10 Queer Latinos Who Make Us Proud
28 June 2009, 1:41 PM. By Alex Alvarez
In honor of today’s Gay Pride Parade in New York City, here’s a list of some famous queer Latinos of which we’re especially proud. And since being queer can mean all sorts of things, we included individuals who are gay, straight, transsgender, transsexual, bisexual, curious, in, out, loud, shy, femme, butch or some combination thereof. These are people who make us proud both for what they’ve done, and for the things they refused to do, regardless of what their circumstances dictated.
Happy Pride, everyone:
1. Anaïs Nin
Cuban/Dutch writer of erotica who explored - and celebrated - all sorts of couplings, kinks and fetishes, however taboo. She was open and frank about questions concerning her possible bisexuality, writing that although she found some women sexually attractive, actual sexual acts with women made her uncomfortable. We don’t know about you, but we find that honesty refreshing at a time when people either downplay or play up their bisexuality for the sake of image.
2. Narciso Rodriguez
Openly gay Cuban-American fashion designer who has dressed First Lady Michelle Obama. He is outspoken regarding both his career path (his parents originally wanted him to become a doctor or lawyer) and his politics (he often spoke out against Bush and offered support to Barack Obama’s campaign early on).
3. Reinaldo Arenas
Cuban writer who was persecuted by Cuba’s communist government both for his work and for being openly gay. He was incarcerated in El Morro Castle after attempting to leave the island in an inner tube, although he eventually made his way to New York.
4. Manuel Puig
Gay Argentine author who often explored homosexual characters and themes in his work, perhaps most famously in The Kiss of the Spider Woman.
5. Albita
Cuban singer known as much for her gender-bending attire as she is for her music.
6. Ramón Novarro
Mexican actor who was marketed as a “Latin lover” from the 20s ’til the 60s. Due to the pressures of the time, Novarro remained closeted, but - in what was seen as a risky move in his career at the time - he refused to enter into a “lavender marriage.”
7. Lupe Valdez
Texas’ only elected female and first openly lesbian sheriff. That’s her being all sheriffy and adorable at the Dallas Pride Parade.
8. Karen Atala
Chilean lawyer and judge fighting for custody of her three daughters despite the fact that her ex husband and his lawyers are attempting to paint her as an unfit parent because she is in a same-sex relationship.
9. Ruby Corado
Originally from El Salvador, Ruby moved to the United States… as a man. Since her sex change, she’s been speaking out about her experiences and pushing for the rights of GLBT people.
10. Holly Woodlawn
One of Warhol’s superstars, Holly was born Haroldo Santiago Franceschi Rodriguez Danhakl in Puerto Rico before moving to Miami Beach and then New York City. She’s one of the inspirations for Lou Reed’s “Take a Walk on the Wild Side.”
(13) 
Post Your Comment
Did you know you can now share a link, image or video?
Click to submit your own notas.
I (heart) all of you who do this blog!!!
huh…idk thats the holly from walk on the wild side…more you know :)
don’t forget Pedro Zamora who worked so hard to take the fear out of AIDS.
Thank you for doing this blog!
It’s important to note that the top 3 are Cuban. ;)
You caught me. I can and do play favorites.
wonderful post. anais nin is so amazing, she looks like she’s from neptune.
HEY!
I AM OFFENDED BECAUSE YOU DID NOT INCLUDE WALTER MERCADO.
are you afraid of something?
Yes. Bats. Hamster hands. Sometimes I’m afraid of Pierrot.
he’s not openly gay anyway.
Chavela Vargas! Mexican/Costa Rican, friends with Frida Kahlo, came out at the age of 81, amazing vocals! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chavela_Vargas
While I appreciate this list being put together, I’m not too crazy about some of the choices made. How do you choose Albita over Chavela Vargas? How do you forget Sylvia Rivera, transgender activist who was involved in the Stonewall movement and is considered the mother of the transgender movement? What about Jade Esteban Estrada, whose primary focus has been putting queer Latino stories on stage so that our stories are heard? There are a few people on this list that I would’ve switched for the previously mentioned. Also, just because a designer does the First Lady’s wardrobe and speaks out against Bush, doesn’t necessarily make me proud. A lot of us spoke out against Bush. I’m sure there are many more out there and that putting a list like this is incredibly difficult but I just had to add my two cents.
Jade Esteban Estrada is a good one.