A Celebration of Hispanic/LGBT History

     Dr. Ellen Walsh's Latin American history class hosted a program in the honor of both Hispanic Heritage Month and LGBT History Month on October 24. The program, titled "Gender-Bending in Latin America: From the Lieutenant Nun to Mexican Wrestlers" featured presentations by several of her students.

     Two students, Aide Ferrin and Carmen Esparza, presented on Catalina Erauso, also known as the "Lieutenant Nun." Erauso first joined a convent, which she later left. She went on to disguise herself as a man in order to join the military in the 17th century in what today is known as the country of Chile. She successfully fought in battle without anyone discovering her gender. In her journey, she was involved romantically with women. Erauso asked the Pope permission to be allowed to live her lifestyle. Nonetheless she had to undergo a physical examination to prove her virginity.

     In another presentation, student Flor Escobed, presented on the "Muxe," a "third-gender" group from Zapotec, Mexico. Muxes are males who act and dress like women. They identify themselves as being both male and female. Each year the la Vela de las Auténticas, Intrépidas Buscadoras del Peligro (the Festival of the Authentic, Intrepid Seekers of Danger) festival is held to celebrate Muxes. The Catholic Church participates in this festivity thus showing how indigenous beliefs as well as Catholic ones are intertwined. Although their culture is accepting of the Muxes , they are not allowed to marry or to be sexually active and such activity will result in them being excommunicated from the community.  Nevertheless, some become escorts or intimately engage with others.

     The final presentation of the night was given by a group of students, Karen Duckett, Samantha Lassiter, and Ron Zelasko. These students presented on "Hermaphroditism/ Intersex." They discussed issues such as identity and psychological problems that intersex people endured. The students proposed that parents should wait and allow their child to choose their own gender to avoid such complications.