Author: louie
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Throwback: Raffy, Bronx, NY
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I was about 9 or 10 years old, and apart of the Side Street Kids (SSK) Dance Academy, a non-profit founded in the Bronx that taught kids how to dance Salsa On2 (aka New York Style), while creating a family-oriented atmosphere that was invested in seeing each kid doing well…
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Ricky | Humacao, Puerto Rico
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“when my appendix ruptured, i got so sick. my own pastor didn’t even come to check on me. i was on my death bed. this woman right here took care of me for six months. fed. bathe me. tended to me. no one from my church cared to see how…
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Goya | Puerto Rico
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the electricity came on for the first last night. this is since the hurricane. i was happy and put on my favorite. the two cd set from donna summer. i don’t understand a word but i love the sound of her voice. goyacadelero arriba, puerto rico photographed by: louie a.…
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Remember June 5, 1981
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on june 5, 1981, the center for disease control (cdc) published an article in its morbidity and mortality weekly report (mmwr): pneumocystis pneumonia—los angeles. the article described cases of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia(pcp), a rare lung infection, in five young, white, previously healthy gay men in los angeles. the report stated…
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Jean | San Juan, PR
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Today in Puerto Rico we CELEBRATE PRIDE! And What a Perfect Day, when we stand united and celebrate the diversity to give you this amazing surprise! Today I celebrate more than ever WHO I AM! Proud of every experience, every flaw and every part of me, today I Celebrate being…
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Varòn | Sam Juan, Puerto Rico
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“this car was under water during the hurricane. completely under the water but the mechanic brought it back to life.” varòn, puerto rico photographed by: louie a. ortiz-fonseca
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Vince | Philadelphia, PA
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I finally came to my mom when I was like 21. I literally waited for her to ask me and she eventually did. I went to New York with my gay cousin and she knew so that triggered her to ask . She calls, mind you, while I’m shopping at…
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Sebastian | Philadelphia, PA
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it’s always funny because they say hindsight is 20/20. when i really think about it, when i was little, first grade looking at boys differently than i looked at girls, forcing myself to look at girls the way i looked at boys and not understanding all let all what it…
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Throwback: Xris
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This picture was taken in June 11, 2003 on my birthday. I just turned 17 and we went to Red Lobster to celebrate. Well, that day was an emotional day for me. I was getting ready to be put in the juvenile system and preparing to go into placement. At…
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Throwback: Jesús, Los Angeles, CA
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I still remember this day like it was yesterday. I never imagined myself publicly speaking about my undocumented status nor even speaking of being gay. It took me a while and some courage to speak out of the injustice every single undocumented individual faces on a daily basis, many of…
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Angel | Philadelphia, PA
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“faggot”, he said as he walks past me. he followed up with, “he’s just so gay.” then he was gone. i looked back with my mouth hanging open in utter disbelief. I was walking in the LGBT neighborhood of philly (the part we lovingly call “gayborhood”). this was a few…
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ANGIE XTRAVAGANZA
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“I’m your mother,” she said. It was a promise and defiant declaration to her kids that they would feel orphaned in a world where AIDS, violence, poverty, and homophobia would surely attempt to steal their magic. It was the early 1980’s, pre-gentrified New York, years before “transgender” and “gender non-conforming”…