Channeling Anzaldúa: Navigating the Borders of Gender, Culture, Language, and Sexuality in Sports and Beyond

Date: 

Wednesday, October 7, 2020, 7:30pm to 8:30pm

This event is virtual, to register click here.

Speaker: Janelly Farías, professional soccer player for Chivas Femenil and the Mexican Women's National Team

Farías is openly gay and was born and raised in Southern California. Soccer was her passion, but when she came out, she felt isolated and rejected, and she nearly quit it altogether. However, it was through soccer where she learned to embrace her intersecting identities. Farías is proud of being part of the LGBTQ+ community, and she feels much more confident in her Mexican-American heritage. For the former, she met other athletes who were out and began forming collectives to encourage athletes and fans to live authentically as themselves. For the latter, Farías discusses what it's like to represent a national team where she wasn't born, and how she navigates the language and culture on either side of the border. Echoing Gloria Anzaldúa, Farías recognizes that the borders of sexuality and culture are artificial; this realization has made her more comfortable in her skin. Now, Farías is an out activist athlete who lends her support by encouraging other LGBTQ+ athletes to be proud of themselves.

Presented by GSAS Latinx Student Association