FUERZAfest NY, The LATINX LGBTQ Presented By Hispanic Federation Begins

Highlighting the theme ART on the FRONTLINE, the 3rd FUERZAfest NY brings together LGBTQ communities, straight allies, Latino artists, and local leaders to celebrate the richness of Latinx LGBTQ cultures. On May 8-20, at Julia de Burgos Performance & Arts Center (1680 Lexington Avenue, bet. 105 & 106 Streets), FUERZAfest 2018 presents theater, dance, film, art, panel discussions, book presentations and networking events.

FUERZAfest - NY Latinx LGBTQ Arts Festival - officially opens on Wednesday, May 9 @ 5:30pm, with the art exhibit "In the name of...", curated by Richard Morales, in which queer artists from New York, Latin America, and the Caribbean use their art to spur thought, encourage self-expression, and catalyze social transformation. A special dance performance by Walter Perez and Leonardo Sardella, the duo behind dance company Malevaje, accompany the opening reception. At 7:30pm, FUERZAfest continues with the screening of the Chilean film, A Fantastic Woman (Una mujer fantástica), recently awarded as Best Foreign Language Film by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The movie depicts Marina, a transgender woman who works as a waitress and moonlights as a nightclub singer, and her experiences following the death of her older boyfriend.

"Arts play a critical role in telling stories that are often hidden. At a time when Latinx and LGBTQ communities are under massive attack, the Festival creates a safe space where brown queer and trans people can come together to celebrate one another, enjoy each other's brilliance in art, dance and cinema and engage in much-needed political and social discussion," said Mario Colon, FUERZAfest Director.

At the center of the programming is the Festival's one-act play theater showcase, in which 8 independent theater groups will compete for the FUERZA Awards. This year, Puerto Rico's presence is strong with two companies coming from Puerto Rico and two made of Puerto Rican refugees that will surely ignite a conversation of art post-Hurricane Maria. Other issues of the solo plays will deal with universal issues such as race, gender, and civil rights and how their effects on and within the LGBTQ+ community. The Festival closes on Sunday, May 20th with the FUERZA Award Ceremony recognizing the brilliance and talent of the queer and Latinx artists participating.

In 2016, the Hispanic Federation launched FUERZAfest, the first LGBTQ+ Latino Arts Festival in the Northeast, which not only celebrated a vibrant community, but addressed critical issues impacting it. Since then, events have been held in New York City, Connecticut and Orlando to create a space for dialogue and awareness of the systemic barriers and threats faced by the Latinx communities.

"Our hope is that by bringing these issues to light we spark a necessary conversation about what our communities value, who we are, and how we need to stand with one another to fight injustice," adds Frankie Miranda, Hispanic Federation's Vice President.