It is said that La Llorona weeps for her children whom she drowned as revenge against her husband. She walks an ethereal plane, searching for their lost souls that they may enter the afterlife. That tale is a fabrication, one that was heteronormatized and used to dissuade women from abandoning their supposed commitment to a “womanly,” maternal lifestyle. This is the real legend of La Llorona.
La Leyenda Real de La L lorona written by Austin Mendoza illustration by Shay Suban, layout by Astrid W
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uring life, he was Alejandro… most of the time. You see, Alejandro was a gay man living in la Colonia Tabacalera, widely known throughout the land as a haven for queer people. Despite this, it still wasn’t entirely safe to be queer, and Alejandro felt that he shouldn’t express his more feminine side in public...as Alejandro. He created a drag persona instead. At first, she was just María. Her appearance mirrored those glamorous wives Alejandro had seen walking around the streets, but one day, she accidentally smudged her mascara as she was getting ready for a gig. She liked how the smudged line ran down her face from her eye, but people in the underground scene snidely remarked that it looked like María was crying black tears. Instead of heeding their snarky words, Alejandro embraced the tears as representing La Llorona’s sorrow for all the queer people he had seen humiliated and arrest-
04 | OutWrite, 2018
ed – or worse. María was reborn as La Llorona – “the weeping woman.” With her symbolic black tears, long flowing gowns, and unparalleled status as a chismosa, La Llorona quickly become an icon for the local queer community. She even added a marigold in her hair to further honor all of the queer people who had passed to the Land of the Dead. Everyone loved La Llorona. One day, Alejandro went to a grand ball in la colonia. There was to be dancing, drinking, and of course, a drag performance featuring La Llorona. Much to everyone’s surprise, forty-two people showed up to the gala, the most the underground scene had ever witnessed. Many of them were even dressed in drag, inspired by La Llorona. Even the mayor’s son was there. There were drinks aplenty, and Alejandro had heard some especially gag-worthy chisme that morning. This would be a night to remember.
