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Arcoiris de Los Angeles: The first LGBTQ+ mariachi

2023-12-28T15:05:04+00:00
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first LGBT mariachi, pride, lgbt, gay community, MundoNOW / primer mariachi LGBT, pride, lgbt, comunidad gay, MundoNOW
Arcoiris de Los Ángeles is the first LGBTQ+ mariachi / PHOTO: Instagram / YouTube
  • Arcoiris de Los Angeles is the first LGBTQ+ mariachi.
  • They make a safe space for LGBTQ+ musicians.
  • They are U.S.-born Latinos.

When thinking about mariachi, most people imagine a group of male musicians.

However, there are cases where such a group is made up of women or even both men and women.

Now we have the first LGBTQ+ mariachi, led by a gay man and a transgender woman.

But before you continue reading, we invite you to listen to the new podcast Horóscopos y Astrología con Ricardo Villalobos by clicking HERE.

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

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Photo: MundoNow

Natalia Meléndez is proud to be the first transgender mariachi.

In an interview with El Mundo, her colleague Carlos Samaniego said: «I formed this mariachi (referring to Arcoíris de Los Ángeles) so that there would be a safe space for LGBTQ+ musicians.»

The group has three more members in addition to the director, violinist and singer, Samaniego.

«I cannot save everyone, but I can, at least, create a space where mariachis can be who they are and don’t have to hide,» he added.

Arcoiris de Los Ángeles is the first LGBTQ+ mariachi

Arcoiris de Los Angeles, Natalia Meléndez, Carlos Samaniego, director, violinist, MundoNOW
PHOTO: YouTube

On the other hand, it is worth noting that the members of the first LGBT+ mariachi are Hispanic Americans. Only Mayra was born in Mexico.

At the time of their visit to Spain in May 2019, they said that they had not been able to perform in Mexico.

At that time, Vicente Fernández had made controversial remarks about gay people.

«That is what we still are to them, the same as a drug addict,» said Arcoíris de Los Ángeles founder Carlos Samaniego.

They hid their sexual orientation

Mayra, sexual condition, preferences, homosexual, MundoNOW
PHOTO: Instagram

In the same conversation, it came to light that, before forming Arcoíris de Los Angeles, the musicians played in other groups, where they had to conceal their sexual orientation.

For example, Mayra, who plays the vihuela, was told that she played like a man. Natalia Meléndez had it tougher.

«I couldn’t sing. I had to shut up, play my violin, look like a macho, and sing to women.» Everything is different in this LGBTQ+ mariachi.

«I did it for many years, but it was very difficult because I am not a man. I am a woman, I sing like a woman, and I look at women like a woman,» she stated.

‘We offend everyone’

Arcoiris de Los Angeles, first LGBT mariachi, music, songs, MundoNOW
PHOTO: Shutterstock

Before concluding the interview, Carlos Samaniego talked about how they were received by their peers as the first LGBTQ+ mariachi.

«We offend everyone. It is part of who we are, part of having a different voice and representing something different.»

As if that were not enough, he said that he knew that Arcoíris de Los Ángeles would be the subject of ridicule.

«I understand it and accept it. What I didn’t want was for our musical level, our professionalism to be questioned,» he added.

Carlos Samaniego says his sexuality doesn’t affect his musical talent

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PHOTO: Shutterstock

To conclude, Carlos Samaniego, founder of the first LGBTQ+ mariachi, stressed that the fact that he likes men does not affect how he plays.

According to El Mundo, the first album by Arcoíris de Los Ángeles includes 12 traditional songs.

They play songs by Lucha Villa and Rocío Durcal, the Spanish singer Raphael and even Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way.’

«If the great José Alfredo Jiménez sang to women, we will too, but Mayra will sing those songs,» said Samaniego.

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