On a recent Saturday morning at the East L.A. Civic Center, señoras carrying fresh produce trickle out of the farmers market while dozens of people – some in sparkly midriffs or decked out in all colors of the rainbow– make their way into the Queer Mercado.
It’s Pride month, but at this Eastside pop-up, celebrating the LGBTQ+ experience has been a monthly affair, and a safe space for queer artists, vendors, and performers to gather in the largely Latino community.
At the Mercado, attendees make their way down rows of vendor booths selling everything from colorful handmade earrings, ASL Pride stickers and scented candles before cooling down with custom-made mocktails.
On stage, a crew of instructors finish off a sweat-inducing Zumba session. Emcee ChiChi La Pinga makes their way to the mic to introduce a line-up of drag performers who will wow the crowd singing and dancing in 5-inch platform heels.
“I’m so proud of everyone that’s here and I’m so glad it can be a safe space for so many others, “ said 24-year-old Pedro Perez.
As a high school student in 2021, Perez saw how another pop-up on the Eastside fostered empowerment among women and approached the organizer about the possibility of a queer space for Eastside locals.
That’s when the Queer Mercado was born, and three years later, it draws people from all over Southern California.
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“It’s not just a marketplace, it’s a movement,” said Diana Diaz, the mercado’s founder and a former school counselor who grew up in East L.A. “[It’s] inspired many of us to continue to be resourceful, to empower each other, to heal through arts, crafts and creativity, to create opportunities for each other, to be visible, to be loud and proud of who we are.”
The Beat spoke to attendees at this month’s event to ask what queer joy looks like for them. Here’s what they had to say:
Antoni Hines, 34, Downey, CA
“Queer joy to me is this community that the Queer Mercado has created. This is my third time here and I continue to do it because it’s a safe space where all of us are represented and we can show our arts and talents.”
ChiChi La Pinga, Boyle Heights
“It looks like the community gathering here. It looks like homophobic and transphobic people turning their ways and recognizing that we’re not a threat, we’re simply here to live our lives just the way you’re living your lives and we deserve the same rights you do. I think for me, queer joy means being in a place where you have the freedom to pursue happiness.”
Rashmi Raviprasad, 29, Glendale, CA
“For me queer joy looks like being surrounded by others who love you unconditionally, whether that’s your family or your chosen family, and being supported no matter how you identify, who you love, what you do, in all the stages of your life.”
Vanessa Grey, 29, Orange County
“This, this is exactly what it is. An environment where you’re free to be yourself, in a comfortable environment with those who support you. Queer joy is just happiness. It’s living your authentic life.”
Pedro Perez, 24, Boyle Heights
“Queer joy looks like acceptance, happiness, true authentic self, no hate, no judgment, just a safe space to be yourself.”
Queer Mercado is held at the East L.A. Civic Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the third Saturday of every month.
