Photo: Oliver Alpuche
The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza was buzzing this past Friday, October 3, as hundreds gathered for the third annual Queerceañera (Queerce), the Center’s signature celebration of queer Latine culture.
The 2025 theme, Mariposas Sin Fronteras (Butterflies Without Borders), served as a powerful tribute to the resilience and transformative journey of queer and trans people. Inspired by the monarch butterfly’s migration, the event became a statement—reaffirming that love, identity, and community know no borders while uplifting the Latine community’s ongoing fight for freedom.
This year’s Queerceañera carried a particularly deep meaning amidst heightened ICE raids across Los Angeles and the nation.
To ensure the space was one of safety and support, the Center’s Legal Services team was on site, providing free immigration resources for queer and trans immigrants and their families.
The celebration honored two influential community leaders:
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Lushious Massacr: Mexican-American drag artist and viral sensation.
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Oliver Alpuche: Nightlife tastemaker and community leader (Redline, KISO, and DTLA Proud).
Both honorees delivered emotional reflections on the importance of affirming spaces like Queerceañera:
Lushious Massacr offered a powerful message of defiance and self-determination:
“In a world that demands that queer people hide, we refuse. In a country that demands that immigrants run and hide in fear, we refuse. We will not be afraid, and we will not ask for permission to live our lives. … To that we say, we are home. And we don’t need your permission to follow our dreams.”
Oliver Alpuche focused on community action and survival:
“Queer spaces are where we gather. We plan, we protest, we celebrate, and we need to keep them alive. This year specifically… we need to remember to celebrate. We are here. And my commitment going forward is to create a rainbow district downtown where our culture meets our queerness, and where we thrive.”
Presented by Wella Company, the evening was filled with high-energy music from DJ Bella Spreads and vibrant art. Artist Yulissa Mendoza transformed the courtyard into a warm, backyard-style space, embodying the spirit of home and family central to Latine culture. Guests supported local Latine- and queer-owned businesses by enjoying their food and drinks.
Martin Dale, Head Education – North America at Wella Company, praised the event’s powerful mission: “Witnessing Queerceañera come to life was a powerful reminder of that mission. The joy, creativity, and resilience on display reflect exactly why we are proud to stand with the Los Angeles LGBT Center in celebrating queer Latine culture and community.”
Queerceañera was also supported by Official Sponsors Casamigos, Gilead Sciences, Waymo, Andy Ortiz & Peter Nielsen, and Carlos Medina & Denis Cagna.
