Journal Entry #10

Characters present: Mama Chona, Cuauhtemoc, Charlie, David, Irene

Characters on set:  Ivon Villa, Rudy Robles, Lauren Adriane, Felix Angel, Diego

Border Brujo: Hola mujeres, gentlequeers, vatas y vatos y everyone in between, Welcome to the 3^rd show of “Brown and Down.” On this rainy afternoon, we have a lively cast of border consciousness folks, with us today we have Ivon Villa, fresh out of El Paso, Texas, Rudy Robles, coming to us from across the street in the streets of East LA,  Lauren Adrian, la guera de Chicago, Felix Angel, el queer que resucito, y last pero never least, Diego, de las calles de Cuba. *applause*

Border Brujo: On today’s show we are here to discuss the ways borders have impacted the way we lead our lives, we’ve been able to bring these characters from all walks of lives so that they can share a bit about their experience. Let’s start out with out with the highly respected, Ivon Villa!

Ivon Villa: Thank you for having me, hehe.

Border Brujo: So Ivon, tell us, how has it been being back in the states?

Ivon Villa: Y’know Border brujo, I get that question a lot, it’s been all right, just haven’t been able to sleep knowing about all that’s been happening at the border – it’s scary.

Border Brujo: How does this impact you though? Don’t you have a cozy home in Los Angeles, why worry about it now that you’re back in California?

Ivon Villa: Because border brujo – these are our sisters we’re talking about – literally. After what my sister went through, this is a war against any mujer in our lives. This is a border that any mujer has to cross – being in solidarity with our struggling sisters of Juarez. It has allowed me to cross the border of my resentment towards El Paso. Before I found out about the murders of Juarez, I didn’t care about going back home, I was selfish. Finally, I realized I was battling my own internalized homophobia – because my mother couldn’t accept my queerness. Crossing that border, literally, allowed me to understand the injustice that haunt the mujeres of Juarez everyday.

Lauren Adrian: I can definitely agree with Ivon. Thank you. I was also dealing with my own internalized racism. I admit that when I started doing research on the Mujeres of Juarez, it was only a job for me, a story. But I realized that I was just afraid of thinking about my past. I finally crossed my own border of race and realized that while I appear white, I’m not, I am Mexican and I can never forget my parent’s story.

Border Brujo: Orale ladies, y’all are getting deep here. Y los hombres? No tienen nada que decir?

Rudy Robles: yeah man, pues I had my own experience with the damn border, ‘cept I was on the side de TJ pues. They thought I was a mojado, so I got live the experience firsthand. Trying to cross that damn border back home and I didn’t even understand it. I realized this country takes advantage of our gente and that’s a border I crossed too (metaphysically por lo menos) learning what this country is really like and accepting that I am mexicano and not white 

Border Brujo: Uy brother, didn’t you see that nopal en la frente? Heheh

Border Brujo: Oye tu Felix, welcome back, como estamos?

Felix: Hey man, I’m good, glad to be back, thank you for having me.

Border Brujo: I hear you’re finally out of the closet congratulations man – how’s that been goin for you man?

Felix: well since we’re talking about borders and stuff. Yes I am queer and I am here. Esta que por fin, I finally said it. I crossed that border, finally got out of the closet and closed the door behind me.

Border brujo: nice, nice, tienes novio?

Felix: Nah, not yet, I’m barely recuperating from my split with Angie. She took the kids y me dejo.

Diego: I volunteer as tribute!

Border Brujo: Oye diego, no tan rapido, what about david, he’s gonna get jealous.

Diego: Ay no, el sabe compartir muy bien. Y ademas, el felix esta guapo.

Border Brujo: you two can exchange numbers after the show, back to you diego, tell us about your borders.

Diego: Pues desde que llege de Cuba, eh cruzado mil fronteras, de antro a antro. Pero seriamente, soy queer, siempre he sido y eso lo saben todo, pero he cruzado muchas fronteras internacionales, soy de muchas partes, pero no de una, me gusta la literatura inglesa, y me gust alas cosas frances, y mas los hombre frances jajaja.

Felix: y los mexicanos no?

*Felix and Diego start giving each other googly eyes.*

Border Brujo: Ay ustedes, leave the flirting til later. We will be back for the rest of the show. Will Diego and Felix get together? Is Rudy Robles still kicking it with Dolores? Or.. is Lauren Adrian the new gal? We will find out when we return – don’t go anywhere!