identities

20 LGBTQ+ On-Screen Heroes To Binge Year Round

@NICOLE82NICK / Twitter
By May 22, 2018 at 2:01 pm
Being a queer Latino can be challenging, depending on how Catholic your house was, or how traditional your parents are, but I wouldn’t change that about myself for a second. We have our own subculture that has been reaching the mainstream in dozens of characters on-screen and the visibility is only becoming clearer.
Here’s our roundup of the 20 LGBTQ+ heroes we crushed on as kids, and are happy kids today get to see them thrive.

1. Santana Lopez, Glee

CREDIT: Untitled. Digital Image. AfterEllen. 22 May 2018.

Raise your hand if you grew up crushing on Santana and then cried when she told Brittney she loved her? She’s my #shero and belongs at the top of this list.

2. Elena Alvarez, One Day at a Time

CREDIT: @AlessiaKnowsAll / Twitter

Get you a girl who can do both. It’s everything to have a young teen lesbian be so lovingly accepted into her Cuban-American family. #Examples

3. JR, Jane the Virgin

CREDIT: @Nicole82Nick / Twitter

Jane the Virgin has given us so much, but the last season’s love affair between Petra and JR was the missing piece. Rosario Dawson, bless you.

4. Jaime Castro, Broad City

CREDIT: Untitled. Digital Image. Remezcla. 22 May 2018.

The day Jaime got his citizenship on Broad City, we cried tears of gold. As an immigrant, he handles legitimate concerns in high fashion.

5. Callie Torres, Grey’s Anatomy

CREDIT: @SRamirezAlways / Twitter

Callie Torres came to realize her bisexuality as an adult, and faced homophobia from her parents that many of us can relate to if you’re also a recovering Catholic. At least we get to watch Callie get married and have a beautiful baby and live happily.

6. Angel, Rent

CREDIT: “Angel and Collins.” Digital Image. Fanpop. 12 May 2018.

C’mooon, you remember this classic. Angel is a proud trans Latina living with AIDs in the 1980’s and her romance with Collins was beautiful.

7. Enrique “Rickie” Vasquez, My So Called Life

CREDIT: @audiohelkuik / Twitter

Played by Wilson Cruz, Rickie was the first full on gay Latino teenager on television and gave the world one of the first glimpses into queer Latino life.

8. Maria Diega Reyes, Sex and the City

CREDIT: Untitled. Digital Image. Remezcla. 22 May 2018.

We must speak of Reyes’ static character and all the problematic issues she raises for being the Latina stereotype used to explore Samantha’s character development.

9. Oscar Martinez, The Office

CREDIT: Untitled. Digital Image. Remezcla. 22 May 2018.

We cringe alongside you, Oscar, for all the stuff his boss put him through, including theming a welcome back party “Mexican.” I’m still cringing.

10. Justin Suarez, Ugly Betty

CREDIT: Untitled. Digital Image. Remezcla. 22 May 2018.

Watching Justin and his first boo dance around their young feelings and finally getting that smooch was TV gold.

11. Adriana Mendez, The Bridge

CREDIT: Untitled. Digital Image. Remezcla. 22 May 2018.

Emily Rios just came out IRL, and her character is a badass journalist working in El Paso. Please ship her career and watch ASAP.

12. Wesley Alvarez, Dear White People

CREDIT: @RudyMartinezLA / Twitter

Spoiler: Season 2 features a new love interest that isn’t a savage alt-right undercover. Wesley is a cute, shy emotionally available partner to Lionel and we want your opinions.

13. Agustín Lanuez, Looking

CREDIT: Untitled. Digital Image. Kulture Media. 22 May 2018.

If you haven’t binge watched HBO’s Looking yet, prepare yourself for a glimpse into San Francisco’s gay Latino scene with not one, but two gay Latino characters.

14. Dr. Luisa Alver, Jane the Virgin

CREDIT: @earpsolano / Twitter

I want to love Luisa so much, but hate how JTV made her a dramatic, flighty caricature of an alcoholic and lesbian stereotype. Still, this show would literally be nothing without her accidentally inseminating the wrong woman.

15. Renee Montoya, Gotham

CREDIT: Untitled. Digital Image. Remezcla. 22 May 2018.

Oh snap, Gotham City Police Department’s lead detective is an LGBTQ+ badass. If you’re here for all things Marvel, then find yourself one with an LGBTQ character.

16. Jesús Velásquez, True Blood

CREDIT: Untitled. Digital Image. Remezcla. 22 May 2018.
Velásquez brought the realidad of Latino witchiness to the supernatural real of True Blood. He was a real life brujo and it wasn’t magic realism that happened–it was real magic.

17. Dani, Glee

CREDIT: Untitled. Digital Image. Remezcla. 22 May 2018.

My girl, Demi Lovato, was Santana’s love interest in Season 5 and I was screaming. Wish you could have stayed forever.

18. Michael Sanchez, Empire

CREDIT: Untitled. Digital Image. Remezcla. 22 May 2018.

Empire featured Michael Sanchez as the on and off again boyfriend of Jamal and his eyes can cook your breakfast in a glance.

19. Paul Torres, The Following

CREDIT: Untitled. Digital Image. Remezcla. 22 May 2018.

This guy unfortunately didn’t last long on the show after he developed feelings for the serial killer the entire show is premised on catching. Why do we go after the emotionally unavailable ones?

20. Julio Zapata and Tenoch Iturbid, Y Tu Mama Tambien

CREDIT: Pinterest

This 2001 Mexican drama film features two young coming of age teens who realize they have feelings for each other and the film was a breakthrough for the LGBTQ Latino community.

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Patty Delgado Is Changing The World Of Latino Fashion With Her Own Store Hija De Tu Madre

identities

Patty Delgado Is Changing The World Of Latino Fashion With Her Own Store Hija De Tu Madre

Javier Rojas / mitú
By Javier Rojas May 23, 2018 at 5:56 pm

Patty Delgado doesn’t consider herself a trailblazer or even a trendsetter. Yet, the 26-year-old designer is making a name for herself in the fashion world with her colorful embellished denim jackets. Delgado traveled to Mexico City for six months in 2015 and it was there that she discovered something big. She bought an appliqué of the Virgen de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe) and instantly knew she needed to put it somewhere special. She choose her old faded Levi’s denim jean jacket. Instantly, she knew this was going to be much bigger.

Patty Delgado started Hija de tu Madre November 2016 and she hasn’t looked back since.

CREDIT: CREDIT: Javier Rojas/ mitú

“I felt an instant connection to the jacket because of what the Virgen means to a lot of Latinos, especially immigrant families,” Delgado recalls. “I knew this was going to be a hit and told myself going forward I’m going to make these jackets.”

Fast forward three years later, Delgado opened up a showroom this month for her brand Hija de tu Madre.

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The intimate space is located in Mariachi Plaza in the heart of LA’s Latino neighborhood Boyle Heights. Delgado grew up in Boyle Heights and understands the importance of having her business in the predominately Latino neighborhood.

“It made sense for me to have a space owned by a Latina that was born in this neighborhood,” Delgado says. “This was the perfect opportunity to plant my roots right here in Boyle Heights.”

Customers can find her showroom in the heart of East Los Angeles.

CREDIT: CREDIT: Javier Rojas/ mitú

The first thing that greets visitors upon entering her showroom is a giant mural of the Virgen de Guadalupe and a restroom that features the words “Get It Girl” that has been a popular location for pictures. The intention of the studio is to experience what Hija de tu Madre represents rather than a regular store. People can stop by and take pictures and try on jackets and get more of a feel of what Delgado’s brand truly is about.

“People come here and they just want to take a photo and model in the jackets,” Delgado says. “That’s what this space is for and I’m glad I can share this with my people.”

She’s sold her Latino-inspired denim jackets around the world from Texas all the way to France.

CREDIT: CREDIT: Javier Rojas/ mitú

“A lot of the ideas I get come from a place of nostalgia. Hija de tu Madre was basically my childhood nickname,” Delgado says. “I like to pull things from my family all the time like cousins say “ya guey’ all the time and I made a phone case that says that now.”

Her most known and best selling item has been a denim jacket with colorful sequins with the image of the Virgen de Guadalupe. The jacket rose her to social media fame and now sells other items that remind her of identity like gold necklaces with phrases like ‘Bruja’ and ‘Me Vale’.

Delgado credits much of her inspiration from her travels to Mexico City where she found not only her passion but self-identity.

CREDIT: CREDIT: Javier Rojas/ mitú

The UCLA graduate never saw herself in this position as she was always behind the scenes when it came to design. She studied religious studies in college, which she credits in helping find her interest with cultural motifs she utilizes on her designs. After various digital branding and fashion design gigs, she found a sense of purpose with these denim jackets.

“I was always interested in religious symbols and iconography, that’s why I incorporate that so much into my designs,” Patty says. “Sometimes I get people that tell me ‘Oh my god, you’re selling religion!’ but I say I’m not selling religion. I’m selling reminders of identity and nostalgia,” Delgado says.

Delgado adds: “I feel that we are owners of our images and these are just reminders of our heritage and culture.”

She hopes to inspire the next generation of Latinx designers and creators.

CREDIT: CREDIT: Javier Rojas/ mitú

“I come from a family of entrepreneurs and they’ve been so proud of the way I’ve been able to make a name for myself through social media.” Delgado says. “So I say give yourself the opportunity to take a risk, People will be really surprised to see what happens when they stop listening to that place of doubt in their heads and put it in silent mode.”


READ: This Fashion Designer Is Turning San Marcos Blankets Into Stunning Streetwear

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Latina, fashion