Local drag queen Torta Jugosa hosted an evening of Lotería on Oct. 8 at Long Beach City College’s Liberal Arts Campus to celebrate Latino Heritage Month and LGBTQ+ pride.
The event was part of the LBCC Pride Workshop Series and included prizes, food and a live performance from Torta Jugosa.
Visitors were greeted by a table set with Lotería cards with numbers and unique images. To win, players had to fill up their cards with various patterns.
Each attendee selected a card and waited as Torta Jugosa announced the corresponding images and numbers. Players who lied or incorrectly filled out their cards were required to dance for the audience.
For many attendees, Lotería represented a shared memory of playing with family and spending time together.
“It means a lot because it takes me back to childhood, and I just, you know, I can picture right now the family surrounding me, and it’s just always a good time,” Basic Needs Specialist Wendy Garduno said.
Student Affairs Program Coordinator Chris Garcia described the event as an inclusive space for all generations of the Latino community.
“The event tends to bring a lot of different generations together. I feel like it’s very intergenerational. I was walking with one of our students and she brought her mother who’s visiting from Guatemala. It’s a really cool way to bring people from different generations and bring Latinos together,” Garcia said.
Attendees share laughs and participate in a game of loteria during Jotería Bingo Night on Oct. 8, at LBCC. The event celebrated the LGBTQ+ community bringing people together through laughter, games and socializing. (Sammy Mayorga)
Attendees said that collaborations between the Latino and LGBTQ+ communities can create a more inclusive space for people who may not feel accepted elsewhere.
“I think it’s important because it shows more diversity between both communities, especially for the people who grow up with parents who didn’t accept that type of thing,” graphic design major Sophia Santu said.
LBCC said having an interactive figure like Torta Jugosa at the event helped create a welcoming environment for attendees seeking connecting and support.
“I think you know me as a shy person, I know that like sometimes it is just a matter of having someone pull you in and like take you out of that little shell, bring you into the community,” Garduno said.
The event brought together students and attendees from different backgrounds, giving them an opportunity to learn about communities they may not usually be involved in.
Student Noah Morales attended the event for extra credit but said he was glad he had the opportunity to experience it.
“Just having this space open to people who maybe aren’t involved in these spaces still fosters a sense of community and acceptance among others, which I think ultimately is a good thing,” Morales said.
Host and Director of Systems Jose Ibarra welcomed attendees and emphasized the importance of creating a comfortable, inclusive space.
“My favorite part is seeing students, families, faculty and staff come together to play a game many of us grew up with, using frijoles. It brings us together like family, and seeing a full room is always a great thing,” Ibarra said.
For attendees, the event offered an opportunity to connect through a shared cultural tradition while bringing together members of the Latino and LGBTQ+ communities.
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