An interview with DTLA Proud founder and Redline bar owner Oliver Alpuche
BY MARK ARIEL | PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM
As someone who grew up here in Los Angeles—how would you describe your childhood? How was the coming out process for you?
I truly never came out … It’s funny because everyone around me knew before I did. I am very fortunate to have an older gay brother who came out before me—but it was difficult to see him go through the isolation from my family because of it. My other brothers and father were supportive but my mom needed time. It was hard for her to understand… as an immigrate mother she wanted a better life for her kids. She knew life was not going to be easy living a openly gay lifestyle.
Watching my brother go through that made me isolate myself and my coming out experience. I did not hide who I was but I also did not share my true self with my family. I kept my personal life separate from my family. Everyone was my “friend” until one day my dad found my journal and asked me “Is Daniel more than your friend ?” I cried, he said it’s okay—just don’t tell your mom, she’s still needs time ( processing my older brother coming out a few months before).
My dad is truly my hero, he taught me to be patient and to be okay being my authentic self… My mom came around quickly and my parents became my biggest supporters.
I remember you telling me once that your dad helped you open Redline.
Yes! When I came up with the crazy idea of opening up a community gay bar downtown, my dad came out of retirement, and called all his old friends (from the construction business). He moved in with me for nine months into a tiny one bedroom and made my dream a reality with no questions asked. We didn’t have any money to build the bar so my whole family came out to help, from painting the ceilings to hanging the doors. Redline was built by family love.
“We are focused on representation of underrepresented segments of our community. We want our festival to be inclusive and authentic to the communities that don’t feel like pride events are for them.”
What motivated you to go into this field?
I wanted to open Redline because I have always loved downtown. As a kid I would come with my mom in the 80s and we would be fascinated with the architecture and city life. I moved downtown in my late twenties and loved it but their were no queer spaces to meet people in the neighborhood. I was working for Nike at the time and doing a lot of work building an authentic running community. This is what inspired me to create Redline and hopefully build a safe space where the queer community can connect downtown.
How did the idea for DTLA Proud come about?
Well as you know, two other gay bars opened up the same year as Redline. It was amazing! We all became friends and we were so excited for this new gayborhood that was forming—so we wanted to celebrate and that’s what birthed DTLA Proud.
DTLA Proud became bigger than just a block party to celebrate our growth. It became community… so many people volunteered their time , resources and commitment. It opened up my eyes to the lack of opportunity and representation there was in the queer community.
This truly came about because we just wanted to celebrate the queer community downtown. I grow up in LA and was taught that WeHo was the only queer city that you can be yourself but that’s not true. Queer people live and thrive everywhere, within every community.
What can we expect in this year’s DTLA Proud?
This year we really want to make a statement. We are hosting DTLA Proud on the footsteps of city hall to celebrate and shout WE’RE HERE, WE’RE QUEER, and we are not going anywhere.
The festival will expand through four city blocks with the main stage area and marketplace free and open to the public. We will have a ticketed 21+ area as well.
We are focused on representation of underrepresented segments of our community. We want our festival to be inclusive and authentic to the communities that don’t feel like pride events are for them.
Is there anything I haven’t asked you that you would like to share with our readers?
You are loved.
DTLA Proud takes place August 5-7, 2022. For more info visit: www.dtlaproud.org.
