Danny Jauregui was born, raised, and currently lives in Los Angeles.  His artwork consists of animations, digital photographs, and game engine projects that explore the history of Los Angeles’ queer space and ephemera.  His work often incorporates historical records found in archives and his artistic interests link issues of belonging, contested public spaces, and public memory.

www.dannyjauregui.com

The spaces I have chosen to highlight are my attempt at “browning” the map, which is to say, an attempt at destabilizing and piercing established white-queer narratives that so often accompany the telling of the history of our spaces.  One way of approaching my contribution is to think of it as a counter-map within a counter-map.  Queer Maps as a project exists as a counter-map because it uses a map to document a history that was always meant to be erased and destroyed by the forces of hetero-patriarchy.  Its strength is in the way it extensively and meticulously documents the spaces that made Los Angeles queer.  I propose to add a metaphorical layer to this map-based resistance by focusing on “brown” spaces and I further propose that we think of them as a constellation of brownness across time.  Here, I borrow from writer Jack Gieseking’s conceptualization of lesbian bars in New York as a “constellation” or network of connected nodes.  By focusing on these “brown” queer spaces, I argue that these spaces constitute a “brown constellation”--a network of spaces built by brown queers to survive the violence of the straight world, but also the alienation of the white gay world.  Layering them on this map allows us to see that this constellation, this path between spaces, was always there, hidden in plain sight.  In fact, it continues to smolder with life amidst constant threats of violence and erasure, and this is precisely what makes this contribution, a browning of the map.

The Plush Pony - Famously photographed in the 90s by legendary photographer Laura Aguilar, the Plush Pony in El Sereno was a lesbian bar frequented by working-class butches and femmes.

Le Barcito - In the former Black Cat space, Le Barcito was especially popular with Latinx immigrants and was the last occupant before the space was re-opened as the restaurant “The Black Cat” though now catering to an upper-middle class and mostly straight clientele.

Arena - A popular dance club in the 90s that was especially frequented by Latinx club kids.  On Friday nights, the club held an 18-and-over night, though they rarely checked IDs.  When I was 16, I would sneak in and dance all night.

Circus Disco - Directly behind Arena.  I personally never attended but heard many tales told of this special place.  One of the most popular dance clubs for Latinx queers.

The New Jalisco Bar - In downtown LA and currently only one of three operating gay bars in downtown (as of 2023), The New Jalisco Bar has attracted a new generation of young Latinx queers.  A perfect example of how brown queer life continues to smolder with energy, this place is usually packed with beautiful brown queer bodies dancing, drinking, and thriving.