Visibility, Resilience, and Becoming Family

About this episode

This episode features Robert Garcia and Jeremy Francisco Cruz discussing chosen family, queer resilience, and the importance of visibility.

As we close out season 4 of In the Telling (episode 34), we’re bringing you something extra special. Not one, but two guests. We’re joined by the inimitable Robert Garcia — the self-described “world’s favorite boy girl” — a fierce, multi-talented Afro-Latinx artist, singer-songwriter, and nightlife icon whose motto, “visibility is revolutionary,” is a thread throughout Robert's work and life. And alongside him is his chosen family and firstborn in spirit, Jeremy Francisco Cruz — a New York native, makeup artist, performer, and person of trans experience who’s using his art and presence to stand in solidarity with those fighting oppression. This episode is a testament to chosen family, queer resilience, and the revolutionary act of loving each other out loud. Robert and Jeremy take us on a journey through found kinship, survival, tough love, and tender moments — reminding us how, in the words of Robert, “there’s no end as long as you’re walking this earth.” So settle in because this one is for anyone who’s ever built their own family when the world couldn’t hold them. And for those who’ve ever been mothered, mentored, or reminded to shine their light. To learn more about our…

People in this episode

Hosts: Sean Bempong, Christopher Stalling, Tanya M. Beltran

Guests: Robert Garcia, Jeremy Francisco Cruz

Topics covered

• chosen family
• queer resilience
• visibility
• art
• oppression

Keywords

• Afro-Latinx
• artist
• singer-songwriter
• nightlife icon
• makeup artist
• performer

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: In the Telling, the Full Conversation

Places: New York

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