The representation of marginalized communities in academic spaces is scarce. Through the Archives & Special Collections, this research strives to identify and explore representations and expressions of sexuality and queerness in Latinx communities. My research appreciates the importance of growing awareness of underrepresented communities and tries to amplify forgotten voices from the past. To encompass as many marginalized communities as possible within the Latinx diaspora, I had the liberty to reference all kinds of materials to encapsulate their voices and identities. Throughout this research, the underground feminist and gay press was frequently utilized. Though erotica, cartoneras, and public health newspapers were also frequently reviewed. Voices of diverse backgrounds were found to express their struggles with being queer, meeting sexual expectations, differences between identification and sexual practice, a deadly fight with AIDS, and much more. A limitation encountered during this research was the lack of representation of Latino sexual expression who did not identify as queer. Those who practice heterosexuality might not be seen as a marginalized community, but those who do not identify as White American have a different experience with being straight. With hopes of delivering a cartonera and putting forward a library guide, this research will present and give space to an underrepresented community to discuss their experience with sexuality and queerness to identify their space in history.
