In recent years, Puerto Rico’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community has gained a global spotlight, with Bad Bunny at the forefront, pushing boundaries and challenging norms. However, he is far from the first queer icon to hail from the island. Puerto Rico has a rich history of LGBTQ+ trailblazers in various fields, who have made substantial contributions to their respective industries and paved the way for greater LGBTQ+ representation and acceptance.
Ricky Martin: Music and Activism
One of the most well-known Puerto Rican queer icons is Ricky Martin. Born in San Juan in 1971, Martin rose to fame as a member of the boy band Menudo during the 1980s. As he embarked on a solo career in the 1990s, rumors about his sexuality swirled. In 2010, he proudly came out as a gay man. Since then, Martin has become an active advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and received numerous accolades for his work in promoting equality.
Rosalina Ramos: The Godmother of Puerto Rico’s LGBTQ+ Community
Rosalina “Talín” Ramos, known as the godmother of Puerto Rico’s LGBTQ+ community, was a prominent activist during the queer revolution of the 1980s and ’90s. She founded Orgullo Boquerón (Boquerón Pride), which became the largest LGBTQ+ celebration in Puerto Rico. Ramos’s legacy lives on through her impactful work and a dedicated monument in Boquerón.
Walter Mercado: An Astrological Icon
Walter Mercado, a beloved astrologer, also stands as a Puerto Rican queer icon. His flamboyant TV astrology reports in the 1970s and 1980s made him an iconic figure. Mercado’s presence inspired Puerto Rico’s emerging LGBTQ+ community, even as he refused to define his sexuality in conventional terms. Though he passed away in 2019, his impact on the LGBTQ+ community endures.
Maite Oronoz Rodríguez and Gina Mendéz-Miró: Pioneers in the Judiciary
In the realm of the judiciary, Maite Oronoz Rodríguez and Gina Mendéz-Miró have made history. Oronoz Rodríguez became Puerto Rico’s first openly LGBTQ+ Supreme Court justice in 2016, subsequently rising to become the chief justice. Her wife, Mendéz-Miró, achieved her own milestone by becoming Puerto Rico’s first openly LGBTQ+ U.S. federal district court judge.
Orlando Cruz: A Champion in the Ring and for Rights
Professional boxer Orlando Cruz is another Puerto Rican queer icon. He represented Puerto Rico at the 2000 Olympic Games and courageously came out as gay in 2012, becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ professional boxer. Cruz’s achievements in the boxing world and his advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights continue to inspire many.
Christina Hayworth: A Transgender Activist
Christina Hayworth, a transgender activist, played a pivotal role in Puerto Rico’s LGBTQ+ movement. Born in 1944, Hayworth was among the first openly transgender individuals on the island. She was a veteran of the Vietnam War and participated in the Stonewall uprising. Hayworth founded Herencia de Orgullo (Heritage of Pride) and led Puerto Rico’s first Pride parade in 1991. Her portrait, alongside her friend Sylvia Rivera, now hangs in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery.
Pedro Julio Serrano: Advocacy and Politics
Pedro Julio Serrano has been a prominent LGBTQ+ activist and organizer in Puerto Rico. In 1998, he announced his candidacy for Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives, becoming the island’s first openly LGBTQ+ and HIV+ person to run for elective office. Serrano also founded Puerto Rico Para Todes (Puerto Rico for Everyone), a nonprofit dedicated to fighting for equal rights and inclusion of LGBTQ+ communities.
These Puerto Rican queer icons have made indelible marks in their respective fields and continue to inspire future generations. Their influence not only enriches the LGBTQ+ community in Puerto Rico but also serves as a testament to the island’s rich history of LGBTQ+ individuals who have contributed to acceptance and representation on a global scale.
Sources:
- Allen, D. (2023, October 31). Before Bad Bunny: Eight trailblazing queer icons from Puerto Rico. NBC News.
- Adigun, O., & Adigun, O. (2023, October 30). Trailblazing Queer Icons from Puerto Rico: Champions of LGBTQ+ Representation. BNN Breaking.
- Image Credit: Harry How