On October 5, the Los Angeles LGBT Center celebrated Latinx Heritage Month in larger-than-life style, honoring drag superstar Kandy Muse and LA icon Salina EsTitties at the second annual Queerceañera.
Spotlighting LA’s queer Latinx community, Queerceañera offers a gender- and expression-inclusive reimagining of the quinceañera tradition.
“Quinceañeras have origins dating back to strict, heteronormative—and often religious—binaries, but tonight we’re making it loud, queer, fabulous, and community-focused,” Salina EsTitties, the evening’s Madrina of Ceremonies, said on stage at the event. “This is a cotillion for everyone who always wanted one but—for whatever phobic reason—couldn’t have one.”
EsTitties, who returned to Queerceañera as host for the second year in a row, sat down for the evening’s keynote Q&A with fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race alum and the night’s honoree, Kandy Muse. The duo enjoyed a wide-ranging conversation covering topics including chosen family, Latinx representation on television, and more.
“Being gay, there’s no guidebook telling you how to live your life—especially if you come from a family that doesn’t support you, you’re just out in the world by yourself. But nightlife is where I found a lot of my chosen family, and it’s where I continue to find them,” said Kandy Muse. “I always say this: If you haven’t found yours yet, you will find your tribe. You just have to be out there with an open mind, and they’ll come to you.”
Salina EsTitties also spoke about her sobriety journey, which began at the Los Angeles LGBT Center years earlier.
“I was running the muck out here in these streets at 17, 18, 19 years old, and it was the Center who was there for me,” she said. “I didn’t know anything about HIV care or testing or AIDS. I was very ignorant. I started doing drugs, and I was homeless at a point. There was a provider at the Center who woke me up [to realize] maybe I have a problem.”
“I got sober when I was 21 years old. I didn’t know I was gonna be a drag queen,” she continued. “I didn’t know where my life was gonna go, but here I am accepting an award at the Center, being recognized by the people who saved my life and continue to save lives every day.”
The Presenting Sponsor of Queerce is Angel City Football Club. Official Sponsors are women-owned, Curvy Couture and Waymo.
“It is such an honor to be a part of an incredible event like this—like Trans Pride, like Highly Favored,” said Catherina Dávila, Head of Community and Marketing, Angel City FC. “It is a privilege to put our name alongside all of the work that the Los Angeles LGBT Center does for the community. So thank you all for being here tonight and for creating something that we want to be a part of.”
This year’s event was organized to benefit Mi Centro, a sanctuary for Latinx LGBTQ+ individuals in Boyle Heights and surrounding eastside communities formed in partnership between the Los Angeles LGBT Center and Latino Equality Alliance. Members of Mi Centro’s Community Advisory Board—which meets regularly on a volunteer basis to help inform Mi Centro’s programs and services and ensure they meet the needs of the community—were also recognized during the stage program.
