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FROM THE GUEST EDITOR
Birds of a Feather,
We Must Stick Together
Queer Latinos advocate and uplift each other, but it’s also crucial for allies to support representation on screen
BY ROMAN NAVARRETTE
Featured Stories
Everyone in Hollywood wants to work with Carlos Eric Lopez. The photographer shares the inspiration behind everything he does: his mother.
Max’s Joey Chavez elevates inclusive storytelling and uplifts Latino talent along the way
Director Kase Peña finds her storytelling home in Los Angeles, where she brings trans stories to life on the big screen
On the Screen
6%
Of LGBTQ characters on primetime scripted broadcast are Hispanic/Latino1
7%
Of LGBTQ characters on primetime scripted cable are Hispanic/Latino1
10%
Of LGBTQ characters on scripted streaming originals are Hispanic/Latino1
9%
Of LGBTQ characters across all platforms are Hispanic/Latino—a decrease of 14% from the previous year1
95%
Of movies from 2014-2022 were missing LGBTQ+ Hispanic/Latino characters2
Sources: (1) Where We Are on TV 2023-2024, GLAAD, (2) USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, 2022
“Everything about me comes from my mother and how she was. My confidence, my hustle. How to walk into a room, how to hold my head up when I am walking down the street. How to show up.”
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More Stories
Writer, director, and producer Aitch Alberto breaks through obstacles to bring queer Latino storytelling to national audiences
A love of storytelling drives Miguel Angel Caballero to write, direct, and produce stories that authentically represent queer Latinos
Writer and director Nancy C. Mejia carves out her own legacy in Hollywood and brings other queer Latinas with her
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Recommendations from Our Guest Editor
Guest Editor Roman Navarrette shares his top five recommendations to add to your film, television, or podcast queue
1. A Little Family Drama
Thanks to the crushing debt of a failed AI-powered taco truck, Matias Sepulveda needs the help of his ex- boyfriend to save the family restaurant. In the film A Little Family Drama, currently winning awards on the festival circuit, we see a multigenerational household struggle to find the right balance between change and tradition. Follow on Instagram @alittlefamilydrama to find out more on where to stream.
From Ramon Torres, multihyphenate writer, producer, actor and studio exec
2. Locatora Radio
Queer friendly Locatora Radio is a weekly podcast dedicated to archiving the present and shifting the culture forward. Hosted by Mala Muñoz and Diosa Femme, two Instagram friends turned podcast partners, they break down pop culture, current events, and feminism through nuanced interviews with Latinx creatives and artists. Founded in 2016, Locatora Radio was podcasting independently until joining iHeartRadio’s MyCultura Podcast Network in 2022.
Hosted by
Mala Muñoz and Diosa Femme
3. El Paisa
El Paisa, a film festival favorite and winner for the best LGBTQ+ short at the Cannes International Film Festival, is now available across all PBS platforms. The short film follows gay goth skater Fernando, who encounters a charismatic vaquero on the streets of East Los Angeles and must put an end to closeted young love. This leads to a personal transformation and a newfound connection to familia.
From Writer/Director Daniel Eduvijes Carrera and starring Christian Urbina, David Ty Reza, and Eric Stevens Flores
4. TransTALE: The Maria Roman Story
TransTALE: The Maria Roman Story is a documentary love story that follows Puerto Rican transgender activist Maria Roman and her fiancé, Jason Taylorson, as they begin their journey to become the first trans/cis couple to wed at the historic St. John’s Cathedral in its one hundred-plus-year history in Los Angeles. The documentary details her experience as a transwoman who has survived the streets, homelessness, and become a powerful voice for her community as she encounters another uphill battle in her quest for happiness.
5. Actress to Watch: Nava Mau
Transgender actress Nava Mau made Emmy history in 2024 for Netflix series Baby Reindeer, which topped the streamer’s TV charts in over eighty countries, reportedly racked up over 84.5 million views in 2024, and won a Golden Globe for Best Television Limited Series. Netflix doubled down with Mau and added her to the final season of its hugely popular thriller series You, which meant I had to go back to binge the pop culture phenomenon. Bravo, Netflix!
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“I will never feel like there are enough LGBTQ+ offerings on any platform. We can always have more. I think it is just important that we get it right.”
Joey Chavez
EVP of Original Programming
Max
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Credits
Editorial Director
Frannie Sprouls
Senior Editor
Melaina Cecilia de la Cruz
Guest Editor
Roman Navarrette
Web Development
Jose Reinaldo Montoya
Designer + Art Direction
arturo magallanes
Photo Manager and Video Director
cass davis
contributing photo editor
Sarah Joyce
Photos
Bradford Rogne (Navarrette), Grant Legan (Eric Lopez, Cowboy Hat), Carlos Eric Lopez (Eric Lopez, Seated), Courtesy of Joey Chavez (Chavez), Rafael Cardenas (Peña), Rebecca Renderos (Alberto), Shannon Cottrell (Angel Caballero), Lucrecia Nava (Mejia)
Recommendations: Courtesy of Ramon Torres (A Little Family Drama), Courtesy of Locatora Radio (Locatora Radio), Courtesy of El Paisa (El Paisa), Courtesy of Maria Roman (TransTALE), Courtesy of Netflix (Nava Mau)
