lot of work for a girl of your background. Those architect schools sure are expensive, and students take a long time to graduate.” “My parents tell me not to worry. When I make it, they’ll help me figure it out.” “I’m sure with all that free money you’ll get it won’t be hard.” Her friend’s dad pulls up to the curb of Jessie’s house. Jessie stares at her dad’s old ‘97 blue Nissan truck. She rubs the leather of the seat. “Even if it is hard, I know I can do it. Thanks for the ride.” With that, she closes the door and walks into her house. Jessie walks straight to her room and looks at her vanity, with all

the black chipped nail polish surrounding it. She smiles at the mirror, with her teeth big and bright. She touches her flat hair. She looks in the mirror and pictures her future, one where she works hard and makes her dreams come true. With the seeds of doubt planted, she now thinks of other careers, maybe just a degree from the community college down the block. It is more affordable, she reasons. Maybe just an assistant to an architect. “I would still see everything, I just wouldn’t be a part of it.” She looks at her reflection once more, pulling a straight strand of hair and watching it fall back into place. Later, after three years of braces and burning her hair throughout high school, Jessie will look in the mirror again. She will discover that just because other people don’t like who she is or what she looks like, it doesn’t mean she isn’t good enough. Her curls will bounce back just like she will and her nose gives her character. Many young girls learn too late that they are perfect the way they are, with their frizzy hair and crooked noses. It’s important for young girls to enjoy their reflections for as long as they can, without anyone giving them a complex, or creating insecurities.

“...the world can be a cruel place, especially for a young brown girl.” 7

LATINOAMERICANO SERÉ

HOY Y SIEMPRE

rnan V is

e ro H Alva y b l ua

¿Quién eres? Por mucho tiempo no pude contestar esta pregunta y a veces siento que aún no puedo. Un día tuve la oportunidad de leer un ensayo escrito por el autor considerado el padre de la patria cubana y un ícono latinoamericano: José Martí. Su ensayo “Nuestra América” fue un sendero hacia la luz y la verdad. Nací aproximadamente 150 años después de la guerra entre México y los Estados Unidos, la guerra en que los yanquis arrebataron los territorios noroestes de México, incluyendo el estado de California. De niño fui patriota norteamericano, orgulloso e ilusionado sin saber ni mi historia ni mis raíces culturales. Pero cuando empecé a estudiar historia más a fondo y desarrollar un amor por ella, ví la verdad y rechacé a mi identidad. Estuve vacío por un tiempo y sin saber quién era. A veces pensé que nací condenado a vivir en la oscuridad de una sombra de incertidumbre. Me llenaba de angustia cada día en no saber cuándo terminaría la tortura de encontrarme a mí mismo. Por fin vino Martí con sus palabras majestuosas y frases elegantes. “Conocer es resolver…. La universidad europea ha de ceder a la universidad americana. La historia de América, de los incas acá, ha de enseñarse al dedillo, aunque no se enseñe la de los arcontes de Grecia.” ¡Cuánto tiempo esperé para encontrar este ensayo que llevaré en mi corazón por siempre! Martí se identificaba como indígena de latinoamérica por su mentalidad de ser latinoameri-

de z

by Brian Jimenez-Luna

cano. Los tales vendepatrias que buscan traer a la “Otra América” a sus patrias son criollos sin consideración a sus genes. Por eso Martí los llama “hombres de siete meses,” porque no han desarrollado lo suficiente para defender al continente y no ser cipayos por intereses foráneos que busca colonizarlos de nuevo. Estos mismos cipayos, que idolatran a Bolívar y a Martí, por ser libertadores de sus países y regiones, luego miran hacia los Estados Unidos cuando sus discípulos llegan al liderazgo de sus países. ¡Jamás se pudiera encontrar un grupo de gente más hipócrita! “¿Cómo han de salir de las universidades los gobernantes, si no hay universidad en América donde se enseñe lo rudimentario del arte del gobierno, que es el análisis de los elementos peculiares de los pueblos de América? A

No es que estoy rechazando la identidad de ser un “chicano”, sino que busco hacer prioridad la identidad de un ser “latinoamericano”, porque el continente de América Latina es de todos, y para todos. Lo que pasa en cualquier país latinoamericano me importa porque América Latina es una patria grande. Una patria donde cada uno, algún día, podrá vivir donde sea con seguridad y felicidad. Cuando uno está en llamas, me pongo a llorar, porque sé que la destrucción se radica en la influencia creada por la “Otra América”. “¡Estos hijos de nuestra América, que ha de salvarse con sus [indígenas], y va de menos a más; estos desertores que piden fusil en los ejércitos de la América del Norte, que ahoga en sangre a sus [indígenas], y va de más a menos!” El imperialismo, la violencia

“Por eso digo: soy latinoamericano. Yo llego primero de la tierra sagrada de América Latina y después de México.” adivinar salen los jóvenes al mundo, con antiparras yanquis o francesas, y aspiran a dirigir un pueblo que no conocen.” ¿Cómo puedo ser un líder en mi comunidad si no tengo ni siquiera una sola idea de cómo ayudar a mi gente? Sé la historia de los norteamericanos, pero no conozco la nuestra. En mis primeros años de ser un estudiante universitario, me quedé con la identidad chicana, una identidad política, y no necesariamente cultural. Yo ya sabía que era mexicano, no había duda. Pero, ¿qué no es la meta querer la liberación de todo el continente? No puedo buscar la liberación de la comunidad mexicana si no busco la liberación de todo el pueblo latinoamericano. Así lo hubiera querido Martí. Por eso digo: soy latinoamericano. Yo llego primero de la tierra sagrada de América Latina y después de México.

doméstica hacia la población indígena, las intervenciones, la tortura realizada en los países latinoamericanos por los lacayos de los norteamericanos, ¿no te enfurece? ¡Qué rabia me da que un país tan hipócrita, que proclama valores de igualdad pero no llega ni siquiera a una pulgada hacia esa meta, pueda conquistar países latinoamericanos y decirles cómo deben de gobernarse! Por eso nos advirtió Martí de la amenaza gringa, desde el fin del siglo XIX. Y por eso, sólo puedo decirle que gracias, mi querido Martí. Gracias por enseñarme la vía del futuro donde cada latinoamericano estará dedicado a liberarse del dominio imperialista. Gracias por dirigirme y darme la confianza para iniciar un nuevo futuro, no sólo para mí, sino también para las comunidades que busco ayudar. Siempre estaré agradecido por tu ensayo, y nunca te olvidaré. 9

THE CURRICULUM THAT DISTANCES US by Angela Vargas

Learning about our history is a choice many minority students make in our college careers. We take ethnic studies courses in hopes of gaining a better understanding of our identities. However, in a diverse country like the United States, why isn’t this mandated in the K-12 curriculum? Why must we have to seek it on our own? Unfortunately, this is the case in a curriculum that lacks diversity. Latinx students go through most of their childhood not seeing themselves in history books or academia. This is shocking considering there are 17.9 million Hispanic students in school, according to a study by the US Census. If enrollment is so high, why are most Latinx contributions excluded from the curriculum? Why aren’t the harsh realities of the U.S. treatment towards Latinx people included? It makes one wonder whether the American academic curriculum is constructed as a way to make young Latinx students assimilate to American culture by banefully excluding their histories. With high Latinx enrollment, there comes a need for representation among educators. Teacher diversity has yet to catch up with the growing number of Latinx students. According to a study by The Center of American Progress, less than 8 percent of public educators identify as Latinx. Navigating 10

the American academic curriculum is made difficult when our histories aren’t accurately portrayed. It’s even harder with little-to-none Latinx educators that students can relate and look up to. Most Latinx values are rooted in prioritizing family. Meanwhile, American values are rooted in individualism. This becomes complicated for Latinx students when navigating their college careers. White teachers would encourage Latinx students to follow

According to a study by The Center of American Progress, less than 8 percent of public educators identify as Latinx.

Photo by CSUF Photos via Flickr

their dreams, even if it meant moving away from home; this goes against the ideas Latinx students hear at home about supporting their families. This isn’t to say that the advice to follow their dreams is wrong, but simply that it lacks an understanding of the values that Latinx students hold close. Having a diverse set of teachers helps students’ ideas of self-perception through the ways they can relate to them. Beyond those who teach us, representation lacks in the curriculum. In the Californian Social Studies standards for K-12 education, Latinx people are not mentioned until the fourth grade when discussing the Mexican-American War. They aren’t mentioned again until students reach seventh grade, when they learn about indigenous communities in the Americas. These education standards are an example of how Latinx histories

are constantly suppressed. It begins in kindergarten when students learn about Christopher Columbus. Then when students are taught about “California’s growing economy”, the Gold Rush, Texas Rangers, etc. All being suppressed histories, there’s no mention of the violent genocide, mistreatment of farmworkers, lynchings, and terrorization of Latinx people. If history courses choose to exclude stories of Latinx people, so will other disciplines. Latinx students aren’t allowed to discover their identities through K-12 academia. It’s not possible when we are taught as Americans. For example, It’s confusing for a young Mexican-American student to learn that we won the Mexican-American War. Who’s “we”? Being taught as Americans in school but Latinx at home creates an odd dynamic with identity. Forcing students to break up their identities into two different spaces or in some cases, completely 11

LATINX IDENTITY IS KEPT ALIVE BY THOSE WHO Photo by Ernesto Aquino via Flickr

suppress one of them. When discussing our introduction to multi-ethnic literature, Professor of education at UCLA, Daniel Solorzano and I found that not much has changed since he was a student. We both sought literature outside of what the curriculum considered “classic” on our own. Reading literature from our backgrounds helped both of us understand our identity. However, literature is not the only discipline lacking in diverse voices. Solorzano argues, “I would love to see the natural and physical sciences deal with the concept of race and racism.” Often, the sciences seem to not be expected to increase diversity from their specified curriculums. However, representation is a multi-disciplinary issue. The introduction of AB 2772 Ethnic Studies in California is one step towards the right direction. Requiring 12

ethnic studies as a means to graduate high school is a way to ensure a holistic curriculum. This curriculum helps keep up with the growing diversity in the student population. However, this isn’t a complete fix. Professor Solorzano fears that ethnic studies may lead teachers to believe that they are off the hook from diversifying their curriculums since ethnic studies will now have its own place. There is still a need to increase diversity in history, math, literature, and the sciences, regardless if ethnic studies courses are in place. Overall, the K-12 education system lacks representation for a growing number of Latinx students. Reflections of ourselves go beyond textbooks: it’s in those who teach us, it’s in the curriculum that guides us. Students from diverse backgrounds must be able to navigate their identities in and out of the classroom.

DEMAND TO BE HEARD.

Identity

Latinx identity isn’t kept alive in dusty, outdated history books. migration

struggle

parents suppressed

kept

Latinx identity hung on by a thread; through parents’ stories of migration and struggle. history Latinx identity prepared by recipes; through helping mothers make the masa for tortillas de harina, and feeling the heat of the comal on our fingertips. Latinx identity suppressed by film; through the way güeritas were praised, and our Latinx features became exotic. Latinx identity reincarnated by Chicano 10A; through relearned histories and renewed pride, migration of trailblazers who set the path for us.

Identity

Latinx

struggle

parents

alive

suppressed

kept

Latinx identityhistory is kept alive by those who demand to be heard.

alive

Latinx

DEAR MATHEMATICS by Kevin Bernal-Rivera

“Thank you for continuously destroying me and building me back up.”

Math – a subject that has historically transformed our life on Earth. It is one of the most important tools in the history of our planet. It has been the catalyst for the rise of civilizations and has also led to the destruction of others. Throughout history, various civilizations have aided in furthering our understanding of the subject. However, when you think about what the image of a modern mathematician looks like, what do you think? Someone who is Latinx? Maybe African American? Perhaps female? Chances are, this is not the image you think. Most people generally find mathematics to be a subject that is unrelatable and impractical. To be fair, has anyone really used the Pythagorean Theorem since learning it in Algebra class? Although this statement may be true, this is an unfortunate mindset for any minority student to hold. We need to keep in mind that there is a reason why the greatest pyramids on Earth are found in Egypt and in various locations throughout Latin America. Did we forget the natural abilities of our ancestors? My relationship with math was similar to what you’ll find amongst many students – I just thought the subject wasn’t for me. I was a young, undocumented student; the son of parents who survived a brutal civil war. The lives of our family spared when we were granted political asylum. Throughout my schooling, I hated math. It was a subject I never comprehended. I even failed Algebra II in the 11th grade. During that time, Algebra II wasn’t a requirement for graduation, so I decided to avoid the subject. I eventually graduated with a failing grade in math. So what does an undocumented student with no option of going to a 4-year university do? Work low-skilled jobs. These jobs came in the form of painting houses and dog walking to provide extra income. I did this until my parents encouraged me to continue my education. My parents assured me that my education was worth any sacrifices they made. I knew I couldn’t continue to perform poorly as I had in high school, so I made it a goal to learn as much as I could during my courses and succeed. I researched various community colleges around my area and decided to enroll at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. During my first two

Visual by Jason Gonzalez

years as a community college student, I was insecure about my academic abilities and continued to work odd jobs to help pay bills. The rigors of studying and working were difficult, but I was finally succeeding in school. Through hard work and dedication, I began to succeed in mathematics and gained an appreciation for the logical process needed to solve problems. I was even fortunate enough to win the math scholarship in back-to-back semesters, a first for my community college. I felt different; it felt as if I had been born to succeed in this challenging subject. Mathematics is the only subject that continuously makes you feel inadequate but rewards you with the understanding of the language of nature. It is this constant cycle that builds resilience and pushes you to limits that you believed were never possible. My parents and I eventually saved enough money to begin the process of getting my residency. Once earned, I immediately stopped working in lowskilled jobs. I began looking for a job that would allow me to help others while also utilizing the knowledge I had gained in my coursework. I began working as a math tu-

tor on campus and learned how important it was to be a minority in the STEM field. Suddenly, students had someone they could relate to and be motivated by. The struggles of facing a difficult subject like math alone was no longer an issue for those enrolled in the subject. I transferred to UCLA and continued studying what I loved. My struggles in mathematics continue, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still an enjoyable subject that reminds me of the accomplishments I have earned and the ones I will earn. So, thank you, math. Thank you for continuously destroying me and building me back up. You gave me the ability to serve as a role model, to prove that someone from a minority background can succeed, and allowed me to change the trajectory of my life. You gave me what nothing else could: the ability to understand the language of my ancestors. Their histories never died because their fluency in mathematics has given them an infinite lifetime that continuously resonates with the current generation of life. We continue to seek out their monuments, attempt to understand their greatest feats, and honor our ancestors by attempting to learn the language they mastered long ago.

THE ACT OF NOT COMING OUT:

QUEER QUEER RESISTANCE RESISTANCE

TO HETERONORMATIVITY

by Daniel Ponce

I came out before I realized that I did not need to come out. I came out when I was 17 in a world that constantly told me I was an “other”. Repeatedly being asked por la novia, told to man up, teased about being a virgin because I had never been with a woman. All these things made me feel uncomfortable, as if there was something wrong with me. All these ideas were imposed. We have learned that Earth is not the center of the universe; heteronormativity is. All these assumptions and gender roles, oppressive systems that make it seem as though there is no space for queer people such as myself. The silence of queerness can be just as dangerous. I never heard the word “gay” until I was told that it was a thing that only white people did. It made me wonder what space I had as a queer Chicano before I even knew what any of those terms were. Despite the progress that has been 16

made, the world remains extremely heteronormative. From the responses to the implementation of LGBTQ+ history in Chicago schools to Fabián Cháirez’s painting of Emiliano Zapata, we can see that homophobia remains prevalent. How is homosexuality being forced down your throat? Is it when Jennicet Gutiérrez interrupted Obama to demand that trans women stop being deported? Was it when Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and many other LGBTQ+ folks fought back against brutality? How many times do people have to yell that the life expectancy of black trans women is 35 before people start to actually give a damn? The gay agenda is real: it is about survival. It consists of fighting for representation and equality and to be seen as humans. How many hate crimes against straight people have been reported? How many straight people were forced to go to gay conversion

someone stealing your money. You suspect a crime. My queerness is not a crime, no matter how hard you try to make me believe it is. My queerness in brown spaces will not be ignored. Two men holding hands is not pushing an agenda. Two women kissing in public is not an object of your desire or any of your business. A trans woman fighting for her rights is not an abomination. My existence is political because you made it so. If fighting to live freely makes you uncomfortable, then you must reevaluate your faulty beliefs, not try to make me feel that my actions are wrong.

No pido que me aceptes, solo digo que dejes a mí y a mi jotería en paz.

Visuals by Jessica Martinez

camp? The fight for representation is not a ploy to turn straight people gay or to force a person’s sexuality down someone’s throat. We have more things to worry about—such as, I don’t know, surviving—than trying to turn your straight son gay. Frank Newport’s poll on The Gallup shows that LGBTQ+ members are 4.5% of the US population. However, LGBTQ+ people constitute 40% of the homeless youth population, as reported by the Human Rights Campaign. 1.4 million Latinx individuals identify as LGBTQ+, and I am one of those 1.4 million. In reality, watching two men kiss on television as a heterosexual does not compare to the years of oppression that LGBTQ+ people have faced. When Fabián Cháirez depicted a naked Emiliano Zapata in heels and a pink sombrero, the problem was not the painting; rather, the problem lay in the femmephobia- and homophobia-fueled protests. Being depicted as something less than macho is not a bad thing. The cause of discomfort lies in Zapata’s depiction in a non-heteronormative manner. You accept me for who I am? You accept a present. You accept a piece of chocolate. Human beings are not a form of exchange that you can accept. You do not agree with my lifestyle? Who granted you the authority to think you have to agree with an aspect of my life? Agreeing to disagree is not applicable to human lives. You suspected that I was gay? You suspect someone stealing your mail. You suspect

presenting the

REFLECTIONS REFLECTIONS REFLECTIONS playlist

10 SCAN BELOW TO ACCESS THE PLAYLIST