JOTARIA – June 2008

“Your silence will not protect you…” 
— Audre Lorde

JOTARIA (pronounced- hoh- tah-REE- ah)

JOTARIA (pronounced- HOH-tah-reea)
Joto (HOH-toh) is an insult for a homosexual in Mexico, and certain parts of Central America. It has the same meaning that Pato does for Caribbean Latinos. But similar to the way the LGBTQI movement reclaimed queer, we have reclaimed "Joto" and added an "a" to reflect our experiences as women.

From June 23-29 of 2008, SOE will premiere JOTARIA, a show that is totally devoted to the Latina Queer experience. Opening during Gay Pride Week, - JOTARIA will celebrate love and peace and commemorate Latinos/as that have contributed to the queer liberation movement such as Sylvia Rivera, the transgender activist who incited the Stonewall Riots and others who still remain invisible.

JOTARIA is a collaboration between Sister Outsider Entertainment and Chica Luna Productions. It's a multi-media production that will combine film, music, dance and theater to present eleven monologues written by various members of the LGBTQI community. The characters are Dominican, Colombian, Puerto Rican, Mexican, and Filipino, of different gender identities (Bisexual, Lesbian, Questioning, Transgender Male to Female and Female to Male, etc.), and of various ages and socio-economic backgrounds.

Through JOTARIA, the audience will experience a show that transcends the typical coming-out-stories and deals with homelessness, love, acceptance, the “don't ask; don't tell” policy, transgender identity, reparative therapy and more. These stories are compelling because they told by diverse Queer Latinas/os from across the country. This show will prove that Latinas are more than just eye candy or faceless workers as they are often portrayed in mainstream entertainment.

Jotaria Loglines for Monologues:

STONEWALL SYLVIA

By Elisha Miranda and Sofía Quintero
A Puerto Rican/Jamaican transgender woman (MTF) runs a local bar and brings back the herstory of women of color in the LGBTQI movement.

POSTCARDS FROM MEDELLÍN

By Sandra Alvarez
A Colombian woman struggles to convince her girlfriend to go back with her to Medellín.

PASSING

By Janis Astor del Valle
A Puerto Rican transgender male in transition has second thoughts about going through sex reassignment surgery.

OUTTA LINE

By Tina Bartolome
An underage Filipina always confused for Chicana tries to enter the nightclub only to discover that her closeted aunt is working the door.

CONFIDENTIALITY

By Jasmine Colón
When the parents of a teenage patient threaten to send her to "ex-gay" reparative therapy, her counselor finds herself caught between her professional code of ethics and the truth of her own experience.

THE BORDER MADE ME GAY

By Fernanda Coppel
On her 21st birthday, a college student yearns for the mother who returned to Mexico without her.

BE ALL YOU CAN BE

By Deya García and Sofía Quintero
On the eve before she is to report for a second tour in Iraq, a Dominican army sergeant decides to go AWOL.

HANGING

By Aurora Guerrero
Just as she is set to marry her boyfriend of thirteen years, a Chicana finally reveals her love for her best friend.

BODY HUNGER

By Elisha Miranda
A happily married bisexual Puerto Rican woman confesses her hunger for the touch and love of a woman.

CHEWY - n-- JOCELYN 4EVA

By Lissette J. Norman
A runaway teen must choose between the homophobia of her Dominican homeland or that of the streets of New York City.

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Creative Director: Elisha Miranda

Dramaturge: Sofia Quintero

Project & Stage Manager: Jasmine Colon

Film Shorts Director: Aurora Guerrero

Set Designer: Cece Carpio