“Nacho was an inspiration to many, and his spirit will live on in our hearts and memories forever.”
BY VICTOR MELAMED
Nacho Nava, founder of the weekly queer party Mustache Mondays—which ran for more a decade in downtown Los Angeles—died last month, reports Remezcla.
According to media reports he lost his battle to pneumonia.
In the wake of Nava’s death, many of the musicians, performers, promoters, and chosen family members who found themselves in his orbit are struggling to understand and extend his legacy.
His inner circle’s first step—a scholarship and memorial fund—is tangible and could use support. The money raised on their GoFundMe page—www.gofundme.com/weloveyounacho—will go towards causes related to “homelessness, the LGBTQI community, and the progressive arts.”
Fashion designer Ashton Michael told THE FIGHT that Nava’s “smile, contagious laugh, massive heart, beautiful soul and the safe place he provided for all the queer freaks to dance, rejoice and bond will be forever missed but never forgotten.”
Performance artist Raja said: “My sister Nacho Nava will forever have her uñas did in chola heaven. RIP sweet babe….my heavenly Jaina.”
The DTLA Proud Organization released the following statement: “Our community has lost a great friend and DTLA queer nightlife pioneer, Nacho Nava. His legendary weekly parties, Mustache Mondays, expanded the city’s queer nightlife vernacular and brought LA’s scene downtown in the late 2000s. Our DTLA queer community has grown & thrived thanks to the path that he laid before us. Nacho was an inspiration to many, and his spirit will live on in our hearts and memories forever.”
