París Galán

Edit links
This is a good article. Click here for more information.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Carlos Parra" redirects here. For other people of the same name, see Carlos Parra (disambiguation).
In this
Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Parra and the second or maternal family name is Heredia
.

París Galán
Party list
Personal details
Born
Carlos Felipe Parra Heredia

(1968-02-05) 5 February 1968 (age 56)
Oruro, Bolivia
Political partySovereignty and Liberty (2014–2021)
Other political
affiliations
Occupation
  • Drag queen
  • politician

Carlos Felipe Parra Heredia (born 5 February 1968), known professionally as París Galán, is a Bolivian

gay man in Bolivia to have held political office as a lawmaker, after Manuel Canelas [es
].

Born and raised in

androgynous and zoomorphic elements of drag queen culture to their art form. The resulting style, labeled transformismo drag queen, saw huge success once the group went public in 2001, becoming a staple of La Familia Galán's performances at pride parades
and folkloric events.

Having previously participated in LGBT rights and

2006–2007 Constituent Assembly. Although his troupe attempted to collaborate with other activist organizations to consolidate a broader LGBT movement, internal disagreements and factionalism hampered the community's efforts at securing rights-affirming legislation. In 2006, he contested a seat in the Constituent Assembly on the Free Bolivia Movement's electoral list but failed to attain the position. Years later, in 2015, he was elected as a substitute member of the La Paz Departmental Legislative Assembly, becoming the country's first-ever transgender legislator. Although Parra attempted to fill an open primary seat left vacant by his party's failure to nominate a candidate to hold it, electoral authorities refused to accredit him. After a four-year legal battle, during which he went on multiple hunger strikes, Parra was finally seated in 2019. Having had over half his term of office cut short, Parra sought reelection in 2021
but failed to secure a second term.

Early life and performance career

Carlos Parra was born on 5 February 1968 in

come out as a child. "Everyone knew what I was; they called me La Parra.[β] I was always like that: visible; I was a transgressor, and I associated with transgressive people."[2]

Las Galán and transformismo femenino: 1997–2001

In 1986, shortly after graduating high school, Parra's mother sent him to live in

drag performance artist who introduced him to the art of transformismo femenino.[4][γ]

Together with other artists, Parra and Salguero began performing

David Aruquipa [es])—Parra was "much more daring and willing to pursue" public ventures.[8] In 1998, he was a finalist on Miss La Paz and placed third at the national pageant. He came out publicly as gay on the program Atrévete hosted by Ximena Galarza.[2]

La Familia Galán and transformismo drag queen: 2001–2005

Although Las Galán was originally conceived of as a

androgynous and zoomorphic elements, performers could take their appearance "to its extreme," giving transformismo drag queen a more "playful and transgressive connotation". Although Salguero was unfond of the "drag queen" label, Parra collaborated with Aruquipa to introduce the term to the wider community.[9][10]

The experiment was a resounding success,

pride event commemorating the fifty-third anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.[11] From then, Parra and his troupe became a staple at popular events in La Paz, promoting the art of cross-dressing in different artistic forms and mediums, including at exhibitions, nightclub performances, pageants, pride parades, and even through television and magazine promotions.[12]

In his analysis, Aruquipa states that the early 2000s marked the period in which Las Galán moved away from being a collective of purely feminine drag performers and began adopting more varied forms of

religious fundamentalist groups, with whom the collective had had multiple public confrontations.[8][13]

Political career and LGBT activism

Political activism and LGBT organizing: 2001–2005

Parra's first forays into political activism occurred in 2001 when his troupe participated in an HIV/AIDS awareness event in La Paz and was later contracted for a nationwide awareness campaign.[2] Around this time, La Familia Galán began actively participating in early attempts at consolidating an LGBT movement in Bolivia.[8] In 2002, it was one of over twenty groups that attended the III LGBT National Congress in La Paz. At the meeting, Parra and Las Galán criticized the way the event's organizers had been operating until then.[14] Para's stance stemmed from his skeptical view towards non-governmental organizations, which he saw as corrupt, elitist, and unable to function as advocacy groups.[1] Although La Familia Galán backed the formation of the National Network of LGBT Communities of Bolivia, the body gradually dissolved over time as member groups, including Las Galán, began dissociating themselves from it.[15]

In 2005, the Rainbow Movement was formed, composed of La Familia Galán and other LGBT organizations opposed to the national network. The group sought to apply more overtly political overtones to the various pride events that had been held until then, promoting the idea that rather than simple aesthetic displays, LGBT marches could be used as platforms to demand

civil rights. "This is not just a parade; this is a march to end homophobia", Parra stated at one demonstration.[16][17] In June, the Rainbow Movement constituted La Paz's delegation to the IV LGBT National Congress, where it voiced its criticisms of the national network's failings. The group voted down the network's annual report and against its continuation as a body but was outvoted by delegations from the six other participating departments. Its members subsequently abandoned the congress on its second day, disregarding any ensuing resolutions it made.[18]

LGBT rights and the Constituent Assembly: 2005–2006

Parra and La Familia Galán's split with other organized LGBT movements came at a critical time when broader discussions regarding potential reforms to the Constitution were in full swing. At times, the movement's internal factionalism and disunity hampered efforts to include the expansion of LGBT rights in these discussions. An example of this occurred in 2002 when the National Network of LGBT Communities presented Congress with a package of constitutional amendments that included, among other things, the right to same-sex marriage and civil unions.[19][20] Aside from the expected pushback levied by the Catholic Church, the network's proposals also faced internal opposition from LGBT groups, such as Mujeres Creando and La Familia Galán, despite the fact that both had participated in drafting it. When the document was set to be debated in the Chamber of Deputies, a communication error resulted in proponents of the legislation not arriving, meaning that only Parra and another critic, María Galindo, attended. According to Alberto Moscoso, director of the national network, "at [the meeting], París said: 'I don't want to get married, and I don't know why they are asking for marriage in the law,' [but] the law was for everyone, it was not specifically for París Galán.'" Ultimately, such internal disagreements and contradicting viewpoints caused the project to lose momentum, and the legislation was archived by Congress.[21][22]

Carlos Parra and other organizers hold up a banner advertising the name of their collective, "Colectivo Edge".
Parra (furthest right) with other LGBT organizers in La Paz, 27 June 2022.

Despite these setbacks, new opportunities to advance LGBT causes arose. In the leadup to 2006, with the convocation of the

trans, the lesbian, [and] the bisexual invisible", Parra later stated.[24]

In addition to this and other policy proposals compiled at the meeting, a national commission was also formed to represent the country's

minority groups. Following the formation of its directorate, Parra was elected as the alliance's national representative.[25]

Although it was initially hoped that civil society organizations would be allowed to field their own candidates for the Constituent Assembly, the reaffirmation of

Movement for Socialism (MAS-IPSP). His alliance soon reached an agreement with the MAS in which the party pledged to include representatives from each sector—including three sexual minorities—on its electoral list. However, the party reneged on the agreement at the eleventh hour, forcing Parra to find a new front within hours of the registration deadline. "The MAS turned its back on us", Parra decried. His and other queer organizers' candidacies were eventually sponsored by the Free Bolivia Movement, but the hectic last-minute change weakened their electoral positions. "I was placed in a constituency where no one knew me", Parra recounted. In the end, not one LGBT candidate was elected to the Constituent Assembly. With the dissolution of the strategic alliance shortly thereafter, Parra stepped back from the political scene and did not play an active role in the constitution drafting process.[27] While the final text included some LGBT-affirming language, it stopped short of codifying more important queer issues, and explicitly barred same-sex marriage.[28]

Electoral politics and procedural hurdles: 2015–2021

In the years succeeding

to marry her partner.[1]

Delivering a speech at a commemorative ceremony in La Paz, 18 February 2021.

Starting from the early 2010s, Parra began supporting the

gay man to have served as a lawmaker in the country, after Manuel Canelas [es], who assumed a seat in the Chamber of Deputies just months prior.[33]

In accordance with

Supreme Electoral Tribunal ordered the three substitutes to be sworn in, the Departmental Electoral Tribunal refused to accredit them on technical grounds,[32] kicking off a years-long legal battle. After three years of gridlock—during which time one of the three substitutes, José Luis Mayta, died in an accident—Parra and his colleague, Delia Quispe, declared a hunger strike in protest of the violation of their political rights.[35] In September 2018, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal intervened and delivered Parra and Quispe their credentials.[36] Despite this, the pair continued to face hurdles as the MAS-controlled legislature, faced with the loss of its de facto majority, refused to swear them in. Finally, on 30 May 2019,[37] after four years and with just ten months left in their terms, both Parra and Quispe were allowed to assume office.[38]

As a result of the annulment of the 2019 general election and delays in holding the 2020 general election, the terms of all subnational authorities, including Parra's, were extended by one year.[39] In the 2021 departmental elections, Parra sought reelection to his seat in the Departmental Assembly.[40] However, SOL.bo's distant sixth-place finish at the polls left it devoid of most parliamentary representation, denying Parra a second term.[41][42]

Personal life and gender identity

Parra is gay and has been in at least four committed same-sex relationships throughout his life. Regarding the prospect of marriage, Parra has expressed a lack of interest in the matter, stating that he has "always been against the idea ... I think that when you meet someone and want to express your love, you can do it without the need for a legal union." He has also stated that he would not adopt, saying: "those who think, 'I'm gay; I want to have a partner and adopt children to validate myself' are reinforcing [the] nuclear family ... and I question that." Regarding his gender identity, Parra has stated that, though as a teenager, he wanted to be a woman, "as I grew emotionally, matured, and had my first partner, I reaffirmed my position as a biological man. I don't want to be a woman; I am biologically a man, and I like to be; I enjoy my body and my sexuality." At the same time, Parra identifies as transgender, viewing himself outside the gender binary "without ceasing to be biologically male".[2] "You have to define yourself for people because they want something fixed, so I define myself as trans", he commented.[1]

Electoral history

Electoral history of París Galán
Year Office Alliance Votes Result Ref.
Total % P.
2006
Constituent
 Free Bolivia Movement 3,226 4.25% 5th Lost [43][44]
2015 Substitute assemblyman Sovereignty and Liberty 436,762 45.87% 1st Won [45][δ]
2021 Assemblyman Sovereignty and Liberty 27,650 2.60% 6th Lost [46][δ]
Source: Plurinational Electoral Organ | Electoral Atlas

References

Notes

  1. he/him
    pronouns for consistency.
  2. definite article la is used to denote femininity
    .
  3. androgynous identities.[6]
  4. ^ a b Presented on an electoral list. The data shown represents the share of the vote the entire party/alliance received in that constituency.

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e Bravo Ramos, Andrea (22 May 2019). "París Galán: 'Soy una drag queen boliviana'" [París Galán: "I'm a Bolivian Drag Queen"]. Agencia de Noticias de Ciencias de la Comunicación (in Spanish). Buenos Aires. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "El precio de ser un Galán" [The Price of Being a Galán]. Diversidad (in Spanish). 17 June 2013. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Tegel, Simeon (17 July 2016). "A Surprising Move On LGBT Rights from a 'Macho' South American President". The Washington Post. La Paz. Archived from the original on 19 July 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Pau, Alejandra (18 December 2016). "La importancia de llevar el apellido Galán" [The Importance of Carrying the Name Galán]. Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  5. ^ Santana 2021, pp. 169–170.
  6. ^ Aruquipa, Estenssoro & Vargas 2012, pp. 279–280.
  7. ^ Aruquipa, Estenssoro & Vargas 2012, p. 239.
  8. ^ a b c Aruquipa 2016, p. 455.
  9. ^ a b Aruquipa 2016, p. 454.
  10. ^ a b Vasquez Toral 2021, p. 183.
  11. ^ Aruquipa 2016, pp. 454–455.
  12. ^ Vasquez Toral 2021, p. 180.
  13. ^ a b Aruquipa, Estenssoro & Vargas 2012, p. 240.
  14. ^ Aruquipa, Estenssoro & Vargas 2012, p. 257.
  15. ^ Aruquipa, Estenssoro & Vargas 2012, pp. 257–258.
  16. ^ Aruquipa, Estenssoro & Vargas 2012, p. 233.
  17. ^ Aruquipa, David (26 June 2022). "De la apropiación de espacios públicos hacia la articulación de un movimiento LGBTI" [From the Appropriation of Public Spaces Towards the Articulation of an LGBTI Movement]. Ahora el Pueblo (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  18. ^ Aruquipa, Estenssoro & Vargas 2012, p. 259.
  19. ^ Defensoría del Pueblo 2009, p. 70.
  20. ^ Aruquipa, Estenssoro & Vargas 2012, p. 283.
  21. ^ Defensoría del Pueblo 2009, p. 71.
  22. ^ Aruquipa, Estenssoro & Vargas 2012, p. 284.
  23. ^ Aruquipa, Estenssoro & Vargas 2012, p. 296.
  24. ^ Aruquipa, Estenssoro & Vargas 2012, p. 299.
  25. ^ Aruquipa, Estenssoro & Vargas 2012, pp. 299–301.
  26. ^ Aruquipa, Estenssoro & Vargas 2012, p. 301.
  27. ^ Aruquipa, Estenssoro & Vargas 2012, pp. 301–303.
  28. ^ "Bolivians Tackle Gay Rights, Marriage in Constitutional Vote". On Top Magazine. 24 January 2009. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  29. ^ Vargas, Miguel (1 July 2012). "Marcha de las Diversidades Sexuales unió a los paceños" [Sexual Diversity March United Paceños]. La Razón (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  30. ^ Guarachi, Ángel (1 December 2014). "La activista París Galán se postula como precandidata en SOL.bo a una concejalía" [Activist París Galán to Run as a SOL.bo Pre-candidate for Municipal Councillor]. La Razón (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  31. ^ "París Galán se postula a concejal por SOL.bo" [París Galán Launches Councillor Bid for SOL.bo] (in Spanish). La Paz. ERBOL. 1 December 2014. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  32. ^ a b "Asambleístas suplentes de SOL.bo reclamaron titularidad ante el TSE" [Substitute SOL.bo Assemblymen Demand Primary Title from the TSE] (in Spanish). La Paz. Agencia de Noticias Fides. 28 December 2015. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  33. ^ a b Liderazgos Políticos LGBTI 2017, pp. 20–21.
  34. ^ "Dos asambleístas asumen cargo tras cuatro años" [Two Assemblymen Sworn In After Four Years]. Opinión (in Spanish). Cochabamba. ERBOL. 30 May 2019. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  35. ^ "Asambleístas de SOL.bo en huelga de hambre para que el TDE los posesione" [SOL.bo Assemblymen in Hunger Strike Demanding TDE Swear Them In]. Urgente.bo (in Spanish). La Paz. 17 September 2018. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  36. ^ Sánchez, César (30 May 2019). "Tras cuatro años de espera, Carlos Parra y Delia Quispe asumieron su puesto en la ALDLP" [After a Four-Year Wait, Carlos Parra and Delia Quispe Were Sworn In to Their Posts in the ALDLP] (in Spanish). La Paz. Oxígeno.bo. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  37. ^ Quispe Condori, José Luis (31 May 2019). "Tras cuatro años, dos asambleítas asumen funciones" [After Four Years, Two Assemblymen Assume Office]. El Alteño (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  38. ^ Maldonado, Laura (1 June 2019). "Tras cuatro años de lucha, Galán y Quispe sólo tienen diez meses para ejercer" [After Four Years of Struggle, Galán and Quispe Have Only Ten Months to Serve]. Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  39. ^ "Bolivia: Áñez promulga ley de ampliación a su mandato" [Bolivia: Áñez Enacts Law to Extend Her Mandate]. The San Diego Union-Tribune (in Spanish). La Paz. Associated Press. 20 January 2020. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  40. ^ "Lista Final de Candidaturas Habilitadas de las Organizaciones Políticas y Alianzas en La Paz" (PDF). oep.org.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Plurinational Electoral Organ. 2021. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  41. ^ "A Franklin Flores le faltó décimas e irá a segunda vuelta con Santos Quispe" [Franklin Flores Lacked Tenths of the Vote and Will Go to a Second Round with Santos Quispe] (in Spanish). La Paz. ERBOL. 14 March 2021. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  42. ^ Bustillos, Iván (14 April 2021). "Departamentos, los gobiernos complejos" [Departments, the Complete Governments]. La Razón (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  43. ^ "Elecciones Constituyentes 2006 | Atlas Electoral". atlaselectoral.oep.org.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Plurinational Electoral Organ. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  44. ^ "Lista de candidatos a constituyentes por el departamento de La Paz". El Diario (in Spanish). La Paz. 9 April 2006. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  45. ^ "Eleccion de Asambleístas por Población 2015 | Atlas Electoral". atlaselectoral.oep.org.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Plurinational Electoral Organ. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  46. ^ "Eleccion de Asambleístas por Población 2021 | Atlas Electoral". atlaselectoral.oep.org.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Plurinational Electoral Organ. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2022.

Bibliography

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=París_Galán&oldid=1216293190"