Drag queen Torta Jugosa hosted an evening of Loteria, where students were provided food and a show at LBCC’s P-Building courtyard on September 26.
Players listen to Torta Jugosa call out cards to fill their sheets using beans at the Joteria Mexican Bingo event held at LBCC’s P-Building courtyard on Sept. 25 in Long Beach, California. (Emma Rojas)
The event, called Joteria Mexican Bingo, was part of LBCC’s Latino/a/x Heritage Month celebration and Pride Series, providing students with an active ID quesadillas or hardshell potato tacos served with rice and beans, Mexican candy, jamaica and horchata.
Similar to bingo, Loteria is a game of chance, using a deck of 54 cards with colorful images instead of numbered balls, where a player has to fill up a sheet of various patterns for prizes.
A Loteria winner raises her prize at the Joteria Mexican Bingo event held at LBCC P-Building courtyard on Sept. 25 in Long Beach, California. (Emma Rojas)
Special guest and host Torta Jugosa would call out the pictures drawn, and forced players who incorrectly or deceitfully filled out their card to dance for the audience.
During intermissions and throughout games, Torta Jugosa would also dance, sing and perform stand-up comedy.
The event’s fusion between the Latina/o/x community and individuals who identify with the LGBTQA+ was felt throughout the entire event.
“Instead of just holding Pride in June, we want to celebrate all school year long, ” said Phoenix Scholars Director Jose Ibarra, “We get to celebrate all our intersectional identities.”
“When the world is in the state that it is right now, you can only rely on your local community to save you,” said Cyrus Fernandez, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA), Human Resources Analyst.
DEIA Analyst and player Cyrus Fernandez cheers while wearing a drag queen Loteria shirt at the Joteria Mexican Bingo event held at LBCC’s P-Building courtyard on Sept. 25 in Long Beach, California. (Emma Rojas)
Fernandez, alongside other staff members like Department Head of History Vanessa Crispin-Peralta showed up to “rep hard for Long Beach” for a night of free expression and community.
The event welcomed all students, staff and community members regardless of whether or not they identified with either group.
Drag queen Torta Jugosa takes a group selfie with participants of the LBCC Pride Series and Latina/o/x Heritage Month Joteria Mexican Bingo event on September 25 at the LAC P-Building courtyard. This event was hosted by LBCC Pride to celebrate and bring awareness to the needs of LGBTQIA+ while also celebrating Latina/o/x traditions. (Jessica Rodriguez)
Towards the end of the night, Torta Jugosa paid tribute to the late Mexican-American artist Selena, and the attendees danced and sang along.
Drag queen and emcee for the Joteria Mexican Bingo event, Torta Jugosa, holds up the Loteria card el gallo on September 25 in the P-Building courtyard at LAC. This event was part of a two-month-long Latino/a/x Heritage celebration hosted by LBCC Pride to celebrate and bring awareness to the needs of LGBTQIA+. (Jessica Rodriguez)
“I think [LBCC’s Pride Series] brings a sense of joy and respect to the communities. It helps show so much diversity that people need to see, and know it’s okay to be who you are, for yourself. And I feel like this is a really good thing for our campus community to see and have,” said Angelica Lara Gutierrez, who volunteered for the event.
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