GAYLETTER

“My name is Moises Serrano. I’m queer, undocumented, and unafraid.” With these words, Moises Serrano (pictured) came out publicly as both gay and undocumented, a second kind of closet most of us can’t even image having to grapple with. Forbidden: Undocumented and Queer in Rural America is a documentary by Tiffany Rhynard, that follows the life of 23 year-old Moises as he struggles growing up in North Carolina. He is impossibly sweet and works tirelessly to raise awareness for migration reform.

Throughout the movie we follow his relationship with his boyfriend and his journey applying to college. What the film does best is what Moises often tries to do with his activism; it puts a face to a number. Undocumented immigrants are not simply a statistic we can throw around for the sake of a political argument. They are real people, facing serious problems, while also going through the ups and downs of life.

The film begins with the sound bite of Donald Trump’s racist hate speech regarding Mexicans, throwing us right into the thick of our current bleak political situation. There were over 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States as of 2014, with obviously a significant portion of them belonging to the queer community. There is wide misinformation being constantly spread by politicians and the media about undocumented people. They work hard and contribute to society (and yes, they pay taxes), yet aren’t eligible for food stamps or medicaid, not to mention living in a constant state of fear. Many people interviewed in the movie said they simply want a driver’s license. That doesn’t seem like too much to ask for.

Crossing the border at only 18 months, Moises and his family ended up in rural North Carolina, a place where people bring dates to KKK rallies (but actually). As a boy, Moises felt isolated from other Mexicans for being “too white,” and then isolated from his white friends because he was gay. In Forbidden we watch as Moises creates a community of his own where he can feel comfortable as well as make a difference. In one of the rougher parts of the movie, his mother tearfully recounts the journey across the border, describing how she went five days without food and two without water. At one point she was separated from her three kids and while they made it over the first time, she had to try twice more. You can’t help but be in awe of this woman who sacrificed everything in the hopes of a better life for her children.

It’s easy to forget the many different facets of the queer community and focus only on issues that directly affect each of us. Moises works closely with the UndocuQueer movement, a group often forgotten about or even silenced within the larger LGBT rights movement. The UndocuQueer movement is a “potent network of queer undocumented immigrant activists organizing for the rights of undocumented youth and their families.” While battling a nationwide immigration policy might seem like a lofty goal, educating yourself and your friends isn’t. Learn more about the UndocuQueer movement here.

The film is premiering, June 11 at Outfest Los Angeles at 5:00 PM. If you’re able to go you can by your tickets here. If not, but you still want to help the movie get produced and distributed, you can donate to their Indiegogo campaign here.