Natured & Nurtured: Leo Herrera's Top 10
Juan Gabriel, Bear Teachers, Radical Fairies, Lana's Pepsi Cola Pussy, and more.
This is a guest post. The introduction is from me, Tom Jackson (of GAYLETTER), and the rest is by Leo Herrera.
Leo Herrera is a Mexican writer, activist and filmmaker. He writes the wonderful, the engaging, and the deeply personal Substack Herrera Words.
If you are not already subscribed, I would emphatically recommend you check it out.
Leo’s writing on all things homosexual is top tier. He recently went on a father-son trip to Mexico and shared it on his insta in real-time (I’m sure it will end up in a newsletter in a matter of time). He documented his dad reading (and being deeply touched) by his book, as well as getting arrested by local police for being a “fag in public.”
We are thrilled to be able to share a very special edition of Natured & Nurtured featuring not only Leo’s Top 5 influences, but his Top 10.
In full transparency, Leo was one of the first people I reached out to when this series was in its infancy, and slightly different in format. Ultimately, 10 influences felt like too many to ask someone to come up with, which is why we settled on around 5.
However in true Leo style he came through with 10 stellar influences, and I wouldn’t want to waste any of them.
So please enjoy the making of Leo Herrera below:
🎤 Juan Gabriel
Our Mexican Elton John, Elvis, George Michael, Liberace, all rolled into one. His music is one of my first memories. Like so many Mexican moms, mine had him on repeat all day. A rare link to both my birth country and Queer identity. His concert at El Palacio De Bellas Artes is one of the seminal moments in global Queer history.
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❤️ My Gay Brother Allán
I know other Gays with Gay siblings who are boring. Not mine. He’s the funniest bitch, mean with a read or a sewing machine. Fag with a capital F. Our birthdays are 2 days apart, so we’re both Leos too. Growing up with someone who encouraged the Gayest parts of me was a blessing I never take for granted.
🤤 Madonna’s Erotica Era 1989-1992
While everyone else ignored AIDS and The Gays in the brutal early 90s, the world’s most famous woman posing with Gay porn stars and talking about safe sex probably saved my life down the line. The ‘Deeper and Deeper’ video is why I moved to NYC.
🕶️ George Michael’s “Outside” in 1998
After getting arrested for cruising, Daddy didn’t go on an apology tour, instead he released a music video dressed as a cop with a urinals that turn into a disco. King. I credit this with my love of park cruising.
🐻 That Bear Teacher in Junior High
He’d wear super tight pants that outlined his briefs and huge ass. One day, my bully called me out front of the whole class. “We all know he’s a faggot.” My hot teacher didn’t stand up for me at all. Like so many Gay men, that started a REAL complicated relationship between sex, bubble butts and verbal abuse.
💿 My CD stopping during my first Drag number
I moved to SF in my early 20s and performed on the infamous Trannyshack stage with the late Heklina. My first number was The Man That Got Away by Judy and it was going great. Then the burned CD just stopped (older Queens will understand). I was humiliated but I restarted the number and killed it. It was my trial by fire and I never feared an audience again.
🧚🏾 Radical Faeries
I went to my first Radical Faerie Gathering when I was 25. 500 Gay hippies ages 18-70, frolicking and fucking in a commune, deep in the south. There’s a network of communes, houses and events all over the world and they showed me what Queer community can really do.
🥤Lana Del Rey signing about fucking Daddies and her pussy tasting like Pepsi Cola in 2012
While the other gays were losing their shit about Born This Way, Lana felt like a dirty little secret, sorta like that sex dungeon deep in Park Slope, Brooklyn. I’d argue that in the long run, Lana will have molded more Gays of the PrEP generation than all new pop divas. Fight me on that.
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