Glitter in the resistance: Latinx drag queens light up the dark

Glitter in the resistance: Latinx drag queens light up the dark

By Yesica Balderrama | Edited by Patricia GuadalupeA rainbow flag is perched high above the entrance of the club 3 Dollar Bill in Brooklyn, N.Y. Two doors across the bar lead into a larger room, where a stage is located at the back and center. The sound of people talking is barely audible over the DJ’s remixes of Bad Bunny and Karol G.

Drag, Salsa and Resistance — The Story of Escuelita, a Haven for LGBTQ+ Communities of Color

Escuelita, also known as La Escuelita or Esco’s for short, was a pivotal LGBTQ+ nightclub in Manhattan that primarily catered to the Latino and Black communities, prominently showcasing drag and trans performers of color for over 50 years. Seen as a major New York institution, the club had several locations since first opening in the late 1960s, each on Manhattan’s West Side. Its longest-running address was 301 W39th Street between 8th and 9th A…