Celebrating Queer Latinx Icons

Each October, the end of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) overlaps with the beginning of Queer History Month. To mark this amazing convergence, we’re celebrating by highlighting some of the brightest and boldest icons in queer Latinx history, both past and present. From groundbreaking artists and performers to game-changing activists and fabulous drag artists, each of these individuals use their unique talent and expertise to make the world a better place not just for queer Latinx people, but for all people.

Take a look at a few spotlights:

Julio Salgado

Julio Salgado is a gay Mexican-born visual artist, cultural organizer, and activist based in Long Beach, CA, who rose to prominence during the DREAM Act movement in the United States. He meaningfully describes himself as an “artivist” and his work highlights the intersection of queerness and undocumented status, while also focusing on queer joy, existence, and self-determination. Salgado uses his background in journalism and bold illustration to challenge anti-immigration politics, refute homophobia and transphobia, and champion marginalized communities.

Sylvia Rivera

Sylvia Rivera (1951-2002) was a pioneering activist and advocate who played a central role in the early LGBTQ rights movement. A transgender woman of Puerto Rican and Venezuelan descent, Rivera fought hard to ensure that trans folks, people of color, and low-income individuals were included as the LGBTQ+ movement advanced. With close friend Marsha P. Johnson, Rivera co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), a group dedicated to helping homeless young drag queens, gay youth, and trans women. Later on, as anti-discrimination laws came into being, Sylvia challenged mainstream LGBTQ groups and progressive politicians to embrace the full spectrum of queer identity, and to include trans folks in legislative policies.

Carmelita Tropicana

Also known as Alina Troyano, Carmelita Tropicana is a Cuban-American performance artist, playwright, lecturer, and Latina comedian based in New York. A lesbian actress who uses her work to challenge cultural stereotypes and rewrite history from multiple perspectives, Tropicana performs hyperbolic feminine and masculine personas, as well as animals and fantasy creatures to challenge narrative authority. Her eye-opening works address political issues and analyze the intersections of ethnicity, sexuality, gender, race and class.

José Julio Sarria

José Julio Sarria (1922-2013) was a famed American drag queen, LGBTQ+ activist, and founder of the Imperial Court System. Sarria is known for many things, including for being the first openly gay candidate for public office when he ran for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1961. He was a pioneering drag performer and became known as the “Nightingale of Montgomery Street” for his performances at the Black Cat Bar in San Francisco. He was also a prominent figure in the early LGBTQ rights movement. Sarria’s creation of the Imperial Court System provided a platform for drag queens to find community and raise funds for charitable causes, a legacy which still lives on today.

Wilson Cruz

Wilson Cruz (born 1973) is an acclaimed actor and activist whose groundbreaking career has expanded LGBTQ+ and Latinx representation. In 1994, he made television history as Rickie Vasquez in the cult classic series My So-Called Life, becoming the first openly gay actor to portray an openly gay character on primetime television. He later portrayed Dr. Hugh Culber in Star Trek: Discovery. As a longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ youth and inclusive schools, Cruz continues to champion visibility, belonging, and equality. Stonewall Community Foundation honored Wilson at our 2018 Vision Awards gala.

Lorena Borjas

Lorena Borjas (1960-2020) was a trailblazing Mexican-American transgender and immigrant rights activist, known as the “Mother of the Trans Latinx Community” in Queens, NY. For nearly 30 years, she championed trans women facing violence and discrimination, organized protest marches, connected community members with lifesaving healthcare, and established mutual aid and bail funds for those in need. A Mexican immigrant and survivor of human trafficking, Borjas transformed her experiences into advocacy, leaving a lasting legacy of grassroots leadership, community care, and the fight for LGBTQ+ liberation.

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez is a groundbreaking actor and singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Michaela was involved in theater and performing arts from a young age. Getting involved with the ballroom scene at age 14, Michaela developed a vogueing talent that eventually led to her being cast as Blanca in the historic FX television series Pose. Pose featured the largest-ever cast of transgender actors in regular roles on a scripted series, and her performance earned her an Emmy nomination - the first-ever for a trans woman in a major acting category - and a Golden Globe award for Best Actress - the first-ever win for a trans actor. She actively uses her platform to challenge restrictive societal norms and advocate for human-centered representation where queer identity is not solely tied to trauma.