Juntos Pa'lante

Ella es una Bailarina (She is a Dancer)

I am Dominican American and that is what I connect with when someone asks me “what’s your nationality”. As a matter of fact I don’t even pay mind to the American part and usually say “Im Dominican”. I remember when I first started being proud of my…

Thank You, New York. The City that Turned My Parents and I Into Adults

At a certain point in someone’s life, events occur to them that help lead them to adulthood. My dad moving away was this for me. Before my dad moved, he was always my rock motivating me to do my best…

From Darkness to Light!

I was born in El Salvador, Sonsonate city to be exact. When I was two years old, my parents separated. A year later my mom started a new relationship, and with this relationship I had to move to a different state within El Salvador, Santa Ana city. At a young age, I began to see how…

Third Culture

“Where are you from?” is a question I detest. I have an identity crisis just before answering. Who do I identify with more? My father’s side, my mother’s side, or where I was born.

My father is Mexican, my mother is Salvadoran, and I was born in the United States. The first…

Gender Fluidity: Life Under the Trans Umbrella

It was on my twenty-second birthday that I first explored gender therapy. In a private office in Washington Square, I confessed my gender fantasies as well as my long-time struggle with gender dysphoria. I revealed that the discomfort with my…

Ecuatoriana-Americana

(un)liberated pride

Growing up, I always enjoyed the first Sunday in May: Pride. As a town known for lesbian public officials and rainbow crosswalks, and mockingly called “Lesbianville U.S.A.” by the National Enquirer, we take pride very seriously in Northampton. My friends and family would walk to town and join…

No Más Miedo

A Love Letter to Myself

Dirty tissues, broken glasses, bruises on your skin

He didn’t fix you

Can’t say NO

She always had to please him

Trust issues