Jotos del Barrio is a collection of poems, monologues, and vignettes about young male Latinos coming to terms with being gay or transgendered in a society that cannot fully accept the lifestyle.
It was written by Jesus Alonzo. Jotos began as a paper Alonzo wrote in 1995 while taking a media studies course at Carleton College.The paper was primarily a response to his professor who taught the class, which explored queer iconography in the United States, yet entirely omitted the Chicano factor.
The paper had it’s first reading in front of an audience in 1995 at EPJC, and was then adapted for the stage with it’s first production at Jump-Start Performance Company in San Antonio in 2002 with great success.
In fact, I remember hearing about the show, which at the time starred Erica Salazar (or Andrews as most of us knew her). For those of you who are not Latino, the term “joto” is a term used for homosexual. It can almost be compared to the word “faggot.” I’m sure you can see my hesitance in seeing it the first time around. The title alone seemed to have somewhat of a negative connotation, but it isn’t the case at all.
br> I had the pleasure of seeing the show last weekend at the EPJC, and Alonzo explained it in a way I cannot even begin to do it justice. His explanation prior to the show, the performance itself, the stunning cast….it blew me away. It was powerful and moving.
Many of us who are Latino and grew up in the 70s, 80s, and even 90s can relate most. Those were different times when it came to the topic of homosexuality. I can see how this relates to a lot of people I knew growing up (even myself), but I honestly think the performance may have had a much harder impact its first time around. Not to say Jotos is any less moving now, but although there is still much intolerance, the gay movement (whether in the Latino community or not), has come further than it ever in the last decade.
If you haven’t had a chance to see it, I highly recommend it during its final run this weekend at the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. It’s playing write now as I’m finishing this blog, but you can catch it again tomorrow Saturday June 21, and Sunday June 22. Sundays show will include a fabulous drag brunch. You definitely don’t want to miss that!
Jotos del Barrio’s current cast includes Maximo Anguiano, Lynn Copeland, Manuel Barraza, Toni Sauceda, Jaime Gonzalez, and Kenneth Miles Ellington Lopez. I have to give those guys a shout-out! They were awesome.
For more information, check out the EPJC website, www.esperanzacenter.org, or call (210) 228-0201. EPJC is located at 922 San Pedro Avenue, across from VIA headquarters.
