FUERZAFest director Mario Colon and artists and comedians Jilberto Soto, dragqueen Pixie Aventura, actor Joel Perez, comedians Gabe Gonzalez, River Ramirez and Veronica Cruz. (Photo Credit: FUERZAFest)

LGBTQ+ Latinx FUERZAFest Recap

June 20, 2023 Vacationer Staff

If you’re in New York City, then you probably already know that the city is buzzing more than normal with several Pride events this month, including specific LGBTQ+ Latin Pride events over the past week and weekend. Don’t worry, you still have time to make plans for NYC Pride, but we also wanted to recap the recent FUERZAFest, a Latinx LGBTQ+ Arts Festival in East Harlem.

The 8th Annual FUERZAFest ran from June 7-18, 2023, and was hosted by the Hispanic Federation (HF), a Latino nonprofit member organization. The festival featured featuring dozens of queer Latinx artists, their artwork, and their message of social justice.

(Artwork courtesy of FUERZAFest) — FUERZAFest Opening Night

FUERZAfest spanned over two weeks with its main theme “The Power of Storytelling to Drive Change,” which featured dozens of nationwide queer Latinx artists. Throughout the festival, attendees enjoyed a series of events including an art exhibit, a music concert, a documentary, a short film premier, a comedy night, and dance performances – all led by LGBTQI+ Latinx community members.

The main feature of the festival is the one-of-its-kind theater play contest featuring six different one-act plays addressing the most pressing issues impacting the queer Latinx community, including immigration, gay romance, political issues, and transgender figures. The plays included: “Un Chico Normal”, “Havana Feng Shui”, “Migrantes”, Salsa Rosada”, “Tacones” and “La Armonía de las Esferas.”

“FUERZAfest is an inspiring and impactful celebration of love, joy, and creativity of our Latinx and LGBTQI+ communities using art to tell our collective story,” said Mario Colón, founder of FUERZAFest and Vice President for Special Initiatives at Hispanic Federation.

The festival opened with an art exhibit by queer and lesbian visual artists Stephanie Silva, Jo Cosme, and Natalia Bosques Chico. The exhibit also featured art that explored issues of gender identity, race, sexuality, and body image created by the transgender community organization Colectivo Intercultural Transgrendiendo (CITG). Also, Seil Roman from the Puerto Rico-based LGBTQ+ organization Waves Ahead, mixed his art with therapy sessions. Opening night also showcased dance performances by Carlos Falu and team, as well as Edrimael Delgado, founder of BoriVogue. Venezuelan drag queen, Chicky Gorgina, also entertained with a Latin remix.

The festival hosted its first Comedy Night hosted by Gabe Gonzalez, drag queen Pixie Aventura, as well artists Joel Perez, Veronica Cruz, River Ramirez, and Jilberto Soto.

The festival also honored HIV advocate and Tony award-winning writer, actor, and producer Dominic Colón, and transgender advocate Cristina Herrera, founder of TRANSLATINA Network.

The festival has been also an opportunity for coalition building among LGBTQ+ and/or Latinx groups with organizations such as Equality New York, Latino Commission on AIDS/Oasis Pride Community Center, Gay Latino Collective, ALPFA Pride Chapter, Colectivo Intercultural Transgrediendo, America Diversa, and others co-hosting some of the events.

And just over the past weekend, a roundtable panel and brunch, “The Power of Storytelling Drive Change” moderated by Samy Nemir Qlivares. It featured Amanda Babine (she/her), Executive Director of Equality New York (EQNY), a statewide advocacy organization working to advance equality and justice for LGBTQI New Yorkers and their families. The brunch and the panel included queer Latinx artists, filmmakers, actors, and more.

FUERZAFest wrapped up with an Awards Ceremony & Celebration featuring the producers, actors, and writers from the theater plays competition that will honor Best Play, Best Director, and Best Actor as well as dance performances with Antonio Doza and Team Hello and Norberto Collazo with Dip Blue from Tokyo, Japan.

Check out the photo recap from a few events scheduled during the FUERZAFest.

(All photos courtesy of FUERZAFest)

FUERZAFest may be over, but you can stay updated on next year’s events via the website or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo, and YouTube. And remember the Pride celebrations are still going on! Check out the NYC Pride website for more upcoming details.