Louie Ortiz-Fonseca’s Project ‘Gran Varores’ Focuses on Pop Culture and HIV History

Louie Ortiz-Fonseca, a Philadelphia native, has dedicated his life to amplifying the stories of marginalized communities through his groundbreaking digital storytelling project, Gran Varones. With a focus on pop culture, HIV history, and queer history from a Black and Latinx perspective, Ortiz-Fonseca’s initiative has become a powerful platform for representation and empowerment.

Growing up in the 1980s amidst the AIDS and crack epidemic, Ortiz-Fonseca experienced the harsh realities of his community firsthand. As the oldest of seven brothers, and with a mother who had eight kids and was battling addiction, he shouldered immense responsibilities at a young age. However, within the margins of this community, Ortiz-Fonseca discovered his own queer identity and embraced it with hope.

In the latest episode of LATV’s exclusive series Living Y Ready, reflecting on his formative years, Ortiz-Fonseca shared his fascination with drag queens in his household, recalling how they captivated him with their discussions about music. This exposure to vibrant queer culture ignited a passion within him, eventually leading to the creation of Gran Varones.

Gran Varones, which translates to “Great Men” in English, has become a groundbreaking platform that amplifies the voices and experiences of Black and Latinx individuals within the LGBTQ+ community. By harnessing the power of digital media and storytelling, Ortiz-Fonseca has created a space for narratives that are often overlooked or underrepresented.

Through Gran Varones, Ortiz-Fonseca has been able to forge connections with the next generation of storytellers. Working within queer community spaces for several decades, he has discovered immense joy in mentoring and nurturing the talent and creativity of young individuals who are eager to share their stories.

“What inspired me to start Gran Varones was not seeing people who looked like me in the community I was trying to be a part of,” Ortiz-Fonseca revealed during an interview on LATV’s Living y Ready. “Our goal is to get other people to start projects so we’re all documenting our history [and] recording our stories.” – Louie Ortiz-Fonseca

The project’s impact has been far-reaching, providing a platform for the community to tell their own stories and shape their narratives.

As Gran Varones continues to grow and evolve, Ortiz-Fonseca envisions a future where more individuals from marginalized backgrounds take up the mantle of storytelling, ensuring that their histories and stories are preserved for generations to come.

Louie Ortiz-Fonseca’s tireless dedication to his community and his commitment to fostering representation and empowerment through digital storytelling make him a true inspiration, not only in the LGBTQ+ community, but in the Latino community as a whole.

Catch all-new episodes of Living Y Ready weekly during Pride Month, only on LATV!