June 25, 2025 • 48 mins
This week on Locatora Radio, Harvey Guillén joins us to talk about queerness, joy, and taking up space in Hollywood. From using his platform to raise awareness, to not becoming desensitized, Harvey shares how he navigates all of it.
Harvey quickly became a fan favorite as Guillermo on the hit TV show, What We Do in the Shadows. In this episode, Harvey gets personal and shares how he's staying politically engaged in Los Angeles, his favorite restaurants, and the importance of knowing your Queer history.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
They can make a whole book out of the six
months in this struper class, and like, kids, twenty years
from now, it would be like take chapter twenty twenty five. Yeah,
chapter twenty twenty five will be the year that will
be several several several pages in history.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
So we'll be talking about what we lived through.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Yeah. Yeah, we'll be telling our grandkids. Yeah yeah, I
was there. I was there.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Already.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Yah.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
Who are some maybe queer historical figures that you look
up to or you've learned about and thought, oh wait
a second, this is more than a footnote.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
My My biggest one was, you know, find out that
it was like, you know, queer, and I was like oh,
And I was like really, And I was like how
did that? Because I asked questions. That makes me ask
questions And I was like how did that work with Diego?
And also Diego had his own you know, like history
and like problematic of like you know, womanizer and like
you know whatnot, So it made me ask questions of
like how many times have we spoken about a historical
(00:57):
figure but not known non convinced Abraham Lincoln? Like come on,
I mean there's been letters that have been found and
it's the way that the addresses some of his very close,
close male friends. And there's actually a play right now
being done and Broadway by Colesko, who just won the
(01:18):
Tony for Mary Yes, and it's so funny, and it's
just like the idea to even think that way kind
of puts into like, yeah, that makes sense, that totally
makes sense. He probably did love his wife, but you know,
she was meant to again stable and she could easily
keep you know, this could be a lavender kind of
marriage like back then. And he's the president of the
(01:39):
United States, you know, and you are the first lady.
So there's certain perks that come with like you know,
maybe getting married to your best friend because that's what
your partner is, right. You want your partner to be
your best friend. But sometimes it's not physical, right, you know,
but you want your partner to be your best friend.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
It reminds me there have been a lot of in
Hollywood actors, like leading men who like there's whispers, right
like Rock Hudson.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Well, yeah, they're Marlon Brando. Yeah, I mean Rock Hudson
was you know, tab Hunter, you know, like all those
I mean, there are parties that being had and people
were invited to those parties and people. You know, there
was a moment where people, the majority of Hollywood was
queer and openly queer. And then you know, there was
that period in the thirties I think where like it
was like regulations came into place and like what you
(02:28):
can show on a screen. I mean, the people were
showing nudity on film early on, and then there was
a board that was like absolutely not. You know, we
have to measure this is if for children, is it
for adults and whatnot? Which is makes sense. You know,
you don't want to introduce something to children's eyes before
they're ready and to understand what sexuality is and whatnot,
to have a conversation, but to put it in a
(02:49):
movie where most of Hollywood was queer, and then all
of a sudden, you can't be queer. But you usedill
have to make movies, right, So they used to be
the leading man. You have to be that handsome Rocks
and tab Hunter and all these leading men, but you
can't be queer. So the studios would arrange, like you know,
people to be their beards like to be and like
even recently, I just remember, you know, I've had people
(03:13):
in my life who I know are queer. We know
they're queer, but they can't be queer, like I feel
like they can't be. And it's a conversation which is
always interesting because like you said, there's whispers and people
know and they're open with the people that matter. You know,
those who matter won't care, and those who care don't matter.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
You know how I feel that way about And this
person will never come out? Is Alejandro Fernandez?
Speaker 1 (03:39):
That well? Also what yes, legacy a legacy right.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
And I'm like, yeah, if I was Alejandro Fernandez and
my father.
Speaker 5 (03:48):
The man that he was the most.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
The most macho man, yes, yes, that would be tough.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
I too would never come out.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
There was that pressure, right, like, and there is that
you think about like when I think of like can
I can like Juan Gabriel, like when you think of him,
and whenever people would always ask. I mean there's certain
things like sometimes and we can't judge and make, you know,
or make assumptions of someone, but like there is mannerisms
sometimes you're like, oh, you know, and then one time
I think reporter asked him is like it is on
(04:15):
six well, you know, like are you gay or not?
And then his response was so Gaz's like look as
emda right. You know that's a fucking iconic line. Like
it's like looks like it's like you're being rude by asking.
Oh so it's none of your business what I do
in my bedrooms, none of your business. No one goes
around asking like you know, hetero people is like what, yeah,
you're hetero.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Right, Like I could tell me we should start.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
You could tell me you're hetero, right. I love heteros,
Like no, you could tell my friends at hetero Like
like it's like no, I go to the No, you're fine.
You could tell me, you know. It's like coming out.
It's such a weird conversation when people say when did
you come out? When'd you come out? Like the idea
that you think that queer people wake up and like
I think, I'm I better tell everyone. You know, it's
(04:59):
not that's what it sounds like coming out, Like you're like,
I'm gonna cut the idea of coming out always like
sat in a weird place with me, because when someone
tells you that they're queer, they're not coming out, they're
letting you in.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
That's a beautiful way of looking at it.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
I'm letting you in, yes, because I've been thinking and
toiling with this for a while and I'm nervous, and
I'm like, I'm letting you in, and what you do
with that information will dictate if I let other people in.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
So when someone lets you in, be sensitive, be open,
and be careful how you respond. Letting people in is
such a big step. And sometimes people let you know
their parents in and the way they treat them, especially
coming from like Latino or Mexican household, that can go
south really quick. And then they shut that door or
(05:50):
they're asked to shut that door. Don't just stay in there,
don't tell your grandma. Just stay in there. Don't just
peek through the window once. No, I don't care what
you do, but just don't. Don't leave that door open
with the family now. And what a lonely place to
be inside a home. You just look out the window
once in a while and you are too scared to
let anyone in.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
Don't go anywhere, Look amotives.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
We'll be right back, and we're back with more of
our episode. I was reading this article in The Advocate
about queer coded villains in movies like in the twenties
and thirties, and there were like censorship codes in Hollywood,
so there were directors who would hint at queerness and
(06:35):
hire closeted gay actors to play like gayish characters, and
often they were placed in like villain type roles. And
I think over the years as we look and it's
Pride Month, and Pride started as a protest, and we're
in the midst of like social upheaval, and so I
feel like there's a way to almost tie all of
(06:56):
this together. And so we were kind of thinking about, like, Wow,
in film and television, there are some like vaguely queer
coded villains where it's not outright, but it's in their
speech patterns and their mannerisms. And we wanted to ask
you if this is something that you've noticed in your
work in Hollywood, in your acting. There's a list even
(07:20):
that we found online of yes, villains that are considered
like queer coded, like him from the Powerpuff Girls.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Yeah, very much.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
So, even like Captain hook Scar from The Lion King.
Of course, there's Buffalo Bill and Silens of the Lambs.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Yes, it was like it's like, is Rita there from
Power Rangers? Because I was like, why is she like
she's song she had this flam like she has that flare,
but also like she's part of the rainbow with us.
I feel like she Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
And Ruby Rod from the Fifth Element played by Chris Tucker,
I don't know. I think that there's something really interesting
there that this this phenomenon started because of like censorship
codes in the twenties and thirties, but has sort of
stuck with Hollywood. Yea in this subtle but very present way.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Yeah, I think it's you're right. I think it gives
permission for a villain because they can be flamboyant and
they can be bigger than life and it can be
you know, fabulous, and because it's like, oh, we love
to hate them and hate to love them. But it's
also like, what is that saying about, like putting queer
you know, actors in that position, because that's what's you know,
(08:33):
you teach kids how to treat others, and when you
see that only queer people are seen as villain, then
you're villainized and you're like, they're the bad guys. Yeah,
they're the bad guys. And sometimes you subconsciously don't know
that you might be doing that you might be teaching
children that no, stop, If you don't, you canna end
up like him. Stop be good, don't who's a good guy?
(08:58):
Who's the bad guy in the movie that we watched? Right?
Who was that? Oh really like? And he yes, don't
be like that. Don't be like that. And it's like, ugh,
imagine that door is closing and no one's coming in,
Like that kid just got told don't even try it.
Not because it's dividing queerness and a villain and putting
them together and saying that is one. That's dangerous because
(09:20):
that's telling us that we only see queer people as villains.
And you know, when I think about like the old
movies like Frankenstein and stuff and people who are different,
I always like think, why do queer people always gravitate
to horror?
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Right?
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Is because they they relate more to the monster because
the monster is being chased by the townspeople. But in reality,
you need to stop that chase and be like, who's
the real monster here? Like is who's a real monster?
You always chase the unknown because it's scary, and once
you get scared, you feel like you need to defend yourself.
And we need to finish yourself, you attack, and it's
(09:55):
like so scary to think about, Like why do I
always think about that? Why do queer always gravitates towards
horror is because we have lived through horror. We are
living through horror right now, and we are being persecuted,
we are being chased. That's why we gravitate and we
root for the protagonists in the horror film. We want
(10:16):
Frankistan to get away, we want them to survive, because
it's like, yeah, you're rooting for yourself.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Yeah, And on that note, there's also like that then
also rooting for the villain, right, because wait, this villain
actually has a very complex backstory and wait a second,
they made him a villain.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
They made that villain, the villain.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Villains have an origin.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Yeah, villains are made. It's like I always think about that.
In fact, I've gotten to play a couple of villains
in my career and sometimes I look back and I'm like,
I want to see what the backstory, you know, who
who hurt them, what made them? You know? And the
origin story is always for me as an actor, like
it's just I have to have that for myself because
(10:56):
then I'm like, okay, that makes sense. Why is he
like this now, you know, and it's like, ah, here
we go. But it's always villains are made. You know,
no child is born evil. You know, they're made unfortunately
by their you know, environment or whatnot. But yeah, human
beings make people.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
Villains don't go anywhere, lokomotives. We'll be right.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Back, and we're back with more of our episode.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Yeah, I mean, and then with the context of what
we're living through, right with immigration raids all over the country,
but feeling it really deeply in LA it's that fear
of a villain or some like Mexican quote rapist, right
that Donald Trump has been platforming since twenty fifteen, Right,
And so it is a lot when we think about
(11:49):
who's othered, who's Chase, like you mentioned, And so I'm
wondering how you hold all of that as you take
on these really incredible roles and Carbo your own type
of representation. I don't know how you feel about representation
because it's heavy to put that on a single person.
But I'm wondering what are your thoughts on that.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Yeah, it feels that, you know, looking back at just
I was talking about this earlier, like the last six
months have been probably the heaviest six months of you know,
I think I can recall of my my, you know,
being on this earth, Like it's just like that is
a lot, you know, and it's like it's one thing
(12:30):
to have something happen periodically, But what's happening is we're
being desensitized. Every day, we're seeing more and we and
we're passive to the oh my god, I cant believe
that just happened. And you're still coming down from like
that shock and still healing that wound, and while the
scaps still open, another another bruise, another scratch, another cut,
(12:54):
You're like, ah, that one was deeper than yesterday. But okay,
I'm like, let me compose myself. And so what's happening
every day it's it's death by a thousand cuts, and
it's just become so often that this scab is not
healing and we're being desensitized, and we can't be desensitized.
(13:15):
We have to take every cut, every scratch like it's
like it's it's it's my last, my last straw, like
it has to be because what's happening. If we get
to sensitize, people are forgiving and we become sensitized to
see another human being get mistreated and we don't see
them as human beings anymore, and we let someone control
(13:37):
the narrative and call them something else that they're not,
and we start leaning into like, well maybe yet, No,
it can't because the second you get tosensitized is the
second you start being passive about those things and letting
them happen and be like, oh what am I going
to do? You know, Oh, well, I hope it all
gets resolved, you know, And it's like or you know,
(14:00):
or we can change that narrative, but that's what's happening.
You've seen people desensitize when it's just like and it's worked,
the plan worked. They became desensitized, and then you see them.
You're like, hey, are you here? You know, and it's
like I just I'd rather check out. It's like I can't.
I can't have you check out. You know, I'm going
to shake you right now, just for a second, you know,
(14:20):
I just want to shake you a little bit, because
that's what people. It's a comfort thing. It's protection. I
need to I need to protect my But I get it, people,
we need you need to protect yourself. I get it
in your heart. But also once you take that breath,
come back, you know, and be like, okay, start jogging again.
You might take a rest, but you can just be like,
I'm just gonna sit this one out, you know. It's like, no,
(14:40):
we're running, like we need to. We need all hands
on deck. Like I just if you have your feet,
are willing, you can stand up, let's go. I just yeah,
I just want to sit this one out. And it's like,
but you are willing enable, your body is able. I
need you to run with me, just a little bit more,
just run by my side. And it's like just even jogging,
this is hard. Run you know. We don't have to
(15:01):
run like a harsh walk, just a little bit of
a power walking. Power let's do a power walking. Just
keep moving, just to keep moving. But the second you
become content and desensitizes, when you know, I'm just gonna
say this one, you guys go, you guys go, yeah,
And it's like we need everyone to be powerwalking, to
be running to the finish line.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
And there's something about the idea of self preservation and
protecting oneself in the midst of what's going on. And
the goalposts move with the administration. At first, it's we're
only deporting criminals. But what we're seeing is they're kidnapping
anybody and everybody, and they're not even asking for paperwork
(15:37):
or ideas or identification, and if you have it, they're
claiming it's fake. People who were born here or naturalized
citizens or have their legal status are also being rounded
up and detained.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
But who are on holiday, Yeah, who literally came here
on vacation, Yeah, and legally, and they just fit their like,
you know, prototype of what they're looking for. They're literally
on vacation and grabbing and separating them from their children.
So they literally came to this country on vacation. They're like,
we're not wet. I just can't. And then it's like
shut up, you know, It's like that's what's happening. It's like, no,
no one has any way of defending themselves anymore. Now
(16:11):
you can't even ask a question in a medium.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Yeah, yeah, and it goes there's no such thing as
just individual self preservation. Eventually, we need the community to
help us. We can't get out of it ourselves alone.
And I think that that's an issue I think that
we face in the United States. Because we are so
individualistic and self motivated and the capitalism of it all. Well,
(16:37):
if I'm protected, it's okay. But what if one day
you're not protected. You need everybody to help you too.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
But those people who won't be there to speak up
for you because you weren't there to speak up for them. Yeah,
So we really do have to have each other's back,
and that's you know, it's unfortunate that people are sitting
at the bench, you know, when it's like, can do
a quick brisk power walk with us, just for a
little bit longer, Just get up and just move you know,
(17:06):
total whatever that means to you. But I guess you
should ask yourself, have I been sitting down? Or have
I been even moving? Even if it's not sprint, Have
I been in movement? Yeah this time? And if you haven't,
it's never too late to start moving. So if you
have been and thought you might sit this one out
just because you didn't stretch, you didn't know, it's never
(17:28):
too late. You can get up today, you can start
brisk walking and hopefully by the end of the week
you're running. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
I mean, I think the community at large in Los
Angeles has really shown that they're they're running right.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
And you are.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
Someone who was born and raised in La La County,
if I.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Correctg I grew up in SGV. I was born in
sant Ana, Orange County, and then we moved to SGIV
al Monte, San. I love it all, like the s
GIV like the best food. Like I'm just very lucky.
And I grew up with you know, the majority of
my school being primarily Latino and Asian. Yes. And something
(18:07):
that I've noticed is that they disperted more and more
vehicles out to Rosemead and out to Saint Gabriel and
all this because now they're hitting two demographics there and
they're going into shops and not even not like they
just going into like you know, nail salons and like
people gardening and just going to work. It's like this
(18:33):
administration has been something that I've for six months. I've
been like, I can't believe it's been six months. I
keep keep telling myself it's six months going on eight years,
you know, that's what.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
It feels like, even longer, like twelve years. Because if
you think about campaigning, like we've actually been living under
this dress for years over a decade now because of
from campaigning to first election to second campaign to third
election or second election. Yeah, it's and it's a lot
on the on the spirit, it's a lot on the body.
Speaker 5 (19:08):
Yeah, it's a lot to hold.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
But it's one thing I will say that a comedian
Atsuko was talking about Angelino's, like you don't fuck with Angelina,
Like it's like you you fucked with the wrong city.
Like at that point you look and you're like, yeah,
you see it scattered across the nation, like they're happening here.
And then you're like, oh man, and you just you
(19:31):
thought you could and we're showing up and we're like
you thought wrong. And what a great thing to bring
us together as a city is that, Like we know
that you don't fuck with Angelino's, and then we protect
each other and then you know seeing you know. I
was talking to my brother about this, like he's been
(19:52):
on high alert every day, just like reporting and like
whatnot and posting and going and like it's just the
idea that like people show up. And I think that
the spirit of like Los Angeles is like a spirit
like no other. Every time I go around the world
and live somewhere else for a little bit, because I'm
working there production out of the country. There's nothing like
(20:13):
La Like every time someone says, well, why do you
live there? It's literally it's a desert by the ocean
and it's the most beautiful everything that you can imagine.
And people are like, why do you all live there?
So it's so expensive to live there. People can't even
afford to live there. And I was like, if you
can't afford to live there, you find a way to
live there, because this is worth living. So this city
(20:36):
is worth living that you find a way. Yes, it's astronomical.
It's near impossible to buy a house in southern California
and the prices are ridiculous. Who can buy a thirty
bedroom mansion in Texas. I don't want to live there,
and I would rather live in a one bedroom in
a studio in La than because it has everything that
(20:57):
I want and everything that I love, and it has
my culture, and it has the people that I grew
up with. It has something to be said about being
born here. The when people say you're from La, Oh,
but where did you come originally?
Speaker 4 (21:07):
I was like, no, and that is what I wanted
to ask you about, because we're you know, we've been
doing this for ten years now, and so we're like
industry Hollywood adjacent, you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
We go to some of the premieres.
Speaker 4 (21:18):
We're clearly in Hollywood today, and there's so few of
us that are like Latino's LATINX born and raised that
then are in this industry. And so what is that
like being probably one of few that are like born
and raised and Latino working in the industry.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Or unicorns, like literally even taking the side that working
in the industry part, just being a Latino in Los
Angeles like that stays here and works here. When people
come and like they visit, they're like, oh, but you're
from here, and I was like yeah, and they're so rare.
They're so rare, and I was like, no, there's a
lot of us here, but we don't all work in
the industry. Yes, and either growing up, I realized that
(21:56):
either you join this industry because it's right down the
street we are, but everything's getting outsourced anyways. So I
haven't worked in Los Angeles and in the citul sans
filming in over seven years. Wow, I've worked in Florida, Toronto, Spain.
I've filmed in all these different countries and states. Utah
just filmed in Utah for two months earlier this year.
(22:20):
I've yet to film something in my backyard. Wow. I
think the last time I shot something in Los Angeles
was the pilot for Shadows, which was over seven years ago.
And then the pilot move got picked up and they're like,
we're going to Toronto. And it's like what because they
literally was so excited to be. I love nothing more
than going to work in Los Angeles and then going
home after a day of work and then going to
(22:42):
or going to dinner with some friends, see my friends
after shooting. You know, like sometimes now with everything be
an outsourced, you get placed somewhere else you got to be.
You live in Spain for three months and now it's
like you don't know anyone in Spain. You know, like
you show up and you're like, oh, when you start
a routine, this is my grocery store, that's my coffee shop,
that's my and then when you start getting settle, you
pick up your bags and you go get them and
(23:02):
you're like ah, But then every time I do that,
I always look forward to coming here, coming back to La.
Like you gotta go to La, you gotta have the
best back, you know. Like the way I think of
LA is like an advertisement. I'm the biggest, Like even
if I'm not in LA, I'll be telling people to
go to LA. Like I'll be in Toronto, but you
gotta go to LA. It's like you're not there. It's
like you gotta go.
Speaker 5 (23:23):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
I have to ask, what are your spots that you
recommend folks when they're visiting, or where do you take
people that are like, Okay, you're you're not from here,
We're not going to the West Side, We're going to
go to my neighborhood, you know what I mean? Or
like the spots that I like that are off the
beaten path, You're like locals only type of place.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Yeah. I mean, if I were to do like really
good like Asian food, I go to Sengabrie's by the
Singer Row Mission. And if I were to go to
get back Goals, there was this taco lady. You had
a truck that was off of Wielshure and Rampart and
she would I don't even know where the name of
the truck is, but she would park right there on
(24:00):
a Wilshare and Rampart or mostly on rampart and every
night she'd be there. So it was like a thing
that I would do, Like if I feel like that goes,
I literally would go out of my wig up on
wheelshire and churn and park the car, eat thought goes
at the you know stand and then like go home.
But like that was the thing you could do because
it's like, you know what, I want to go to
a good type place, chit lata. Yeah, a lota is
(24:22):
a great type place where like it's home in the wall.
But now everyone knows about it because it got out.
But I remember when y'all like no one knew about it,
Like it was literally like three four tables inside. Now
they'd expanding stuff, but the secrets always get out and
I would TikTok and stuff. Like it's like and sometimes
you want to gig keep certain things and you're like no,
what did you don't? Yeah, And then you go the
(24:44):
next time and they're overwhelmed and it's like a line
and you're like, well, no, it's and then something happens
when like you need to mass produce things and like
the quality changes and it's like well now we got
lined and now it's like it's like yeah, but you
didn't take the time that you did before, and now
it's like you're like, uh, see how you liked it before.
Because when it gets too.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
Hyph it's so so confusing for me as as like, oh, man,
I want this local business to thrive, but at the
same time, like I don't want to blow up my
own spot.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Yes, you know, don't put it on TikTok, but I
get it.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
I get it, and the ones that I have told
people about, I'm okay with live because at some level
it's gone out a little bit. So I was like people, Oh,
go to you know, and I'm like, go to Jilada.
But it's still it's still advertising it. But it's also
now everyone knows, you know what I mean. So it's
like it's still good food. I mean, she does jazz,
that's her name. Her brother and her open that restaurant,
and she does the cuisines like it's Southern Thai cuisine
(25:36):
and so it's like really unique and specific and I
love it and I just think it's great and it's
it's still good. The quality has not gone bad to
a lot of it's really good. What I would just say,
there's so many places I like a good seafood boil too,
so I would oil. So I used to go all
(25:56):
the way to when the boiling crab was only in
certain areas here. One of them wasn't in Sana and
I moved to downtown by off a valley, Yes, in
al Hamburg and a Hambur and al Hamburg Yes. And
it had n't move to sting Gaboro because on main
Street that got one too, and something happened. They just
opened that location and closed this location and it wasn't
the same, like it was just like the shift happened.
(26:19):
And I went to that one. I was like, something's
a like something it's there, but it's also they started
popping everywhere. This one in Korea Town on a wheelshare
on wheel share in that plaza that's like honeycomb ice
cream swirrel so and that one's always busy, always busy.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
So they opened a takeout portion, and.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Did you know that you can even if you go
from the takeout, if you go to.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
The doorst you sit down and evening you're boiling crab.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
Because I was also thinking how did they stay open
because they got doll whip and they got like drinks
and that's it and that's it. And I was like,
what you guys said, this is rents expensive?
Speaker 3 (26:55):
You know.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
It was just like so very smart. They're like, we
got all these tables. You just buy a dolt and
keep us afloat and eat that float. It's genius and
so so like, I'm not waiting an hour and a
half in the line. I was like, come on. I
was like, I want food now, and so we started
doing that and actually, now we'll just go do that,
like to go get the ordered ahead of time for takeout,
just go pick it up and go sit down, have
(27:16):
a dol wave because the dope's good. Right. I also
didn't think that combination would go together, but it.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Pairs nice nice somehow, somehow it goes good.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
And yeah, the boiling crab that's another one. And there's
other ones that pop up, but not as good.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
They have like different names, juicy crab, yeah, the screaming shrimps, whatever,
what have you.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
I think they changed. I think they would call the
boiling shrimp and it was too close to the boiling
crab or something, and then the name changes like screaming shrimp.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Yes, yes, there's so many good places and might we
just add all of these recommendations would not exist if
not for the immigrant community. Thank you who created these
establishments and cook the delicious food and make La the
place that it is. And like we would have nothing,
We would have nothing here without our immigrant communities.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Have a little more respect and more thankful and everyone
take that that part note. Yeah, damn, I love LA.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
I also want to shout out your T shirt. But
I just realized it's I thought it was I thought
it was the Chargers, but it's the Bravo Real Housewives University.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
I'm obsessed. What's your favorite franchise?
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Let's talk.
Speaker 5 (28:30):
God.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
So Miami just came back, okay, and I haven't caught up,
but apparently there's already like drama and like I can't wait.
I'm gonna watch it today. Probably I was really big
on salt Lake. I love salt Lake. I've actually become
friends with Bronwyn from and Todd. Todd and I have
had dinner like three times already. Like Bronway has been
filming and going out in town, and he travels a
(28:50):
lot to New York and so like he's a collector
of mugs and so he collect Starbucks smugs, I don't
know that story in season one, I think or two,
but he collects my some Starbucks from around the world.
So I went and I was doing something in Iowa,
and I texted him like, have you been in Iowa?
He's like no, and I was like, do you want
a muggs? Like, yes, bring it, please bring it. So
I brought him a mug. And then sometime I go back.
I was filming in Utah. That's why we were hanging
(29:12):
out and like, I'm like, I'm flying back from Iowa
to Utah. Brought him a mug there, and then I
flew to do a gig in Florida and I went
to Epic Universe, the new theme park, and they have
a Starbucks in there, so it's even harder to get
that mug, and so I was like, do you want
this mug? Yes, please bring So literally I'm going around
places and bringing him mugs to add his already extensive
collection because he travels the world for business and literally
(29:33):
the Nicest guy, like the nicest guy and Bronwin is
amazing and I love that franchise and it's just like
they're getting like some of the stuff that's happened. I'm
excited for Let's say, I'm excited for this new season.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Yeah, is gen Shaw still in prison?
Speaker 1 (29:47):
Yeah, but she's gotten her like sentence reduced like every
day okay, Like it was like I don't know how many,
maybe three years supposed to be Now it's like sixteen months.
And it went down to like she'll be home by
Thanksgiven if they were Christmas, Oh wow, oh good fe
shop yeah, and now that the cameras will be rolling,
Like I just excited. I couldn't believe I was watching
that and it was happening in real time and I
was like why what? And I was like, oh my god,
(30:09):
Like this is no longer like just watching you know,
very wealthy women do crazy, outrageous things. It's just like, no,
this is like real stuff. And also I think about
when you put your life on camera like that, you're
opening up, you know, people to ask questions. So I
think everyone in history who has you know, Teresa and
Housewives and New Jersey because the cameras are rolling and
(30:30):
one show off this fabulous life and then people start asking,
how are you living this fabulous life? What do you
do for work? Jen? We never even got an answer,
like it was Jen would always have an assistance, like but
assistant to what you know? It's like we never had
the answer of like where do you work?
Speaker 2 (30:44):
You know there's always roller skating in the office.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Yes, yes, it was always roller skate in the office.
And it's like she is the original like meme, it's
like what do you do? I'm an accountant and it's
like where do you work? Where accountants work? What do
you do in that office? Things that accountants do?
Speaker 3 (31:00):
Yeah, the exorbitant wealth of each of the housewives, And
then it's funny then watching them question each other's wealth
or call out each well, you don't even own your
house is on a main street.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
Also like shaming people for reno. It's like they still
pay their bills. The difference is sometimes when stones are thrown,
it's usually that person ends up being like it's like
you should it won't age well, No, it won't age.
It never ages well. And you're like looking back at
some of the stuff, I mean even earlier, like reruns
of like the Kardashians or something, when I see that
and I see there was one clip where back then
(31:35):
Bruce was like I can't do it. You girls with
their with your heels and just all that stuff.
Speaker 5 (31:40):
And a.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Like watching that was like and then you can see
Kim's face because I think at that point they had
discovered something you know that was only in the family
known or whatnot. But she's literally looking at him like
trying to smile and then like move from this conversation.
But the idea that that didn't age well and then
now to look and also you know their stand and
where they stand with like trans community and the way they've.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
Supported Caitlyn is an outrageous Republican.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Yeah, it's just so crazy to think how someone in
your position, you know, could I actually use this platform
and would be so helpful to the trans community and
a weird twist of events has been so.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
Hurtful, so hurtful in an odd way, Like Caitlyn Jenner
is almost like a turfy trans person. Yeah, yeah, very
anti trans in her own politics.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
Which is such a mind Yes, you become what you
are attacking and you hate, you hate, you hate yourself.
Speaker 4 (32:43):
How do you feel about that? Like, is do you
feel that there's a responsibility for folks of like maybe
marginalized identities or backgrounds and then are in positions of
maybe power or are more resourced or celebrities to speak
on certain topics or issues that are affecting their own community.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
Yeah. I feel that being in the public eye already
gonna have some kind of you know, platform. It's how
you use it. And I feel that, you know, especially
with marginalized communities, I feel that it's important. I know
that I always get asked about like being queer, and
I always get and I'll be like, yes, let's talk
about it, because it's a conversation, it's an ongoing dialogue.
I think it's when you don't use your platform to
(33:28):
stand for something, then you kind of brush off and
fall for anything. You know. It's like, what's that was saying,
If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything, Right.
So the idea is that you don't have to like
feel that you have to have the rainbow flag is
you know, every day carrying down the street and have
your own prey. But you do have to a responsibility
to your community that you came from the people who
(33:48):
pave the way before you, and hopefully you are doing
stepping stones for the next person who comes behind you,
so it won't be as hard for them that it
might have been for you. And definitely it was before me,
and it's just like it and become so comfortable. It's
like we're good. People know people are gay. It's fine,
It's like right, yeah, but you know, we don't live
(34:09):
in like Nebraska, and we don't live in the Middle
America where it's a twelve year old boys, you know,
doubting if he lets someone in, and if he does
let someone in, it goes terribly wrong and they aren
alive themselves because they had nowhere to reach. And we
take those like suicide prevention hotlines away. If you take
(34:29):
those away, you're literally killing children. You're taking the opportunity
for someone to just pick up a phone and be like, hey,
I'm having a hard time. I live in a small
town and this is like I'm the only queer person
that I know. I'm afraid to come out those kind
of you know, stories that people don't hear about because well,
everyone's okay with gay pride. You know, it's like it's
(34:51):
pride and it's like right, but it's an ongoing conversation.
I feel that it's a queer artist. It's a conversation
that I keep having and then if something might feel repetitive,
but I don't think it is because that was someone's
first time listening to you talk about it. So it
might feel repetitive to the people in the industry. It
might feel repetitive to someone's like, oh, there you go
again talking about queerness, talking about get you know, it's like, yeah,
(35:14):
I'm not going to stop talking about it. And it's
like because it might be the one time that someone
listened to me on this show for the first time
and it helped them. Yeah, it might be that one person.
So if you helped one person, then yeah, it's worth
talking about.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
And this Pride Month twenty twenty five, after the six
months we've had, after everything that's been going on, the
way that the community is under attack, and also the
way that I think Pride has been criticized for becoming
so corporate over the years, what are your hopes for
Pride this month and what it might look like.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Well, I think that now more than ever, especially with
the last six months, Pride is you know, we saw
a lot of companies pull out of sponsorship and New
York Pride a lot of So it also asks the question,
were you an ally or were you you know, benefiting
from this because it's also a tax. Right off, you
donated the money and you support Pride, but then it's
(36:10):
no longer safe to support Pride, and you feel that
you oh wait, wait, wait, we're not gonna We're not
gonna sponsor this year. We totally love Pride, we just
got to keep it a little bit under wraps. We
love you know. And it's like the whispering of like
can you a little bit louder? Are you no longer?
Are you standing by me? Are you standing? Where are
you going? And it's like are you hiding behind me?
(36:33):
Are you standing by me? Are you hiding behind me?
And I think for so long we think that these
were like allies and we're like holding hands and like, yes,
it's become corporated, putting rainbows on a shirt that you know,
at a target and whatnot. Are you making money off
of this group, this marginalized group. But when we show
up to the when we show up to the stream,
we're like, you're standing by Where do they go? Where
(36:54):
do they go? Oh my god, you're behind me. It's like, yes,
you go, Coca Cock, you go, you go, you go, Pride,
Pride and you're still behind me though, And as soon
as it's the coast is clear? Is it clear? Support?
Speaker 4 (37:05):
You know?
Speaker 1 (37:05):
Is it okay? Because I don't want to dot my company?
I don't want to good you know, now when it's
popular again, they're going to come to the side again.
You can't be using as a shield. Either you're standing
beside me or don't stand behind me. This is just
simple and even.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
And within the queer community, yes, right, because there's so
much intersectionality and there's so many layers and how do
we how do we come together and make sure that
the entire queer community is supporting our immigrant queer community
and showing up for the attacks on our immigrant queer community.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
I think Pride being this month and what's happening is
the perfect like moment to merge that. Yeah, I think
that would be a great idea to like kind of
and I've seen it happen with small queer groups that
have organized like this is we were showing up and
this is the queer group that's showing up because and
I've seen that with other ethnicities that showed up and
(38:00):
it's like, you know, African American community showing up for
like there is pockets happening. But I do think it's
it is important to have the queer community show up,
especially if this is the month that you're doing it,
you're showing up. I think this is what a great
place to do a parade, ye to take it to
the streets and show and show that you're representing this community.
(38:21):
Where your feather boa, where are your rainbows? Where to
show that you're there in support and solidary. So I
think that this is a perfect month to do that.
Also with like different you know, groups like Altadena the
fires that just happened, they were going to cancel Pride
because it's a small community and they it's more of
a walk through with the community and it's a you know,
a couple hundred people. It's not like West Hollywood where
(38:43):
it's become you know, marketed with like big floats and
whatnot and sponsored by and.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
There's a lot of money.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
There's a lot of money in the West Hollywood. And
then you know, I've noticed that this there's a division
also happened because there's Downtown La Pride, there's West Hollywood Pride,
and even altad You it's not as big is like,
but it is Pride and it's still there. And I
would encourage people to especially what's happening. We're taking that
in Altadena like into our own hands. And this weekend,
(39:13):
on the next weekend, we're having Altadena Pride, and we're
having presentation, we're having uh bringing the community and what
makes the town so great, Like we're having a actually
like pay we have someone teachings outside. Like it's like
we're bringing that. We're like, this is a mixed community
and we're queer, and we're children of immigrants, immigrants ourselves too,
and we're queer as well, so it's another layer to that.
(39:35):
But I think this is the month that you're right
that it should be kind of a merger. Such a
great thing would be for everyone because we're sure to
like either you go into West Hollywood or you're going
to Downtown Pride. If you don't. If you go Downtown Pride,
I don't. They don't talk to each other, you know.
It's kind of the division within the own queer community.
And we do that already. It's like when you go
to West Hollywood, everyone every gay man looks the same,
(39:57):
you know, and it's been even told it this is
how a gay man looks, and there and a Donnis
that they're blonde and they're blue eyed and six pack,
and that's fine if you like that, that's fine, And
it's like that's beautiful itself. But there's so much division
within the community. It's like, are you a chub, no fats,
no fams, no Asian? Like that idea that you're we're
like pride united together?
Speaker 3 (40:15):
Ill?
Speaker 1 (40:15):
Not if you're fat pride You're not ill, not even femine.
You gotta be masking them, okay, but chup pride united?
Speaker 3 (40:21):
No?
Speaker 1 (40:22):
Not if you're Asian. It's like, what are we doing?
Like there's a division within our own community already, and
then how do we how are we unite it when
we're separating each other all the time. And so I
think it starts with like get together and this group
put everything aside from the West Hollywood Pride in the
Downtown Pride and how about we just have pride together
(40:42):
and go and march all of us? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (40:45):
And how many like younger queers do you feel like
maybe don't even know pride history or their own queer history,
because if you think about the queer history of this country,
like it was radical, it was not a parade. Yeah,
and beyond the stonewall riots right, or the Uprising. It's
like lesbian's taking care of gay men with aids. You know,
(41:09):
it's the Act up movement. It's not just this corporate parade.
Speaker 5 (41:13):
You know.
Speaker 4 (41:13):
It's not just it's great that we feel we can
be free in some ways, but that's actually not our
history in this country.
Speaker 5 (41:21):
And so do you feel like maybe that's getting lost?
Speaker 1 (41:24):
I think so people forget that. You know, one of
the first riots was actually here at the Black Cat
tell us so literally, but that didn't get as publicized
as the one in Stonewall. So we actually had like
queer people writing here in Los Angeles, but it kind
of got brushed under the rug. But if you go
(41:45):
to the Black Cat, they still have pictures of that
like riot, and they're right outside like marching. And it's
so funny because unless you go and research it and
you're like, oh my god, that's true, no one's really
talking about it, and especially the younger generation, like I
feel like the old thing, know, it's like Stonewall, and
even then it's like what happened in Stone. It's like,
I think what's so funny about Stone was that the
reason I got so much media was that it was
(42:06):
literally the week that Judy Garland died and the case
had had it like it was just like and then
she died that week, and then the next thing, you know,
they're trying to raid this bar and they're like absolutely,
not today, not today. And it was like literally like
it just got so much media attention, and that's why
people were like, oh my god, what's happening in New York.
But we also had riots in la that didn't get
(42:27):
as much attention. And that's what we're talking about earlier.
How sometimes things are omitted from history. Yeah, and then
we find out later like, wait, that happened. When did
that happen? How come it's not it's like, oh well
they just left it out because they were talking about
that riot. It's like, but this is important too, showing
that Angelino's back then, immigrants queer Angelino's showed up to
riot back then. You know. It's just like that was
(42:48):
omitted from the books.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:51):
And as a response to oppression, to violence, I think
so often and now it's uh, the demonstrations and the
responses to oppression are talked about, la is rioting, la
is on fire, Eli's rioting, you know, and it's so
much more than like a spontaneous.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
Social action.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
It's a response to people have enough. You know, people
have had enough. People are tired of being up persecuted
and targeted and imprisoned and denied rights. And after a while,
the community it comes to a boil and then we
have a rioting in the streets or demonstrating, rallying in
(43:34):
the streets, whatever.
Speaker 2 (43:35):
You call it.
Speaker 3 (43:36):
And I think that's really important too, is the history
has to include the pressure cooker and the things that
were happening that led the community to riot.
Speaker 2 (43:46):
Because we're peaceful people.
Speaker 3 (43:48):
We don't actually want to riot, right, love rioting, but
you push people to a point where we have no
choice but to come together and to act.
Speaker 1 (43:57):
And oh they're going to document. Is the explain not
the well you did the formula. These are the ingredients
that led to this.
Speaker 4 (44:05):
Maybe if they hadn't rated a working class community in
the garment district, this wouldn't have happened.
Speaker 5 (44:12):
Let's not forget that.
Speaker 1 (44:13):
Well why did you omit that part? You know, all
you saw was the explosion. Look at them, see see
how they are, and it's like no, stop, look at
the stepping stones that led to this. This was the
boiling point. But it took a lot of ingredients to
get there, and you had your hand in the ingredients.
Speaker 2 (44:31):
You did this stirring the pot.
Speaker 1 (44:33):
You're stirring the pot. And then when you see the
reaction of your formula and your recipe, this is what
you got. But all you're gonna see is WHOA, this
soup exploded in my face. You're the one putting that
pepper in that. You know, you're the one stirring the.
Speaker 5 (44:49):
Pot, raising the flame.
Speaker 1 (44:50):
You are raising the flame. You're doing this, So don't
put onto me what you're doing. You know you did this,
But we're not going to sit back and just stay
quiet and be like, well, I hope this soup works out.
You know, it's just like, no, no, you did this,
so this is the outcome of that. But let's get
it straight and get that story. So then in history
books they don't omit that part because I'm pretty sure
(45:11):
we didn't know what part is going to be aimed
at being talked about.
Speaker 3 (45:15):
Yeah, they say, what history is written by the victors,
And I think this is a big part of why
we have so much missing history. The powers it be
they write the textbooks, but they can also come in
and ban books, and we lose so much knowledge generationally.
And then I think it's up to like the arts
(45:37):
often and creatives to supplement and remind and dig up
the old history and put it into movies and put
it into TV shows and write new books and write
plays and remind us of what happened.
Speaker 1 (45:50):
It's like that there's a lion wicket that goes, is
one a crusader or vicious invader? It's all in which
label is able to persist. It's just like, that's so true.
It's like where the wizard says is sah, where I
come from? We tell all sorts of lies. We call
it history.
Speaker 3 (46:09):
Hmm.
Speaker 1 (46:10):
It's just like the idea that like that's so true,
Like it's written by yeah, it's how who controls that narrative? Yeah? Yeah,
Well I think we're here too. And this serves as
a piece of evidence so people can look back at
this recording today and be like, what was happening that.
Let's look up some archives and then this is the evidence.
(46:31):
So if you need evidence, it's right here. We just
talked about it. It's recorded.
Speaker 3 (46:35):
Boom bang up. That's it, And thank you so much
for sharing everything. You've shared with us today. You know,
we came in with with notes and ready to talk
about your acting career and the roles that you've played,
but you brought in so much rich conversation and I
can tell you've been really thinking very deeply about the
world and the state that we're in and the crisis
(46:57):
and how to respond. So we really appreciate you for
bringing all of that to the show today.
Speaker 1 (47:01):
Thank you for having me. This has been great and
like healing to kind of it's hard to talk about
it and not you know, get emotional, but it's also
good to talk about because you should voice it and
we should talk about our feelings. So thanks for letting
me vent.
Speaker 4 (47:20):
Look At Radio is executive produced by Viosa Fem and
Mala Munios.
Speaker 2 (47:24):
Stephanie Franco is our producer.
Speaker 5 (47:27):
Story editing by Me viosa.
Speaker 2 (47:29):
Creative direction by Me Mala.
Speaker 4 (47:31):
Look At Radio is a part of iHeartRadio's Michael Dura
podcast Network.
Speaker 3 (47:35):
You can listen to lok at Radio on the iHeartRadio
app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 4 (47:40):
Leave us a review and share with your prima or
share with your homegirl.
Speaker 3 (47:43):
And thank you to our local motives. To our listeners
for tuning in each and every week.
Speaker 4 (47:48):
Desitos loca Lamia
They can make a whole book out of the six
months in this struper class, and like, kids, twenty years
from now, it would be like take chapter twenty twenty five. Yeah,
chapter twenty twenty five will be the year that will
be several several several pages in history.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
So we'll be talking about what we lived through.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Yeah. Yeah, we'll be telling our grandkids. Yeah yeah, I
was there. I was there.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Already.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Yah.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
Who are some maybe queer historical figures that you look
up to or you've learned about and thought, oh wait
a second, this is more than a footnote.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
My My biggest one was, you know, find out that
it was like, you know, queer, and I was like oh,
And I was like really, And I was like how
did that? Because I asked questions. That makes me ask
questions And I was like how did that work with Diego?
And also Diego had his own you know, like history
and like problematic of like you know, womanizer and like
you know whatnot, So it made me ask questions of
like how many times have we spoken about a historical
(00:57):
figure but not known non convinced Abraham Lincoln? Like come on,
I mean there's been letters that have been found and
it's the way that the addresses some of his very close,
close male friends. And there's actually a play right now
being done and Broadway by Colesko, who just won the
(01:18):
Tony for Mary Yes, and it's so funny, and it's
just like the idea to even think that way kind
of puts into like, yeah, that makes sense, that totally
makes sense. He probably did love his wife, but you know,
she was meant to again stable and she could easily
keep you know, this could be a lavender kind of
marriage like back then. And he's the president of the
(01:39):
United States, you know, and you are the first lady.
So there's certain perks that come with like you know,
maybe getting married to your best friend because that's what
your partner is, right. You want your partner to be
your best friend. But sometimes it's not physical, right, you know,
but you want your partner to be your best friend.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
It reminds me there have been a lot of in
Hollywood actors, like leading men who like there's whispers, right
like Rock Hudson.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Well, yeah, they're Marlon Brando. Yeah, I mean Rock Hudson
was you know, tab Hunter, you know, like all those
I mean, there are parties that being had and people
were invited to those parties and people. You know, there
was a moment where people, the majority of Hollywood was
queer and openly queer. And then you know, there was
that period in the thirties I think where like it
was like regulations came into place and like what you
(02:28):
can show on a screen. I mean, the people were
showing nudity on film early on, and then there was
a board that was like absolutely not. You know, we
have to measure this is if for children, is it
for adults and whatnot? Which is makes sense. You know,
you don't want to introduce something to children's eyes before
they're ready and to understand what sexuality is and whatnot,
to have a conversation, but to put it in a
(02:49):
movie where most of Hollywood was queer, and then all
of a sudden, you can't be queer. But you usedill
have to make movies, right, So they used to be
the leading man. You have to be that handsome Rocks
and tab Hunter and all these leading men, but you
can't be queer. So the studios would arrange, like you know,
people to be their beards like to be and like
even recently, I just remember, you know, I've had people
(03:13):
in my life who I know are queer. We know
they're queer, but they can't be queer, like I feel
like they can't be. And it's a conversation which is
always interesting because like you said, there's whispers and people
know and they're open with the people that matter. You know,
those who matter won't care, and those who care don't matter.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
You know how I feel that way about And this
person will never come out? Is Alejandro Fernandez?
Speaker 1 (03:39):
That well? Also what yes, legacy a legacy right.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
And I'm like, yeah, if I was Alejandro Fernandez and
my father.
Speaker 5 (03:48):
The man that he was the most.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
The most macho man, yes, yes, that would be tough.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
I too would never come out.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
There was that pressure, right, like, and there is that
you think about like when I think of like can
I can like Juan Gabriel, like when you think of him,
and whenever people would always ask. I mean there's certain
things like sometimes and we can't judge and make, you know,
or make assumptions of someone, but like there is mannerisms
sometimes you're like, oh, you know, and then one time
I think reporter asked him is like it is on
(04:15):
six well, you know, like are you gay or not?
And then his response was so Gaz's like look as
emda right. You know that's a fucking iconic line. Like
it's like looks like it's like you're being rude by asking.
Oh so it's none of your business what I do
in my bedrooms, none of your business. No one goes
around asking like you know, hetero people is like what, yeah,
you're hetero.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Right, Like I could tell me we should start.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
You could tell me you're hetero, right. I love heteros,
Like no, you could tell my friends at hetero Like
like it's like no, I go to the No, you're fine.
You could tell me, you know. It's like coming out.
It's such a weird conversation when people say when did
you come out? When'd you come out? Like the idea
that you think that queer people wake up and like
I think, I'm I better tell everyone. You know, it's
(04:59):
not that's what it sounds like coming out, Like you're like,
I'm gonna cut the idea of coming out always like
sat in a weird place with me, because when someone
tells you that they're queer, they're not coming out, they're
letting you in.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
That's a beautiful way of looking at it.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
I'm letting you in, yes, because I've been thinking and
toiling with this for a while and I'm nervous, and
I'm like, I'm letting you in, and what you do
with that information will dictate if I let other people in.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
So when someone lets you in, be sensitive, be open,
and be careful how you respond. Letting people in is
such a big step. And sometimes people let you know
their parents in and the way they treat them, especially
coming from like Latino or Mexican household, that can go
south really quick. And then they shut that door or
(05:50):
they're asked to shut that door. Don't just stay in there,
don't tell your grandma. Just stay in there. Don't just
peek through the window once. No, I don't care what
you do, but just don't. Don't leave that door open
with the family now. And what a lonely place to
be inside a home. You just look out the window
once in a while and you are too scared to
let anyone in.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
Don't go anywhere, Look amotives.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
We'll be right back, and we're back with more of
our episode. I was reading this article in The Advocate
about queer coded villains in movies like in the twenties
and thirties, and there were like censorship codes in Hollywood,
so there were directors who would hint at queerness and
(06:35):
hire closeted gay actors to play like gayish characters, and
often they were placed in like villain type roles. And
I think over the years as we look and it's
Pride Month, and Pride started as a protest, and we're
in the midst of like social upheaval, and so I
feel like there's a way to almost tie all of
(06:56):
this together. And so we were kind of thinking about, like, Wow,
in film and television, there are some like vaguely queer
coded villains where it's not outright, but it's in their
speech patterns and their mannerisms. And we wanted to ask
you if this is something that you've noticed in your
work in Hollywood, in your acting. There's a list even
(07:20):
that we found online of yes, villains that are considered
like queer coded, like him from the Powerpuff Girls.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Yeah, very much.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
So, even like Captain hook Scar from The Lion King.
Of course, there's Buffalo Bill and Silens of the Lambs.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Yes, it was like it's like, is Rita there from
Power Rangers? Because I was like, why is she like
she's song she had this flam like she has that flare,
but also like she's part of the rainbow with us.
I feel like she Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
And Ruby Rod from the Fifth Element played by Chris Tucker,
I don't know. I think that there's something really interesting
there that this this phenomenon started because of like censorship
codes in the twenties and thirties, but has sort of
stuck with Hollywood. Yea in this subtle but very present way.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Yeah, I think it's you're right. I think it gives
permission for a villain because they can be flamboyant and
they can be bigger than life and it can be
you know, fabulous, and because it's like, oh, we love
to hate them and hate to love them. But it's
also like, what is that saying about, like putting queer
you know, actors in that position, because that's what's you know,
(08:33):
you teach kids how to treat others, and when you
see that only queer people are seen as villain, then
you're villainized and you're like, they're the bad guys. Yeah,
they're the bad guys. And sometimes you subconsciously don't know
that you might be doing that you might be teaching
children that no, stop, If you don't, you canna end
up like him. Stop be good, don't who's a good guy?
(08:58):
Who's the bad guy in the movie that we watched? Right?
Who was that? Oh really like? And he yes, don't
be like that. Don't be like that. And it's like, ugh,
imagine that door is closing and no one's coming in,
Like that kid just got told don't even try it.
Not because it's dividing queerness and a villain and putting
them together and saying that is one. That's dangerous because
(09:20):
that's telling us that we only see queer people as villains.
And you know, when I think about like the old
movies like Frankenstein and stuff and people who are different,
I always like think, why do queer people always gravitate
to horror?
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Right?
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Is because they they relate more to the monster because
the monster is being chased by the townspeople. But in reality,
you need to stop that chase and be like, who's
the real monster here? Like is who's a real monster?
You always chase the unknown because it's scary, and once
you get scared, you feel like you need to defend yourself.
And we need to finish yourself, you attack, and it's
(09:55):
like so scary to think about, Like why do I
always think about that? Why do queer always gravitates towards
horror is because we have lived through horror. We are
living through horror right now, and we are being persecuted,
we are being chased. That's why we gravitate and we
root for the protagonists in the horror film. We want
(10:16):
Frankistan to get away, we want them to survive, because
it's like, yeah, you're rooting for yourself.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Yeah, And on that note, there's also like that then
also rooting for the villain, right, because wait, this villain
actually has a very complex backstory and wait a second,
they made him a villain.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
They made that villain, the villain.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Villains have an origin.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Yeah, villains are made. It's like I always think about that.
In fact, I've gotten to play a couple of villains
in my career and sometimes I look back and I'm like,
I want to see what the backstory, you know, who
who hurt them, what made them? You know? And the
origin story is always for me as an actor, like
it's just I have to have that for myself because
(10:56):
then I'm like, okay, that makes sense. Why is he
like this now, you know, and it's like, ah, here
we go. But it's always villains are made. You know,
no child is born evil. You know, they're made unfortunately
by their you know, environment or whatnot. But yeah, human
beings make people.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
Villains don't go anywhere, lokomotives. We'll be right.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Back, and we're back with more of our episode.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Yeah, I mean, and then with the context of what
we're living through, right with immigration raids all over the country,
but feeling it really deeply in LA it's that fear
of a villain or some like Mexican quote rapist, right
that Donald Trump has been platforming since twenty fifteen, Right,
And so it is a lot when we think about
(11:49):
who's othered, who's Chase, like you mentioned, And so I'm
wondering how you hold all of that as you take
on these really incredible roles and Carbo your own type
of representation. I don't know how you feel about representation
because it's heavy to put that on a single person.
But I'm wondering what are your thoughts on that.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Yeah, it feels that, you know, looking back at just
I was talking about this earlier, like the last six
months have been probably the heaviest six months of you know,
I think I can recall of my my, you know,
being on this earth, Like it's just like that is
a lot, you know, and it's like it's one thing
(12:30):
to have something happen periodically, But what's happening is we're
being desensitized. Every day, we're seeing more and we and
we're passive to the oh my god, I cant believe
that just happened. And you're still coming down from like
that shock and still healing that wound, and while the
scaps still open, another another bruise, another scratch, another cut,
(12:54):
You're like, ah, that one was deeper than yesterday. But okay,
I'm like, let me compose myself. And so what's happening
every day it's it's death by a thousand cuts, and
it's just become so often that this scab is not
healing and we're being desensitized, and we can't be desensitized.
(13:15):
We have to take every cut, every scratch like it's
like it's it's it's my last, my last straw, like
it has to be because what's happening. If we get
to sensitize, people are forgiving and we become sensitized to
see another human being get mistreated and we don't see
them as human beings anymore, and we let someone control
(13:37):
the narrative and call them something else that they're not,
and we start leaning into like, well maybe yet, No,
it can't because the second you get tosensitized is the
second you start being passive about those things and letting
them happen and be like, oh what am I going
to do? You know, Oh, well, I hope it all
gets resolved, you know, And it's like or you know,
(14:00):
or we can change that narrative, but that's what's happening.
You've seen people desensitize when it's just like and it's worked,
the plan worked. They became desensitized, and then you see them.
You're like, hey, are you here? You know, and it's
like I just I'd rather check out. It's like I can't.
I can't have you check out. You know, I'm going
to shake you right now, just for a second, you know,
(14:20):
I just want to shake you a little bit, because
that's what people. It's a comfort thing. It's protection. I
need to I need to protect my But I get it, people,
we need you need to protect yourself. I get it
in your heart. But also once you take that breath,
come back, you know, and be like, okay, start jogging again.
You might take a rest, but you can just be like,
I'm just gonna sit this one out, you know. It's like, no,
(14:40):
we're running, like we need to. We need all hands
on deck. Like I just if you have your feet,
are willing, you can stand up, let's go. I just yeah,
I just want to sit this one out. And it's like,
but you are willing enable, your body is able. I
need you to run with me, just a little bit more,
just run by my side. And it's like just even jogging,
this is hard. Run you know. We don't have to
(15:01):
run like a harsh walk, just a little bit of
a power walking. Power let's do a power walking. Just
keep moving, just to keep moving. But the second you
become content and desensitizes, when you know, I'm just gonna
say this one, you guys go, you guys go, yeah,
And it's like we need everyone to be powerwalking, to
be running to the finish line.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
And there's something about the idea of self preservation and
protecting oneself in the midst of what's going on. And
the goalposts move with the administration. At first, it's we're
only deporting criminals. But what we're seeing is they're kidnapping
anybody and everybody, and they're not even asking for paperwork
(15:37):
or ideas or identification, and if you have it, they're
claiming it's fake. People who were born here or naturalized
citizens or have their legal status are also being rounded
up and detained.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
But who are on holiday, Yeah, who literally came here
on vacation, Yeah, and legally, and they just fit their like,
you know, prototype of what they're looking for. They're literally
on vacation and grabbing and separating them from their children.
So they literally came to this country on vacation. They're like,
we're not wet. I just can't. And then it's like
shut up, you know, It's like that's what's happening. It's like, no,
no one has any way of defending themselves anymore. Now
(16:11):
you can't even ask a question in a medium.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Yeah, yeah, and it goes there's no such thing as
just individual self preservation. Eventually, we need the community to
help us. We can't get out of it ourselves alone.
And I think that that's an issue I think that
we face in the United States. Because we are so
individualistic and self motivated and the capitalism of it all. Well,
(16:37):
if I'm protected, it's okay. But what if one day
you're not protected. You need everybody to help you too.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
But those people who won't be there to speak up
for you because you weren't there to speak up for them. Yeah,
So we really do have to have each other's back,
and that's you know, it's unfortunate that people are sitting
at the bench, you know, when it's like, can do
a quick brisk power walk with us, just for a
little bit longer, Just get up and just move you know,
(17:06):
total whatever that means to you. But I guess you
should ask yourself, have I been sitting down? Or have
I been even moving? Even if it's not sprint, Have
I been in movement? Yeah this time? And if you haven't,
it's never too late to start moving. So if you
have been and thought you might sit this one out
just because you didn't stretch, you didn't know, it's never
(17:28):
too late. You can get up today, you can start
brisk walking and hopefully by the end of the week
you're running. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
I mean, I think the community at large in Los
Angeles has really shown that they're they're running right.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
And you are.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
Someone who was born and raised in La La County,
if I.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Correctg I grew up in SGV. I was born in
sant Ana, Orange County, and then we moved to SGIV
al Monte, San. I love it all, like the s
GIV like the best food. Like I'm just very lucky.
And I grew up with you know, the majority of
my school being primarily Latino and Asian. Yes. And something
(18:07):
that I've noticed is that they disperted more and more
vehicles out to Rosemead and out to Saint Gabriel and
all this because now they're hitting two demographics there and
they're going into shops and not even not like they
just going into like you know, nail salons and like
people gardening and just going to work. It's like this
(18:33):
administration has been something that I've for six months. I've
been like, I can't believe it's been six months. I
keep keep telling myself it's six months going on eight years,
you know, that's what.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
It feels like, even longer, like twelve years. Because if
you think about campaigning, like we've actually been living under
this dress for years over a decade now because of
from campaigning to first election to second campaign to third
election or second election. Yeah, it's and it's a lot
on the on the spirit, it's a lot on the body.
Speaker 5 (19:08):
Yeah, it's a lot to hold.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
But it's one thing I will say that a comedian
Atsuko was talking about Angelino's, like you don't fuck with Angelina,
Like it's like you you fucked with the wrong city.
Like at that point you look and you're like, yeah,
you see it scattered across the nation, like they're happening here.
And then you're like, oh man, and you just you
(19:31):
thought you could and we're showing up and we're like
you thought wrong. And what a great thing to bring
us together as a city is that, Like we know
that you don't fuck with Angelino's, and then we protect
each other and then you know seeing you know. I
was talking to my brother about this, like he's been
(19:52):
on high alert every day, just like reporting and like
whatnot and posting and going and like it's just the
idea that like people show up. And I think that
the spirit of like Los Angeles is like a spirit
like no other. Every time I go around the world
and live somewhere else for a little bit, because I'm
working there production out of the country. There's nothing like
(20:13):
La Like every time someone says, well, why do you
live there? It's literally it's a desert by the ocean
and it's the most beautiful everything that you can imagine.
And people are like, why do you all live there?
So it's so expensive to live there. People can't even
afford to live there. And I was like, if you
can't afford to live there, you find a way to
live there, because this is worth living. So this city
(20:36):
is worth living that you find a way. Yes, it's astronomical.
It's near impossible to buy a house in southern California
and the prices are ridiculous. Who can buy a thirty
bedroom mansion in Texas. I don't want to live there,
and I would rather live in a one bedroom in
a studio in La than because it has everything that
(20:57):
I want and everything that I love, and it has
my culture, and it has the people that I grew
up with. It has something to be said about being
born here. The when people say you're from La, Oh,
but where did you come originally?
Speaker 4 (21:07):
I was like, no, and that is what I wanted
to ask you about, because we're you know, we've been
doing this for ten years now, and so we're like
industry Hollywood adjacent, you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
We go to some of the premieres.
Speaker 4 (21:18):
We're clearly in Hollywood today, and there's so few of
us that are like Latino's LATINX born and raised that
then are in this industry. And so what is that
like being probably one of few that are like born
and raised and Latino working in the industry.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Or unicorns, like literally even taking the side that working
in the industry part, just being a Latino in Los
Angeles like that stays here and works here. When people
come and like they visit, they're like, oh, but you're
from here, and I was like yeah, and they're so rare.
They're so rare, and I was like, no, there's a
lot of us here, but we don't all work in
the industry. Yes, and either growing up, I realized that
(21:56):
either you join this industry because it's right down the
street we are, but everything's getting outsourced anyways. So I
haven't worked in Los Angeles and in the citul sans
filming in over seven years. Wow, I've worked in Florida, Toronto, Spain.
I've filmed in all these different countries and states. Utah
just filmed in Utah for two months earlier this year.
(22:20):
I've yet to film something in my backyard. Wow. I
think the last time I shot something in Los Angeles
was the pilot for Shadows, which was over seven years ago.
And then the pilot move got picked up and they're like,
we're going to Toronto. And it's like what because they
literally was so excited to be. I love nothing more
than going to work in Los Angeles and then going
home after a day of work and then going to
(22:42):
or going to dinner with some friends, see my friends
after shooting. You know, like sometimes now with everything be
an outsourced, you get placed somewhere else you got to be.
You live in Spain for three months and now it's
like you don't know anyone in Spain. You know, like
you show up and you're like, oh, when you start
a routine, this is my grocery store, that's my coffee shop,
that's my and then when you start getting settle, you
pick up your bags and you go get them and
(23:02):
you're like ah, But then every time I do that,
I always look forward to coming here, coming back to La.
Like you gotta go to La, you gotta have the
best back, you know. Like the way I think of
LA is like an advertisement. I'm the biggest, Like even
if I'm not in LA, I'll be telling people to
go to LA. Like I'll be in Toronto, but you
gotta go to LA. It's like you're not there. It's
like you gotta go.
Speaker 5 (23:23):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
I have to ask, what are your spots that you
recommend folks when they're visiting, or where do you take
people that are like, Okay, you're you're not from here,
We're not going to the West Side, We're going to
go to my neighborhood, you know what I mean? Or
like the spots that I like that are off the
beaten path, You're like locals only type of place.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Yeah. I mean, if I were to do like really
good like Asian food, I go to Sengabrie's by the
Singer Row Mission. And if I were to go to
get back Goals, there was this taco lady. You had
a truck that was off of Wielshure and Rampart and
she would I don't even know where the name of
the truck is, but she would park right there on
(24:00):
a Wilshare and Rampart or mostly on rampart and every
night she'd be there. So it was like a thing
that I would do, Like if I feel like that goes,
I literally would go out of my wig up on
wheelshire and churn and park the car, eat thought goes
at the you know stand and then like go home.
But like that was the thing you could do because
it's like, you know what, I want to go to
a good type place, chit lata. Yeah, a lota is
(24:22):
a great type place where like it's home in the wall.
But now everyone knows about it because it got out.
But I remember when y'all like no one knew about it,
Like it was literally like three four tables inside. Now
they'd expanding stuff, but the secrets always get out and
I would TikTok and stuff. Like it's like and sometimes
you want to gig keep certain things and you're like no,
what did you don't? Yeah, And then you go the
(24:44):
next time and they're overwhelmed and it's like a line
and you're like, well, no, it's and then something happens
when like you need to mass produce things and like
the quality changes and it's like well now we got
lined and now it's like it's like yeah, but you
didn't take the time that you did before, and now
it's like you're like, uh, see how you liked it before.
Because when it gets too.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
Hyph it's so so confusing for me as as like, oh, man,
I want this local business to thrive, but at the
same time, like I don't want to blow up my
own spot.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Yes, you know, don't put it on TikTok, but I
get it.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
I get it, and the ones that I have told
people about, I'm okay with live because at some level
it's gone out a little bit. So I was like people, Oh,
go to you know, and I'm like, go to Jilada.
But it's still it's still advertising it. But it's also
now everyone knows, you know what I mean. So it's
like it's still good food. I mean, she does jazz,
that's her name. Her brother and her open that restaurant,
and she does the cuisines like it's Southern Thai cuisine
(25:36):
and so it's like really unique and specific and I
love it and I just think it's great and it's
it's still good. The quality has not gone bad to
a lot of it's really good. What I would just say,
there's so many places I like a good seafood boil too,
so I would oil. So I used to go all
(25:56):
the way to when the boiling crab was only in
certain areas here. One of them wasn't in Sana and
I moved to downtown by off a valley, Yes, in
al Hamburg and a Hambur and al Hamburg Yes. And
it had n't move to sting Gaboro because on main
Street that got one too, and something happened. They just
opened that location and closed this location and it wasn't
the same, like it was just like the shift happened.
(26:19):
And I went to that one. I was like, something's
a like something it's there, but it's also they started
popping everywhere. This one in Korea Town on a wheelshare
on wheel share in that plaza that's like honeycomb ice
cream swirrel so and that one's always busy, always busy.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
So they opened a takeout portion, and.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Did you know that you can even if you go
from the takeout, if you go to.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
The doorst you sit down and evening you're boiling crab.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
Because I was also thinking how did they stay open
because they got doll whip and they got like drinks
and that's it and that's it. And I was like,
what you guys said, this is rents expensive?
Speaker 3 (26:55):
You know.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
It was just like so very smart. They're like, we
got all these tables. You just buy a dolt and
keep us afloat and eat that float. It's genius and
so so like, I'm not waiting an hour and a
half in the line. I was like, come on. I
was like, I want food now, and so we started
doing that and actually, now we'll just go do that,
like to go get the ordered ahead of time for takeout,
just go pick it up and go sit down, have
(27:16):
a dol wave because the dope's good. Right. I also
didn't think that combination would go together, but it.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Pairs nice nice somehow, somehow it goes good.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
And yeah, the boiling crab that's another one. And there's
other ones that pop up, but not as good.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
They have like different names, juicy crab, yeah, the screaming shrimps, whatever,
what have you.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
I think they changed. I think they would call the
boiling shrimp and it was too close to the boiling
crab or something, and then the name changes like screaming shrimp.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Yes, yes, there's so many good places and might we
just add all of these recommendations would not exist if
not for the immigrant community. Thank you who created these
establishments and cook the delicious food and make La the
place that it is. And like we would have nothing,
We would have nothing here without our immigrant communities.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Have a little more respect and more thankful and everyone
take that that part note. Yeah, damn, I love LA.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
I also want to shout out your T shirt. But
I just realized it's I thought it was I thought
it was the Chargers, but it's the Bravo Real Housewives University.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
I'm obsessed. What's your favorite franchise?
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Let's talk.
Speaker 5 (28:30):
God.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
So Miami just came back, okay, and I haven't caught up,
but apparently there's already like drama and like I can't wait.
I'm gonna watch it today. Probably I was really big
on salt Lake. I love salt Lake. I've actually become
friends with Bronwyn from and Todd. Todd and I have
had dinner like three times already. Like Bronway has been
filming and going out in town, and he travels a
(28:50):
lot to New York and so like he's a collector
of mugs and so he collect Starbucks smugs, I don't
know that story in season one, I think or two,
but he collects my some Starbucks from around the world.
So I went and I was doing something in Iowa,
and I texted him like, have you been in Iowa?
He's like no, and I was like, do you want
a muggs? Like, yes, bring it, please bring it. So
I brought him a mug. And then sometime I go back.
I was filming in Utah. That's why we were hanging
(29:12):
out and like, I'm like, I'm flying back from Iowa
to Utah. Brought him a mug there, and then I
flew to do a gig in Florida and I went
to Epic Universe, the new theme park, and they have
a Starbucks in there, so it's even harder to get
that mug, and so I was like, do you want
this mug? Yes, please bring So literally I'm going around
places and bringing him mugs to add his already extensive
collection because he travels the world for business and literally
(29:33):
the Nicest guy, like the nicest guy and Bronwin is
amazing and I love that franchise and it's just like
they're getting like some of the stuff that's happened. I'm
excited for Let's say, I'm excited for this new season.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Yeah, is gen Shaw still in prison?
Speaker 1 (29:47):
Yeah, but she's gotten her like sentence reduced like every
day okay, Like it was like I don't know how many,
maybe three years supposed to be Now it's like sixteen months.
And it went down to like she'll be home by
Thanksgiven if they were Christmas, Oh wow, oh good fe
shop yeah, and now that the cameras will be rolling,
Like I just excited. I couldn't believe I was watching
that and it was happening in real time and I
was like why what? And I was like, oh my god,
(30:09):
Like this is no longer like just watching you know,
very wealthy women do crazy, outrageous things. It's just like, no,
this is like real stuff. And also I think about
when you put your life on camera like that, you're
opening up, you know, people to ask questions. So I
think everyone in history who has you know, Teresa and
Housewives and New Jersey because the cameras are rolling and
(30:30):
one show off this fabulous life and then people start asking,
how are you living this fabulous life? What do you
do for work? Jen? We never even got an answer,
like it was Jen would always have an assistance, like but
assistant to what you know? It's like we never had
the answer of like where do you work?
Speaker 2 (30:44):
You know there's always roller skating in the office.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Yes, yes, it was always roller skate in the office.
And it's like she is the original like meme, it's
like what do you do? I'm an accountant and it's
like where do you work? Where accountants work? What do
you do in that office? Things that accountants do?
Speaker 3 (31:00):
Yeah, the exorbitant wealth of each of the housewives, And
then it's funny then watching them question each other's wealth
or call out each well, you don't even own your
house is on a main street.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
Also like shaming people for reno. It's like they still
pay their bills. The difference is sometimes when stones are thrown,
it's usually that person ends up being like it's like
you should it won't age well, No, it won't age.
It never ages well. And you're like looking back at
some of the stuff, I mean even earlier, like reruns
of like the Kardashians or something, when I see that
and I see there was one clip where back then
(31:35):
Bruce was like I can't do it. You girls with
their with your heels and just all that stuff.
Speaker 5 (31:40):
And a.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Like watching that was like and then you can see
Kim's face because I think at that point they had
discovered something you know that was only in the family
known or whatnot. But she's literally looking at him like
trying to smile and then like move from this conversation.
But the idea that that didn't age well and then
now to look and also you know their stand and
where they stand with like trans community and the way they've.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
Supported Caitlyn is an outrageous Republican.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Yeah, it's just so crazy to think how someone in
your position, you know, could I actually use this platform
and would be so helpful to the trans community and
a weird twist of events has been so.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
Hurtful, so hurtful in an odd way, Like Caitlyn Jenner
is almost like a turfy trans person. Yeah, yeah, very
anti trans in her own politics.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
Which is such a mind Yes, you become what you
are attacking and you hate, you hate, you hate yourself.
Speaker 4 (32:43):
How do you feel about that? Like, is do you
feel that there's a responsibility for folks of like maybe
marginalized identities or backgrounds and then are in positions of
maybe power or are more resourced or celebrities to speak
on certain topics or issues that are affecting their own community.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
Yeah. I feel that being in the public eye already
gonna have some kind of you know, platform. It's how
you use it. And I feel that, you know, especially
with marginalized communities, I feel that it's important. I know
that I always get asked about like being queer, and
I always get and I'll be like, yes, let's talk
about it, because it's a conversation, it's an ongoing dialogue.
I think it's when you don't use your platform to
(33:28):
stand for something, then you kind of brush off and
fall for anything. You know. It's like, what's that was saying,
If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything, Right.
So the idea is that you don't have to like
feel that you have to have the rainbow flag is
you know, every day carrying down the street and have
your own prey. But you do have to a responsibility
to your community that you came from the people who
(33:48):
pave the way before you, and hopefully you are doing
stepping stones for the next person who comes behind you,
so it won't be as hard for them that it
might have been for you. And definitely it was before me,
and it's just like it and become so comfortable. It's
like we're good. People know people are gay. It's fine,
It's like right, yeah, but you know, we don't live
(34:09):
in like Nebraska, and we don't live in the Middle
America where it's a twelve year old boys, you know,
doubting if he lets someone in, and if he does
let someone in, it goes terribly wrong and they aren
alive themselves because they had nowhere to reach. And we
take those like suicide prevention hotlines away. If you take
(34:29):
those away, you're literally killing children. You're taking the opportunity
for someone to just pick up a phone and be like, hey,
I'm having a hard time. I live in a small
town and this is like I'm the only queer person
that I know. I'm afraid to come out those kind
of you know, stories that people don't hear about because well,
everyone's okay with gay pride. You know, it's like it's
(34:51):
pride and it's like right, but it's an ongoing conversation.
I feel that it's a queer artist. It's a conversation
that I keep having and then if something might feel repetitive,
but I don't think it is because that was someone's
first time listening to you talk about it. So it
might feel repetitive to the people in the industry. It
might feel repetitive to someone's like, oh, there you go
again talking about queerness, talking about get you know, it's like, yeah,
(35:14):
I'm not going to stop talking about it. And it's
like because it might be the one time that someone
listened to me on this show for the first time
and it helped them. Yeah, it might be that one person.
So if you helped one person, then yeah, it's worth
talking about.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
And this Pride Month twenty twenty five, after the six
months we've had, after everything that's been going on, the
way that the community is under attack, and also the
way that I think Pride has been criticized for becoming
so corporate over the years, what are your hopes for
Pride this month and what it might look like.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Well, I think that now more than ever, especially with
the last six months, Pride is you know, we saw
a lot of companies pull out of sponsorship and New
York Pride a lot of So it also asks the question,
were you an ally or were you you know, benefiting
from this because it's also a tax. Right off, you
donated the money and you support Pride, but then it's
(36:10):
no longer safe to support Pride, and you feel that
you oh wait, wait, wait, we're not gonna We're not
gonna sponsor this year. We totally love Pride, we just
got to keep it a little bit under wraps. We
love you know. And it's like the whispering of like
can you a little bit louder? Are you no longer?
Are you standing by me? Are you standing? Where are
you going? And it's like are you hiding behind me?
(36:33):
Are you standing by me? Are you hiding behind me?
And I think for so long we think that these
were like allies and we're like holding hands and like, yes,
it's become corporated, putting rainbows on a shirt that you know,
at a target and whatnot. Are you making money off
of this group, this marginalized group. But when we show
up to the when we show up to the stream,
we're like, you're standing by Where do they go? Where
(36:54):
do they go? Oh my god, you're behind me. It's like, yes,
you go, Coca Cock, you go, you go, you go, Pride,
Pride and you're still behind me though, And as soon
as it's the coast is clear? Is it clear? Support?
Speaker 4 (37:05):
You know?
Speaker 1 (37:05):
Is it okay? Because I don't want to dot my company?
I don't want to good you know, now when it's
popular again, they're going to come to the side again.
You can't be using as a shield. Either you're standing
beside me or don't stand behind me. This is just
simple and even.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
And within the queer community, yes, right, because there's so
much intersectionality and there's so many layers and how do
we how do we come together and make sure that
the entire queer community is supporting our immigrant queer community
and showing up for the attacks on our immigrant queer community.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
I think Pride being this month and what's happening is
the perfect like moment to merge that. Yeah, I think
that would be a great idea to like kind of
and I've seen it happen with small queer groups that
have organized like this is we were showing up and
this is the queer group that's showing up because and
I've seen that with other ethnicities that showed up and
(38:00):
it's like, you know, African American community showing up for
like there is pockets happening. But I do think it's
it is important to have the queer community show up,
especially if this is the month that you're doing it,
you're showing up. I think this is what a great
place to do a parade, ye to take it to
the streets and show and show that you're representing this community.
(38:21):
Where your feather boa, where are your rainbows? Where to
show that you're there in support and solidary. So I
think that this is a perfect month to do that.
Also with like different you know, groups like Altadena the
fires that just happened, they were going to cancel Pride
because it's a small community and they it's more of
a walk through with the community and it's a you know,
a couple hundred people. It's not like West Hollywood where
(38:43):
it's become you know, marketed with like big floats and
whatnot and sponsored by and.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
There's a lot of money.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
There's a lot of money in the West Hollywood. And
then you know, I've noticed that this there's a division
also happened because there's Downtown La Pride, there's West Hollywood Pride,
and even altad You it's not as big is like,
but it is Pride and it's still there. And I
would encourage people to especially what's happening. We're taking that
in Altadena like into our own hands. And this weekend,
(39:13):
on the next weekend, we're having Altadena Pride, and we're
having presentation, we're having uh bringing the community and what
makes the town so great, Like we're having a actually
like pay we have someone teachings outside. Like it's like
we're bringing that. We're like, this is a mixed community
and we're queer, and we're children of immigrants, immigrants ourselves too,
and we're queer as well, so it's another layer to that.
(39:35):
But I think this is the month that you're right
that it should be kind of a merger. Such a
great thing would be for everyone because we're sure to
like either you go into West Hollywood or you're going
to Downtown Pride. If you don't. If you go Downtown Pride,
I don't. They don't talk to each other, you know.
It's kind of the division within the own queer community.
And we do that already. It's like when you go
to West Hollywood, everyone every gay man looks the same,
(39:57):
you know, and it's been even told it this is
how a gay man looks, and there and a Donnis
that they're blonde and they're blue eyed and six pack,
and that's fine if you like that, that's fine, And
it's like that's beautiful itself. But there's so much division
within the community. It's like, are you a chub, no fats,
no fams, no Asian? Like that idea that you're we're
like pride united together?
Speaker 3 (40:15):
Ill?
Speaker 1 (40:15):
Not if you're fat pride You're not ill, not even femine.
You gotta be masking them, okay, but chup pride united?
Speaker 3 (40:21):
No?
Speaker 1 (40:22):
Not if you're Asian. It's like, what are we doing?
Like there's a division within our own community already, and
then how do we how are we unite it when
we're separating each other all the time. And so I
think it starts with like get together and this group
put everything aside from the West Hollywood Pride in the
Downtown Pride and how about we just have pride together
(40:42):
and go and march all of us? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (40:45):
And how many like younger queers do you feel like
maybe don't even know pride history or their own queer history,
because if you think about the queer history of this country,
like it was radical, it was not a parade. Yeah,
and beyond the stonewall riots right, or the Uprising. It's
like lesbian's taking care of gay men with aids. You know,
(41:09):
it's the Act up movement. It's not just this corporate parade.
Speaker 5 (41:13):
You know.
Speaker 4 (41:13):
It's not just it's great that we feel we can
be free in some ways, but that's actually not our
history in this country.
Speaker 5 (41:21):
And so do you feel like maybe that's getting lost?
Speaker 1 (41:24):
I think so people forget that. You know, one of
the first riots was actually here at the Black Cat
tell us so literally, but that didn't get as publicized
as the one in Stonewall. So we actually had like
queer people writing here in Los Angeles, but it kind
of got brushed under the rug. But if you go
(41:45):
to the Black Cat, they still have pictures of that
like riot, and they're right outside like marching. And it's
so funny because unless you go and research it and
you're like, oh my god, that's true, no one's really
talking about it, and especially the younger generation, like I
feel like the old thing, know, it's like Stonewall, and
even then it's like what happened in Stone. It's like,
I think what's so funny about Stone was that the
reason I got so much media was that it was
(42:06):
literally the week that Judy Garland died and the case
had had it like it was just like and then
she died that week, and then the next thing, you know,
they're trying to raid this bar and they're like absolutely,
not today, not today. And it was like literally like
it just got so much media attention, and that's why
people were like, oh my god, what's happening in New York.
But we also had riots in la that didn't get
(42:27):
as much attention. And that's what we're talking about earlier.
How sometimes things are omitted from history. Yeah, and then
we find out later like, wait, that happened. When did
that happen? How come it's not it's like, oh well
they just left it out because they were talking about
that riot. It's like, but this is important too, showing
that Angelino's back then, immigrants queer Angelino's showed up to
riot back then. You know. It's just like that was
(42:48):
omitted from the books.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:51):
And as a response to oppression, to violence, I think
so often and now it's uh, the demonstrations and the
responses to oppression are talked about, la is rioting, la
is on fire, Eli's rioting, you know, and it's so
much more than like a spontaneous.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
Social action.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
It's a response to people have enough. You know, people
have had enough. People are tired of being up persecuted
and targeted and imprisoned and denied rights. And after a while,
the community it comes to a boil and then we
have a rioting in the streets or demonstrating, rallying in
(43:34):
the streets, whatever.
Speaker 2 (43:35):
You call it.
Speaker 3 (43:36):
And I think that's really important too, is the history
has to include the pressure cooker and the things that
were happening that led the community to riot.
Speaker 2 (43:46):
Because we're peaceful people.
Speaker 3 (43:48):
We don't actually want to riot, right, love rioting, but
you push people to a point where we have no
choice but to come together and to act.
Speaker 1 (43:57):
And oh they're going to document. Is the explain not
the well you did the formula. These are the ingredients
that led to this.
Speaker 4 (44:05):
Maybe if they hadn't rated a working class community in
the garment district, this wouldn't have happened.
Speaker 5 (44:12):
Let's not forget that.
Speaker 1 (44:13):
Well why did you omit that part? You know, all
you saw was the explosion. Look at them, see see
how they are, and it's like no, stop, look at
the stepping stones that led to this. This was the
boiling point. But it took a lot of ingredients to
get there, and you had your hand in the ingredients.
Speaker 2 (44:31):
You did this stirring the pot.
Speaker 1 (44:33):
You're stirring the pot. And then when you see the
reaction of your formula and your recipe, this is what
you got. But all you're gonna see is WHOA, this
soup exploded in my face. You're the one putting that
pepper in that. You know, you're the one stirring the.
Speaker 5 (44:49):
Pot, raising the flame.
Speaker 1 (44:50):
You are raising the flame. You're doing this, So don't
put onto me what you're doing. You know you did this,
But we're not going to sit back and just stay
quiet and be like, well, I hope this soup works out.
You know, it's just like, no, no, you did this,
so this is the outcome of that. But let's get
it straight and get that story. So then in history
books they don't omit that part because I'm pretty sure
(45:11):
we didn't know what part is going to be aimed
at being talked about.
Speaker 3 (45:15):
Yeah, they say, what history is written by the victors,
And I think this is a big part of why
we have so much missing history. The powers it be
they write the textbooks, but they can also come in
and ban books, and we lose so much knowledge generationally.
And then I think it's up to like the arts
(45:37):
often and creatives to supplement and remind and dig up
the old history and put it into movies and put
it into TV shows and write new books and write
plays and remind us of what happened.
Speaker 1 (45:50):
It's like that there's a lion wicket that goes, is
one a crusader or vicious invader? It's all in which
label is able to persist. It's just like, that's so true.
It's like where the wizard says is sah, where I
come from? We tell all sorts of lies. We call
it history.
Speaker 3 (46:09):
Hmm.
Speaker 1 (46:10):
It's just like the idea that like that's so true,
Like it's written by yeah, it's how who controls that narrative? Yeah? Yeah,
Well I think we're here too. And this serves as
a piece of evidence so people can look back at
this recording today and be like, what was happening that.
Let's look up some archives and then this is the evidence.
(46:31):
So if you need evidence, it's right here. We just
talked about it. It's recorded.
Speaker 3 (46:35):
Boom bang up. That's it, And thank you so much
for sharing everything. You've shared with us today. You know,
we came in with with notes and ready to talk
about your acting career and the roles that you've played,
but you brought in so much rich conversation and I
can tell you've been really thinking very deeply about the
world and the state that we're in and the crisis
(46:57):
and how to respond. So we really appreciate you for
bringing all of that to the show today.
Speaker 1 (47:01):
Thank you for having me. This has been great and
like healing to kind of it's hard to talk about
it and not you know, get emotional, but it's also
good to talk about because you should voice it and
we should talk about our feelings. So thanks for letting
me vent.
Speaker 4 (47:20):
Look At Radio is executive produced by Viosa Fem and
Mala Munios.
Speaker 2 (47:24):
Stephanie Franco is our producer.
Speaker 5 (47:27):
Story editing by Me viosa.
Speaker 2 (47:29):
Creative direction by Me Mala.
Speaker 4 (47:31):
Look At Radio is a part of iHeartRadio's Michael Dura
podcast Network.
Speaker 3 (47:35):
You can listen to lok at Radio on the iHeartRadio
app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 4 (47:40):
Leave us a review and share with your prima or
share with your homegirl.
Speaker 3 (47:43):
And thank you to our local motives. To our listeners
for tuning in each and every week.
Speaker 4 (47:48):
Desitos loca Lamia
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