Latine media, art & cultural happenings to keep your eye on.
This weekly blog series by GLAAD’s Spanish-Language and Latine media team will bring you a selection of new and notable LGBTQ media. Younger latine people are more likely to identify as LGBTQ and with over 62 million Latines in the US alone, it is crucial to celebrate and amplify inclusive media that represents the wide range of Latine experiences.
Film
Powerful Film In The Summers Will Open the LA Latino International Film Festival
“Like most stories, In The Summers is a story about love, a complicated love” Alessandra Lacorazza, the film’s queer Colombian-American writer and director explains. Set over the course of four summers, Violeta and Eva visit their father Vicente’s home in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Part queer coming-of-age film, part exploration of what addiction and trauma can do to your relationship with a parent, In The Summers is a beautiful, textured portrait of a queer latine childhood.
The star-studded cast includes Puerto Rican and Greek artist, actor, and filmmaker Lio Mehiel as adult Violeta, who is also the first trans actor to win the prestigious Sundance Special Jury Award for Acting. Colombian actor Sasha Calle stars as adult Eva, and Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter, filmmaker, and co-founder of Calle 13, Residente, as Vicente, their father.
We will be keeping our eyes peeled for this critically-acclaimed film’s theatrical release and for any of Lacorazza’s upcoming work. Watch the clip below to learn more about the film!
On May 29th, In The Summers will open the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, kicking off a five day celebration dedicated to showcasing the richness of Latino lives on the silver screen. To watch, get your LALIFF tickets here.
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Music
Kany García Drops Heartfelt García Album
Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Kany García recently released her new self-titled album García. After coming out in 2016, García continues to be a voice for “all the victims of hate in the LGBTQ+ community.” This album is a love letter to her younger self, with all the powerful storytelling and moving lyrics expected from García’s songwriting. Standout song “En Esta Boca” features lesbian rapper and singer-songwriter Young Miko (a longtime fan of García’s). Watch the music video below and listen to García on your favorite music streaming platform!
Lagoona Bloo Makes a Splash With Album Underwater Bubble Pop
Queer, Latine artist Lagoona Bloo just released her album Underwater Bubble Pop. The Mermaid Pop Star sat down with GLAAD’s Yolanda Lenge for an exclusive interview touching on her music, inspiration, and her journey of self-discovery. Read the interview here, watch the music video for standout song “Burbuja Pop” below, and stream Underwater Bubble Pop!
Web Series
La Verdrag Delivers Quality Mexican Journalism in Drag
Mexican drag queen and journalist Amanda, known out of drag as Guillermo Barraza, is the host of La Verdrag, a clever play on words blending the words ‘la verdad’ (the truth) and drag. Barraza is the first-ever drag queen to host a news program for Mexican TV and delivers excellent reporting in fresh and fabulous new episodes airing weekly on Once Noticias Digital. Last week’s episode touches on current events as well as diverse motherhood in honor of Mother’s Day, interviewing moms Jennifer Blanco, executive director of the Asociación Por Las Infancias Transgénero and mom of a trans child, and Ana de Alejandro, an activist, feminist, lesbian, mom, blogger and founder of the Red de Madres Lesbianas en México for a great conversation on motherhood.
Barraza describes the profound impact of La Verdrag in an interview, saying:
Since the show went on air, the impact of the newscast exceeded what I imagined. People recognize me and my voice on the streets and offer words of congratulations. It feels so gratifying because in addition to boosting my profession, I get to bring visibility to the stories and struggles of a historically marginalized community.
Watch La Verdrag de las maternidades diversas below, and more episodes on youtube.
TV
Wendy Guevara Delights Audiences on Solo Las Más
Mexican actress, singer and businesswoman Wendy Guevara from the GLAAD Award Winning reality show “Wendy Perdida, Pero Famosa” was the host for the finale of Solo Las Más. The show is an All Stars spin-off edition of Mexican drag competition La Más Draga that brings together past contestants of the show in order to compete once again for the crown. Watch Wendy’s live performance for the finale at the Pepsi Center below and stream all of Solo Las Más on youtube.
@lamasdragracemx Chíngatelo @Soy Wendy Guevara La Gran Final Solo Las Más 👁 #teamcpher #cpher #sirena #teamgeorgiana #madison #georgiana #teammadison #teamsirena #sololasmas #lagranfinal #lamasdraga ♬ KUKI – La Más Draga