Connection, Creativity & finding Clarity in the time of COVID

Gay Men & Blog interviews Mariano Pintor — gay, brown, always down, & founder of the #WeAreImmigrants Initiative

Livin’ la vida bien loca

Miss Rona, La Rona, or better known by her government name — COVID-19, has wreaked havoc in our lives. Job loss, financial struggles, illness, and forced relocation are just a few of the hits we’ve taken in 2020, including my friend and all-around chingon, Mariano Pintor. Like the biggest divas in Vegas, he’s doing a residency in Texas and ready to steer some queers to a worthy cause as he navigates this unexpected chapter in his life.

A little bit of herstory

Mariano and I go back over 10 years when we met at The University of Texas at Austin. We clicked instantly because he always kept it one-hunnit (“authentic” for those of you who aren’t familiar), and he still does.

He grew up in Oak Cliff, a neighborhood in Dallas, TX that’s a beautiful mix of hood and barrio. Born in San Luis Potosí, México, Mariano shared his story of crossing the Rio Grande River at age two with his father, uncle and older brother. As young boys, they traveled under the cover of moonlight not fully aware of the undertaking or destination of their journey. “My dad and tio, they immigrated sin papeles and risked everything to give us a better chance at life.” Sin papeles directly translates to “without papers” and it is a colloquial term used to reference green cards, identification (i.e., the papers used to legally cross the border).

To date, Mariano’s journey has taken him from the mountains in central Mexico to the cobblestone grounds of Wall Street in New York City — with many successes and challenges along the way. While the reality of a global pandemic has put his Maid in Manhattan dream on pause, he’s determined to continue his advocacy efforts back where it all started.

Gay Men & Blog: Hi, Mariano! So good to catch up with you again. It’s been a minute! How are you? What has life been like back in Texas?

Mariano Pintor: I’ve been taking time to exhale recently after the past few weeks. I felt anxious and tense with the recent delay in results of the presidential election. It dragged on for days, but I’m feeling hopeful and cautiously optimistic about the future — emphasis on cautiously. Being in Texas this summer was interesting because there was a big push to get back to normal life. Businesses in Dallas reopened under state and federal guidelines and they remain open to this day. From what I’ve seen in people here, it seems like they struggle to understand the gravity of COVID-19 while others power through because it’s the only option.

On a lighter note though, I’m enjoying the sun and being closer to nature and animals. I don’t get to experience that often in my tiny but lovely apartment back in NYC. It feels like I’m on fertile ground to do the work that I want to do at this time in my life.

GM&B: You lived with your family during the pandemic. How was that experience?

MP: In the beginning, it was terrifying. It was mostly fear of the unknown. There was an immediate shift in our family dynamic when I moved back after being away for 10 years. It was an adjustment for us but it brought us closer together as a unit.

I’ve witnessed how COVID impacted family members who work in the service, construction, and hospitality industries. This community is strong and is still working hard to make it. I applaud all the teachers and educators doing their best to help children during these times. Like Beyoncé said, we gotta make lemonade out of lemons, except we’re out here trying to make horchata!

GM&B: Miss Rona has really done a number on us this year. What have the past several months been like for you?

MP: They’ve been oddly busy — work, family life, and everything in between. For a while, we didn’t have music, sports, or our usual forms of entertainment. I made an intentional decision to practice more stillness back in March. I was no longer running from one event or meeting to the next, so I dedicated time to further develop the #WeAreImmigrants initiative.

Laying the foundation for an initiative is hard work, and I’m lucky to have a small but mighty team helping behind the scenes. I am blessed to be part of communities and professional networks that emphasize race and intersectionality where I can connect with people that keep me inspired and doing work I’m passionate about. I had the chance to moderate a conversation with Luis Sandoval, a producer at Univision here in Los Angeles, to discuss queer issues, such as stigma, that impact people in the Latinx community.

GM&B: Family is such an interesting and sometimes complicated thing for many gay men, especially gay Latinos. How has being back in Oak Cliff and near family factored into this chapter of your life?

MP: It’s been a time of healing. Since being back in Dallas, I’ve had authentic conversations around identity with my family that needed to happen over the years, but hadn’t because of the distance. It’s been a gradual growth toward mutual understanding between my parents and me. Aside from me being gay, there are so many aspects of my life that are outside of their scope. Don’t get me wrong, they are smart as hell but there are some things that they can’t really grasp — I’m sure the same goes for me. I’ll never understand the sacrifice that they made for us or what it was like to live undocumented trying to raise and protect a family. I think it’s all about perspective. Sometimes, I feel like I have to toggle between two different worlds. Ol’, Hannah Montana lookin […] haha. No, but seriously, I think I’ve had to balance who I am now with who I was then. I’ve had to separate the two versions and allow for growth and understanding.

GM&B: There can be some emotional strain during this type of life transition. What has helped you manage your temporary relocation to Texas from New York City? How are you managing your well-being during this time?

MP: Without a doubt — family, fitness and access to mental health has been key. It’s been so comforting to be close to family during such a tragic time in our world. Early on in the pandemic, fitness was my escape and it soon became more of a ritual.

GM&B: As gay men, it’s crucial for us to take care of our mental health. Can you elaborate more on what you would recommend Gay Men & Blog readers around self-care and mental health?

MP: I’m a huge fan of meditation, tele-therapy, and journaling. Those are a few ways I manage my mental health, but there are so many other outlets. Talking to someone always helps me. I started working with a therapist a few years ago and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I wanted to match with someone that understood the LGBTQIA+ experience and he was there during some of the most challenging times. Being in therapy has given me the confidence to know that I can face anything that comes my way.

My recommendation is for everyone to just be open to talking. Know that it is okay to seek help or support when you need it. For anyone who has reservations, I like to put it this way: The same way you go to a dentist to take care of your teeth, you should go to a therapist for your brain. Even if you don’t feel like you have anything wrong, there are things that impact our headspace that we may not even think about, especially with our increased exposure to social media & technology. However, I am very aware of the stigma that comes with this topic in Black & Latinx households. Not to mention, the lack of access to health insurance for vulnerable groups that need these types of services the most. I recognize the privilege I have now. I still remember what it was like to rely on government assistance at a young age and I’m not ashamed of that. I think those experiences taught me to be resourceful. Luckily for me, I get to focus on more than just surviving. I approach self-care and my life more intentionally.

GM&B: You are very vocal and active around immigration issues. You have also bravely shared your family’s long and successful fight to get your brother released from ICE detention. Where are you now in your work on immigration?

MP: During the ADCOLOR Rising Star speech last year, I shared what someone told me earlier that day: “You can either make a decision to take a stand or it will be decided for you.” While I’ve always been vocal about my values as it relates to equal opportunity and intersectionality, this initiative wasn’t something that I launched after years of organizing or planning. In my situation, a tragic emergency presented itself and I took action. I was successful in the events that we managed to put on. A lot of this year has been used to focus on the #WeAreImmigrants strategy and mapping out long term goals, taking into consideration tangible needs from the community. After seeing a Dallas Morning News article that showed the highest rates of COVID-19 infections impacting Latinx and Black communities in the 75211 zip code where I grew up, my sisters and I wanted to give back in a small way and raise awareness of the main causes, including:

• Large population of essential workers
• High density households with multigenerational quarters
• Lack of effective Spanish language educational resources
• Limited or zero access to health insurance / lack of documentation

We launched a fundraiser to raise money for basic necessities & graphics. We were able to purchase enough materials for 800 total bags which included masks, hand sanitizers and some inspiring messages. To date, we’ve been able to distribute half of the care packages due to production delays — it requires a few assembly lines! These care packages are not a systemic or permanent solution, but we are trying to spread some joy and make CDC guidelines ~cool~ because as a marketing professional, I know it’s possible to utilize these communication channels & tools for good.

Note: If you live in the Dallas area and would like to volunteer in a socially distanced manner, please reach out to Mariano at hello@mariano-pintor.com

GM&B: It’s clear that you’ve got charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent. What does creativity mean to you?

MP: Creativity to me means freedom. For most of my childhood and formative years, I had to hide a big part of who I am because all of those things (dancing, art, fashion) were a threat to my safety — both in my home, and in school. Now, I’m exploring how that creativity manifests as I am exposed to new thinking and form deep connections with those around me.

GM&B: From your perspective as an immigrant, gay man, and Latino, what should readers keep in mind as we look toward the future? And, what can we expect from you in 2021?

MP: Yes, we’re all very excited for the results of the presidential election. Of course we are happy that Biden will become our 46th president. I am excited for science to get her shine again. And, let’s relish in the fact that, unlike Rihanna, Trump’s reign will let up. However, we must also focus on local elections because they matter just as equally, if not more. Local budgets and systems are where racism and discrimination directly impact Black, Latinx, gay, immigrant, and other marginalized groups. This year, I voted with my two sisters. We made a plan and went as a group. It made it easy and fun, too. For the first time, I personally knew someone who I grew up with from the community that was on the ballot and that made me excited because voices like hers need to be heard. There are a lot of people living in this country who do not have the right to vote so I always keep that in mind when I cast my decisions. As far as what’s next, I’m excited to partner with family, old friends & new friends in Dallas who are holding it down. Texas has affectionately been referred to as the Third Coast and there is so much happening down here so you’ll just have to wait and see. ✨

GM&B: Mariano, it has been a pleasure kiki-ing with you. You’ve made a huge impact for so many in just a few years, and I can’t wait to see what more you can accomplish moving forward. Abrazos y besos, amiga.

Follow Mariano Pintor on Instagram & Twitter at @mariano_pintor. To learn more about the #WeAreImmigrants Initiative, please sign up to our newsletter here: https://www.mariano-pintor.com/contact

Photography featured: Maryam Saad, Vanessa Ortega, Maribel Morales

Visuals & Copy for Posters: Ari Hernandez, Rosalia Salazar

Care Package Production Team: Ashley Antoine, Anh Ho, Abigail Pintor

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