Illustrated by Mieko Tsurumoto/OutWrite This piece was originally published in our Winter 2023 print issue “Culture.” Your Love Lives On Willi Ninja Chavela Vargas Stormé DeLaverie Ernestine Eckstein Jackie Shane Ifti Nasim Amelio Robles Avila Lorraine Hansberry Gladys Bentley Marsha…
Queer Next Up: Daffne Cruz
Daffne Cruz (she/they) is an openly out queer high school administrator, photographer, model, Sharpe Stylist, and personal trainer. They advocate for authenticity in every capacity, and encourage others to be their true selves. She is multi-faceted and dedicated to help her community in every way possible.
Breaking Boundaries in Beauty: The Love Story of Miss Argentina and Miss Puerto Rico
Imagine attending a beauty pageant, not knowing what to expect. Maybe you end up with a tiara and some press, maybe you leave with some great memories, or, just maybe, you get the chance to meet your future wife. This was the case for beauty queens Fabiola Valentín and Mariana Varela, known as Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Argentina respectively.
Growing Together
My dad was, at best, very uncomfortable with queerness before I came out to him. For him, this discomfort stemmed from two prominent aspects of Latino culture: Christianity and machismo. Today, 77% of Latinos in the United States identify as Christian, and traditionally, Christianity has rejected queer people (with some exceptions of more progressive Christian denominations; however, these branches are not predominant in Latino culture).
“Encanto”: Being the Family’s Black Sheep
**This article contains spoilers for Disney’s “Encanto” (2021).** In late November of 2021, Disney released the long-anticipated movie “Encanto.” The film centers around a mestiza, Colombian family, the Madrigals, who were blessed with magical powers which they use to help…
