OPINION: "Cacho has been a trans-hating, sexist misogynist for years."
Have you seen those family and neighborhood parties we had to endure at some point? The problem was, either we did everything possible to avoid going, or we went and stayed isolated, without dancing. In my case, when I had to go to a birthday party or wedding, I stayed close to my mom, like a cry for help: "Let this shit blow over quickly and let's go home."
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By Violeta Alegre* Have you seen those family and neighborhood parties we once had to endure? The problem was, either we did everything possible to avoid going, or we went and stayed isolated, without dancing. In my case, when I had to go to a birthday party or wedding, I would stay close to my mom, like a cry for help: "Let this shit blow over quickly and let's go home." I know of many colleagues who took advantage of that scenario to make their "official introductions" and ended up getting MAD, when no one in the family knew anything. They probably suspected, but the courage to end up in drag at those gatherings spoke of a weariness, of the need to BE among that whole family that claimed to love you and be responsible for your upbringing. A lot was at stake in that action. For many, it was forced acceptance. For others, the street. At that "festive" family gathering, one of the things I suffered were the songs that I felt were mocking me. The one about “the sultans” where the “funny” guy always appeared acting like a “faggot” and everyone celebrated. The song about the one who is on everyone’s lips for his “unfortunate” phrase : “when faced with rape, relax and enjoy” , with “The queen of the dance party” where he tells of the preparations for a big dance party in a neighborhood hall. Posters, radio ads, orchestras, and even Juan Ramón singing, where the boys will choose “the queen”. Between the night’s hustle and bustle, the warm beer, a fat girl who falls, and the supposed queen that no one asks to dance, no one “picks her up”, and no one “takes her away” (who knows why?), it ends up elucidating for us that the drunken members of the jury made the worst choice, already with the lights on and with the whistles the jury crowned A TRANSVESTY. When I learned about the statements made by this standard-bearer of patriarchy, machismo, and trans hatred, to tell the truth: I was shocked. Not by him, but by the sensationalist press that uses us. Now, they moralize with the "unfortunate" statements of Mr. Cacho, when Cacho has been a trans-hating, sexist misogynist for years . One of those irresponsible individuals who, from the unconsciousness of his art (in this case, music), shaped a generation, causing the ills for which we now take to the streets, to schools, to demand legislative frameworks . We were achieving them, we are achieving them. A few days ago I read an article by Paul B. Preciado—a gender philosopher, transfeminist, activist, and queer theorist—where he said: “ I think artistic practice, plastic arts, music, and film are so important because they are the places where the structure of desire is constructed and manipulated. They are the places where dominant politics, whether about gays and lesbians or feminists, are predominantly discussed. They will say, “Well, let’s change the law,” but the law may not modify the structure of desire. That’s why I’m interested in the relationship between activism, criticism, and art. One problem is that historically, artists are in one place, philosophers in another, and activists are very, very far away.” It made me reflect on the remoteness of artistic practice. Where, whether it’s because of a rhythm, a hit, a generation, it seems that we must forgive; without being aware that these types of practices dialogue directly with cultural structures where we must be very attentive because, concretely, they kill us. I understand my sister Wayar more and more when she says: “I’m not interested in dialoguing with adults. Adults have to convince me that they weren’t complicit in creating this world of failure and violence. I demand that they convince me! That’s why I prefer to focus so much on childhood.” Childhood: is Cacho asking them to relax and enjoy themselves too? All those childhoods who are abused by uncles, grandparents, heterosexual parents? No, we don’t relax, Cacho. What we do expect is that you, as part of a generation, never open your mouth again. * Trans activist, teacher, consultant for the World Bank, graduate in Gender from the National University of General Sarmiento.
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