Exploring the horrors of hatred

Day of the Dead event attacks homophobia

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This year’s Day of the Dead celebrationat Michigan State University will not only bring together the Latinocommunity, but the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communityas well.

“El dia de los Muertos,” as it istraditionally known, is a festival in which families remember theirancestors who have passed away. This year’s theme is homophobiaawareness, and events are scheduled throughout the Nov. 1 celebrationto honor victims of hate crimes.

“There have been so many tragic eventsrecently where young (homosexuals) have committed suicide,” saidEstrella Torrez, an assistant professor at the Residential College ofArts and Humanities. She has been involved with MSU’s Day of the Deadevents for the past three years.

“This isn’t a new phenomenon, but it’sreally coming to the floor in the media right now. We thought, ’OK,this is the time to try to address this hate crimes and violence that’soccurring within (the Latino) community.’”

National events like National Coming OutDay and Spirit Day recently took place to show support for the LBGTcommunity, but Torrez said homophobia isn’t discussed adequately withinthe Latino population.

“It’s the same violence that happens inother groups,” she said, “but it isn’t discussed as much as it may bein other ethnic communities. We have this opportunity with the Day ofthe Dead celebration to bring awareness and have dialog. We need toaccept our brothers and sisters regardless of sexual orientation, andthis is a great opportunity for that.”

This year, the celebration includes adocumentary called “Just Because I Am,” which is about LBGT people thathave been victims of violence or hate crimes. One of the subjects ofthe film will speak later in the evening.

Traditional Aztec dance performances andan “ofrenda” installation will also be featured during the program. An“ofrenda” is an offering that is traditionally performed for the Day ofthe Dead, and this year it is dedicated to gender-shifters.

“It’s incredibly important to celebrate the Latinoculture,” Torrez said. “A lot of times individuals don’t recognize thatthere’s a significant Latino population in Michigan. This is one wayfor us to share some of our beautiful culture and history with not justMSU, but the Lansing and southeast Michigan communities.”


Day of the Dead

Begins at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 1

Michigan State University Museum. (517) 884-1327, or museum.msu.edu

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