Guayaqueer
 | |
| Established | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Guayaquil |
| Location | |
| Fields | LGBT+ rights |
Guayaqueer is an artist collective established in 2017 as a platform for arts focused on LGBT illustrations and social media activism in Ecuador. In 2021, it opened an LGBT cultural center in Guayaquil, the first of its kind in the city. Among its best-known works was the Queer Coat of Arms, an illustration based on the Ecuador's coat of arms using the colors of the LGBT pride flag.
History
Guayaqueer was established by the artist Víctor García in 2017 in Guayaquil in Ecuador as an initiative to generate and disseminate LGBT-based illustrations. Garcia, who did his studies in art in Italy and did an internship at the Cassero LGBT Center in Bologna, initially started selling T-shirts with his illustrations. He was later joined by artist Ismael Chock later joined, and they focused on LGBT iconography and topics that are considered taboo.[1][2] Other artists such as Jordy de Los Milagros, Stephano Espinoza, Sara Donoso, and Andrea Alejandro joined the collective in the following years.[3][4]
Works
The collective revised illustrations of art based on popular people, organizations, and symbols, combined with LGBT symbols. Their productions included art based on figures such as Eloy Alfaro and Manuela Sáenz, companies such as National Lottery and Almacenes La Ganga. The version of Juan Pueblo (es) superimposed with LGBT elements became the logo of the collective. Among the most talked-about and best-known works was the Queer Coat of Arms, an illustration based on the Ecuador's coat of arms using the colors of the LGBT pride flag.[5]
While initially, the collective focused LGBT issue and sexual diversity, they later diversified into other issues such as feminism, student rights, rights of indigenous peoples and the decriminalization of abortion.[6] It participated in campaigns such as the one against the character of La Michy (es),[7] and the campaign for justice for the murder of Javier Viteri.[8]
Cultural center
On 19 June 2021, Guayaqueer opened a cultural center in Guayaquil, which was located on the Circunvalación sur 203 Avenue, between the Panama and Pedro Carbo streets. As per the organization, it was conceived as a space to "rescue the history of the LGBTIQ+ and feminist movement of Ecuador" and to promote the work of young artists and activists.[9][10] It was the first such space in the city, and became a venue for socializing events for the LGBT people, meetings and workshops on sexual diversity and for other cultural initiatives.[3]
However, in May 2022, Guayaqueer announced the closure of its cultural center and the cessation of its artistic activities on social networks. According to its members, the closure was due to economic factors, since the cultural center failed to become self-sustaining despite the store with which it had inside for the sale of its illustrations, so the initial funds that they had gathered for its creation were exhausted.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ "Guayaqueer City: rebeldes y sin tapujos" [Guayaqueer City: rebellious and uninhibited]. El Closet LGBT (in Spanish). 12 July 2017. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ "Guayaqueer activa identidades GLBT desde lo cotidiano" [Guayaqueer activates GLBT identities through everyday life]. El Telégrafo (in Spanish). 27 January 2018. Archived from the original on 30 November 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- 1 2 "Guayaqueer, el centro cultural LGBTIQ+ y feminista que se instala en zona rosa de Guayaquil" [Guayaqueer, the LGBTIQ+ and feminist cultural center established in Guayaquil's Zona Rosa]. El Universo (in Spanish). 5 July 2021. Archived from the original on 8 July 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- 1 2 "¡Adiós (y gracias), Guayaqueer!" [Goodbye (and thank you), Guayaqueer!]. Radio Cocoa (in Spanish). 14 June 2022. Archived from the original on 30 November 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ "Guayaqueer City reinventa la cultura popular desde La Perla" [Guayaqueer City reinvents popular culture from the Pearl]. Radio Cocoa (in Spanish). 21 February 2018. Archived from the original on 30 November 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ "Entrevista a Guayaqueer" [Interview with Guayaqueer]. Universidad de las Artes (in Spanish). 16 December 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ "Michi y Melo, dos personajes en el centro de la polémica" [Michi and Melo, two characters at the center of controversy]. Primicias (in Spanish). 9 June 2020. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ "¿Quién era Javier Viteri, el joven apuñalado 89 veces en Arenillas?" [Who was Javier Viteri, the young man stabbed 89 times in Arenillas?]. Vistazo (in Spanish). 6 June 2020. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
- ↑ "¡Guayaqueer es ahora un centro cultural!" [Guayaqueer is now a cultural center!]. Radio Cocoa (in Spanish). 23 June 2021. Archived from the original on 30 November 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ↑ "Agenda de actividades por el mes del Orgullo Gay" [Schedule of activities for Gay Pride Month]. Vistazo (in Spanish). 16 June 2021. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2025.