I needed to take a day off from VivirLatino because Hispanic PANIC! was so good. Charlie Vazquez is a curator of writers and souls and he worked his magic again on Wednesday night when he hosted Hispanic PANIC! at Nowhere.

Cristy Road jumped the evening off by reading an excerpt from her soon to be released graphic novel, SPIT AND PASSION, a coming of age story unlike any other. I cannot wait to read the finished product and learn more about how a queer Cubana in Miami obsessed with Green Day comes to terms with it all.

Miguel Angeles brought a little Califas Chican@ sabor inspired by the work of Anzaldua y Moraga, Angeles invoked the diosas Aztecas and the bittersweet memory of first loves, always and forever.

Aaron Powell read from his book Behind Concrete Doors featuring deliciously raunchy and real poetry exploring the BLatino down low world. I will be reviewing the entire book soon.

Alicia Anabel Santos introduced the audience to some of the mujeres from her one woman show, I Was Born, including a journalist, a sex worker, and a mujer sacrificing her true self for her familia. Stay tuned for more info on Alicia’s show.

Orlando Ferrand shared some poetry from his book Citywalker and other poetry as well that was just so evocative and beautifully human, fragile.

It is always an immense pleasure when I participate in this reading series. When Charlie Vazquez called me to the mic, he invited me to play and the space he creates really feels like a playground for my poetic puterias. I read two never heard pieces that I called the Spickchick Diptych : Chichos y Chochas.

Don’t sleep on this gathering centering the talent of queer Latino artists. There are many wonderful things that will be coming from the Hispanic PANIC! series.

Special besitos for John, Basil y A.B.

Foto Credit : Aaron Powell