El Alto | Queer: Gender Sexuality and the Arts in the Americas

El Alto 232 Eric Scutaro
233
VOGUING FOR
CHANGE
My work stems from a concern about the decline of
queer activism in Venezuela.
“I create performances using voguing,
punking and hip-hop, addressing queer issues
and the wider problems faced currently by my
country.”
My engagement with hip-hop and activism
began in 2005, when I was 15 years old.
Heteronormativity was the rule and machismo
was rampant within the culture and I witnessed
many instances of discrimination and
homophobia. That’s why I began to engage with
LGBTQI+ activism from within hip-hop: looking
to nurture spaces and values of equality within
this community. Two years later, in 2007, a very
close friend of mine introduced me to voguing
and punking on the internet. This motivated me
to research and learn more about them so that
I could promote them across Venezuela. Since
these movements were born out of LGBTQI+
communities, I was very enthusiastic about the
idea of bringing them here: back then, there
was not a single dance form in Venezuela that
represented our queer community.
I currently devote myself to voguing, punking
and hip-hop performances that address queer
themes and current economic, political and
educational issues relevant to Venezuela.
These performances happen in “improvised”
public spaces. With the aid of international
organisations, I also organise ballrooms, lectures
and talks about my work in order to create new
spaces for the local queer community. My work
welcomes everyone, whether a member of the
LGBTQI+ community or not.
Currently in Venezuela, it’s very hard to perform
in theatres because they’re either too expensive
or because their activities have been suspended.
Some of these spaces have also gone into
disrepair. As an independent artist, it’s even
harder to secure such venues, which is why
most of my performances happen in public,
improvised spaces. I’ve recently worked with
the British Council taking these performances to
more visible venues. All of my performances and
events are intended for the general public, but
they focus on the teenage LGBTQI+ community
who are the most in need of such activities and
opportunities.
“My work stems from a concern about the
decline of queer activism in Venezuela”.
Venezuela is currently facing one of the worst
economic, social and political crisis in its history.
The economic situation has forced many to
leave the country, including many members of
the LGBTQI+ community and activists. The life
of an LGBTQI+ person in Venezuela can be very
tough. It’s not just about surviving the crisis and
the lack of professional opportunities, but also
one must face injustices and the discrimination,
a consequence of the lack of inclusive and
educational policies targeting the general public.
There is a growing number of people opting for
prostitution as a means of survival; young people
who are vulnerable to mistreatment, illnesses
and even murder. There is a growing number
of hate murders, and growing refusal to admit
vulnerable people into care or to give them antiretroviral
medicine for the treatment of HIV.
Since everything revolves around the capital, life
is much harder and there are less opportunities
and more injustices outside of Caracas.
My work stems from a concern about the decline
of queer activism in Venezuela. Everything
seems to be coming to a halt, as young dancers
leave the country and others start working in
prostitution. I made the decision to address
these issues through dance and to continue
teaching to those who stayed. I want to create
spaces that provide artistic and cultural
opportunities to those remaining members of our
community, to help them persevere and grow.
From the beginning I saw how the ballroom scene
changed the lives of these young people,
giving them hope, strength and courage.
I also saw how people’s respect towards our
community increased. This was the best choice
I ever made in my life: to steer my dance practice
to the support of my community and to support
other people.
Outburst and the future: “I see myself as a
creator of opportunities.”
Participating in Outburst Festival in Belfast was
very inspiring to me. I met extraordinary, talented
people and was introduced to their stories,
which inspired me to keep on creating, and to
carry on doing my best by promoting the work
and stories of my community. Attending the
festival has been life-changing because I brought
home many new ideas, dreams and goals. The
experience has allowed me to appreciate how
other queer communities from around the world
nourish themselves from the arts and use them
as vehicles to make their voices heard. This is
precisely what I’m trying to do in Venezuela.
I hope to improve my own abilities as a performer
and to continue to teach in several places,
carrying with me this message of love and unity
to various countries. I hope my art continues
to allow me to get to know other stories,
cultures and places; to gain new followers;
and to cultivate more respect towards my
community. I also want to create more balls that
provide opportunities to young people, and to
establish the first queer urban dance company
of Venezuela (and hopefully tour it overseas). In
the future, I see myself not only as a performer,
but as a creator of opportunities and as a person
who shapes new generations.