HOMEBOY DOC EXPLORES GAY GANGBANGER LIFESTYLE

So this morning I was checking my messages, and I came across an interesting documentary called HOMEBOY, a sociopolitical film about East LA gangsters who also happen to be gay. Whenever I've seen movies about "cholos" and "gangbangers" I've always found them to be quite attractive, and even though I've always wanted to learn more about the lifestyle (outside of the stereotypes portrayed in movies and Bilatinmen.com), there weren't many resourses to look.

So when I came across a trailer for HOMEBOY, I said to myself that this is definitely a movie I need to check out. "Homeboy" examines the lives of several gay Latino men living in and around Los Angeles who are former gang members. Ranging in age from early-20's to mid-40's, most of these men entered gangs while in their early teenage years. This is a story of their individual journeys.

The film also includes an interview with Luis J. Rodriguez, poet, activist and author of the bestselling memoir, Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in LA.

I'm always fascinated to learn about different lifestyles, especially for a culture that has so much going against them. Poor Mexican boys growing up in California where they feel the only way to make something of themselves is by living the gangster lifestyle. Can you imagine doing all of that and hiding the fact that you have an attraction to someone of the same sex?

Then when you are looking to explore those same-sex feelings, there aren't any places where they can go. Most gays of color in the LGBT community don't really have many places where they can belong and truly be themselves, unless you are white. So I can imagine the stress they were under to overact their machismo and suppress their same sex feelings so that they wouldn't get found out.

So far I am loving the fact that there is finally a rise in gay entertainment in regards of telling the stories regarding people of color, and while many other sites will only stick to their white programming, I feel it's my duty to spread the word about films that everyone needs to check out. So if you are in LA (unfortunately I live in NYC), HOMEBOY is playing today at 4:30 p.m. at Redcat in downtown Los Angeles as a part of Outfest.

Check out an interview with the director Dino Dinco by clicking the following link and the trailer below...