During the mid-1980s, esteemed queer Latina photographer Laura Aguilar initiated a captivating and culturally significant project titled the Latina Lesbian Series. Within this endeavor, Aguilar purposefully engaged a select group of acquaintances and friends, inviting them to participate as subjects in her photographic exploration and offer poignant self-descriptions to accompany the compelling visual narratives. Two of these participants were Lydia Otero and Carla Barboza.

Joined by photographer and professor Christopher Anthony Velasco, panelists Otero and Barboza will discuss how the groundbreaking Latina Lesbian Series challenged prevalent racial, ethnic, and gender boundaries of the era, providing a distinctive perspective on the complexities of representation and identity within queer Latina art and cultural expression. They will also delve into their personal reflections of the experience, shedding light on their collaborative experiences with the artist.

Participant Bios

Carla Barboza (she/her) is a mediator/arbitrator/investigator at Barboza & Associates in Downtown Los Angeles. In the 1980s, she was active in Lesbianas Unidas and Connexxus/Centro de Mujeres Women’s Center.

Lydia R. Otero (they/them) is a historian and writer. During the 1980s, Otero was active in Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos and Lesbianas Unidas. They recently released their second memoir, L.A. Interchanges: A Brown & Queer Archival Memoir.

Christopher Anthony Velasco (he/him) is a photographer, performance artist, and professorwho lives and works in Los Angeles. He is also the co-trustee of the Laura Aguilar Trust.

This program is organized by Lydia Otero as part of the 2023 Circa: Queer Histories Festival, presented by One Institute. The conversation is co-presented by the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

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