Louie Ortiz Fonseca
Tell us about you and your work
I was born and raised in North Philadelphia, specifically the area ABC's Niteline coined "the BadLands" in the early 1990s. I am the oldest of six brothers and had a mother who struggled with addiction. My queerness was affirmed in our home and looking back, that alone helped save my life. And it is part of my history that fuels my workaround storytelling. The narrative around Black and Latinx families are somehow "more" homophobic or AIDS-phobic than other families is a flat-out lie. With Gran Varones, we interrupt that Anti-Black narrative by documenting our stories and what it means for us to be queer, alive, and living with HIV.
What inspires you?
I am a history buff, particularly of pop culture and music. Revisiting flash moments that I loved and that we have survived as a community often reminds me of all that we have created and survived. That always serves as an inspiration to continue to create and be.
What does community mean to you?
I am not completely sure who to answer this without sounding cliché. But I know what community feels like being supported and protected. A place where joy is found and when there is safe space to land when white supremacy attempts to steal us from ourselves and each other.
Favorite film
Ahhh, now this one is a hard one. Not because I cannot land on a single movie - because I can - but my ability to withstand the judgment I may face after disclosing my answer. Just kidding. I have many favorite films but one of my favorites is the 1989 film "Teen Witch." As a teen, I watched that movie over and over. I was teased in school and was so invisible that teachers seldom. intervened when I was bullied and harassed. I connected with the protagonist in "Teen Witch" who was unpopular and invisible. But she then discovers that she has magical powers. She then uses those powers to build her self-esteem by becoming the most popular student at school. I wished for that kind of power with my whole heart because it seemed so impossible that a queer fem kid like myself could be popular. Of course, later in the movie, she then discovers that she doesn't need magic to love herself or to be accepted. She just had to be herself. Oh yeah, and the movie has a great soundtrack!
Favorite song
Ok, now this one is a much harder one because of music, especially 80's and 90's R&B/Pop music. It is my ministry. I will preface this by saying that my answer to this question will be different depending on the time of day or my mood, but right now I am going to go with Dionne Warwick's 1982 Bee Gees written and produced "Heartbreaker." Like, this song is absolute perfection. It is a mixture of Pop and R&B with a tinge of folk and the post-disco dance sound. Like the second verse includes the lyrics "My love is stronger than the universe, my soul is crying and that cannot be reversed." How amazing is that?! Rhyming Universe and reversed!
Favorite place
As a kid, my favorite place to be was in my room. It was there I could create a world that no one could interrupt. As an adult, especially in this pandemic, this remains true. I love traveling but there is no place like my room.
Links
Website
Youtube