Los Angeles LGBT Center’s 3rd Annual Queerceañera Honors Drag Sensation Lushious Massacr & DTLA PROUD Founder Oliver Alpuche
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The Center’s signature Latine Heritage Month celebration uplifted joy, migration stories, and the boundless love symbolized by ‘Mariposas Sin Fronteras’ (Butterflies Without Borders).
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Photo courtesy of Los Angeles LGBT Center | Kane C. Andrade
LOS ANGELES, October 6, 2025 — On Friday, October 3, the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza came alive as hundreds gathered for the third annual Queerceañera (Queerce), the Center’s signature celebration of queer Latine culture. The event honored Lushious Massacr, Mexican-American drag artist and viral sensation, and Oliver Alpuche, nightlife tastemaker and community leader behind Redline, KISO, and DTLA Proud.
This year’s theme, Mariposas Sin Fronteras (Butterflies Without Borders), honored the resilience and journeys of queer and trans people while celebrating the transformative power of belonging. Inspired by the monarch butterfly’s migration across borders, Queerceañera became both a celebration and a statement—uplifting the Latine community’s ongoing fight for freedom and reaffirming that love, identity, and community know no borders.
Amid heightened ICE raids in Los Angeles and across the nation, this year’s Queerceañera carried deeper meaning. The Center’s Legal Services team was on site providing free immigration resources for queer and trans immigrants and their families—transforming the event into not only a space of joy, but also one of safety, solidarity, and support.
Taking the stage to accept their awards, both honorees reflected on their journeys, their communities, and the importance of affirming spaces like Queerceañera:
Lushious Massacr, Honoree:
“In a world that demands that queer people hide, we refuse. In a country that demands that immigrants run and hide in fear, we refuse. We will not be afraid, and we will not ask for permission to live our lives. … You don’t need anyone’s permission to live your life. Be brave, be fearless and ALWAYS be you.”
“In the United States of America, the few people in charge will tell the many of us that the American dream is gone; that we have to go back home… To that we say, we are home. And we don’t need your permission to follow our dreams.”
Oliver Alpuche, Honoree:
“Queer spaces are where we gather. We plan, we protest, we celebrate, and we need to keep them alive. This year specifically—this year of heartache, trouble, and all the pain that you see—we need to remember to celebrate. We are here. And my commitment going forward is to create a rainbow district downtown where we all are accepted, where our culture meets our queerness, and where we thrive.”
The event, presented by Wella Company, was a night of culture and celebration, alive with music, art, and community. DJ Bella Spreads kept the crowd moving with high-energy sets, and artist Yulissa Mendoza transformed the courtyard into a warm backyard-style space that evoked the spirit of home and family central to so many Latine celebrations. Their design touched every corner of the event, from the outdoor ambiance to a striking gallery installation. Guests enjoyed food and drinks from Latine- and queer-owned vendors, pairing celebration with support for local businesses.
“At Wella Company, we believe beauty is more than what you see—it’s how you feel, how you connect, how you express your truest self,” said Martin Dale, Head Education – North America at Wella Company. “Witnessing Queerceañera come to life was a powerful reminder of that mission. The joy, creativity, and resilience on display reflect exactly why we are proud to stand with the Los Angeles LGBT Center in celebrating queer Latine culture and community.”
Queerceañera is also made possible by Official Sponsors Casamigos, Gilead Sciences, Waymo, Andy Ortiz & Peter Nielsen, and Carlos Medina & Denis Cagna.
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About the Los Angeles LGBT Center
Since 1969 the Los Angeles LGBT Center has cared for, championed, and celebrated LGBTQ+ individuals and families in Los Angeles and beyond. Today the Center’s nearly 800 employees provide services for more LGBTQ+ people than any other organization in the world, offering programs, services, and global advocacy that span four broad categories: Health, Social Services and Housing, Culture and Education, Leadership and Advocacy. We are an unstoppable force in the fight against bigotry and the struggle to build a better world; a world in which LGBTQ+ people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society. Learn more at lalgbtcenter.org