The document summarizes key parts of two sources about queer Latino experiences: 1) "Cultures of the Puerto Rican Queer Diaspora" discusses the immigration experiences of LGBT Puerto Ricans and focuses on three artists - Manuel Ramos Otero, Frances Negron-Muntaner, and Erika Lopez. It explores the similarities and differences between Puerto Rican LGBT groups and other Latin American groups. 2) "Queer Latino Testimonio" uses the relationship between Juan Rivera and Keith Haring to illustrate the settings, lifestyles, and hardships of the queer Latino community in places like Coney Island, El Barrio, and Times Square. It also discusses the people in

1. Queer Latino Testimonio
Omar Rivera & Stephen Percy

2. Passing lines: Cultures of the Puerto Rican
Queer Diaspora
 Written by Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes, he is a gay Puerto Rican author and
scholar.
 Focuses on the immigration experience by certain LGBT Puerto Ricans.
 Talks about and explains how Puerto Rican LGBT groups have very relevant
similarities and differences from other Latin American groups.
 He states that the reason for this is that Puerto Ricans are able to travel to and from
the US mainland at will. This allows them to have more resources for their situation.
 Concentrates on three Puerto Ricans in the LGBT group.
 Manuel Ramos Otero, Frances Negron Muntaner, & Erika Lopez

3. Manuel Ramos Otero (First generation
experience) (80’s and 90’s)
 Migrated to New York in 1968, died of AIDS in Puerto Rico in 1990.
 Regarded as most important 20th century gay Puerto Rican writer.
 He wrote about his experiences in New York and Puerto Rico. His writings
are very illustrative of the experiences of first-generation gay Puerto Rican
migrants.
 Most known works include…”Hollywood Memorabilia,” “El cuento de la
mujer del mar,” and “Pagina en blanco y staccato”

4. Frances Negron-Muntaner (Recent first
generation migrants)
 Puerto Rican filmmaker and writer. One of the best known Puerto Rican
Lesbian artists.
 The book concentrates on her film, Brincando el Charco(Jumping the
Puddle). The author makes a great point by stating that this title allows us
to think in another way and that its like jumping from the island to the
mainland.
 Film makes it a two step process for immigration to the mainland. (1)
expulsion from Puerto Rico and (2) incorporation into a multicultural
community composed of different migrant generations.

5. Erika Lopez (Second Generation Migrants)
 Erika was born in New York to Puerto Rican parents. She is an
cartoonist, novelist and performance artist. She is openly bisexual.
 In her work she has a semi-autobiographical character Tomato Rodriguez. In
her works we see how Tomato goes through a lot to fit into both the Latino
community and the LGBT community.

6. Conclusion of “Cultures of the Puerto Rican
Queer Diaspora”
 Every situation is different in the Puerto Rican diaspora.
 Puerto Rican artists represent and analyze their complex and particular
situations.
 ”Queer Rican Artists have documented and transformed an immigrant
experience characterized by racism, poverty, linguistic difficulties, and
homophobia, but also characterized by personal resiliency and cultural
creativity. Puerto Ricans may have U.S. Citizenship but that doesn’t mean
that their integration into U.S. society has been easy, particularly for queer
or LGBT individuals.”

7. Overview: Queer Latino Testimonio
 Cruz-Malavé uses the story of Juan Rivera and Keith Haring to illustrate the
settings, lifestyles, and hardships of the Queer Latino community
 By examining the places, events, and people that this couple encountered
Cruz-Malavé not only shows the inner workings of the queer Latino
community but their interactions with the outside world.
 Shows where Keith Haring got the inspiration for a great deal of his works

8. What is a Testimonio?
 Testimonio- a genre of literature that retells historical events using literary
elements such as dialogue, poetry, and metaphors from eye witness
perspective
 Why did the author choose to write Juan’s story in the form of a testimonio?
 What effects does this first-person narrative bring to the story?

9. Juan Rivera & Keith Haring
 Came from Different worlds
 Met at Paradise Garage in New York and quickly became lovers
 Traveled and experienced many people, places and things together
 Both infected with AIDS
 Keith passed away in 1990, but not before forming the Keith Haring Foundation
which was made with intentions of spreading awareness of Haring’s artwork &
working with AIDS-related charities
 However, when Juan needed support after being diagnosed with AIDS, the KHF
was not there to help him

10. The Places
 Common themes within these places:
 Sex
 Poverty
 Drug Trade
 Political movements
 Queer movements
 How did these themes come into play in the discussion of these places?
 Which place that Cruz-Malavé discussed stuck out the most to you? Why?

11. Coney Island
“The most extravagant and
modern playground the world had
ever known”
Urban Renewal
“Contradictory Ambiance”

12. El Barrio/East Harlem
• Spanish Harlem
• Harlem Riots of 1926
• Puerto Rican battle to maintain
their identity and earn respect
• Cultural Movements
• What were some of the challenges and
obstacles that the Puerto Ricans of El
Barrio faced?
• What type of things did the Latino
community do to attempt to overcome
these obstacles and establish a place for
themselves in Harlem?

13. Times Square
Why was this a good place for
runaway children like Juan to
come?
Does the descriptive scenery of
Times Square remind you of any of
our past readings?

14. The People
 Section in book that names specific people and how they are related to
Keith Haring and Juan Rivera.
 Juan DuBose- Keith Haring’s partner from 1981 to 1986. Passed away in 1989
from AIDS.
 John Gruen- author of the most frequently cited biography of Haring.
 Gave Juan no representation in the bibliography, even diminished his name
 Julia Gruen- Haring’s personal assistant from 1984 until his death. She became
the executive director of the Keith Haring foundation after his death.
 Refused to give Juan funding for his struggles with AIDS

16. Bibliography
 Cruz, Arnaldo. Queer Latino Testimonio, Keith Haring, and Juanito
Xtravaganza: Hard Tails. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007. Print.
 La Fountain-Stokes, Larry. "Queer Ricans: Cultures and Sexualities in the
Diaspora." Cultures of the Puerto Rican Queer Diaspora. N.p.: U of
Minnesota, n.d. N. pag. Web. 15 Apr. 2013.
<http://latinosexualitygender.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/la-fountain-
stokes-cultures-of-the-pr-queer-diaspora.pdf>.