Joselo, along with co-founder Fried Plátano, launched Maricón in 2014 to create a space where QTPOC (queer and trans people of color) artists could thrive. Their dedication to uplifting marginalized voices through music, art, and culture has made Maricón a transformative event in NYC nightlife. Read on as Joselo shares the story and mission behind Maricón in his own words.

Maricón, a night produced by Joselo and Fried Plátano, was created in 2014 to fill a void within the Latinx community in NYC. This event celebrates the diversity of QTPOC DJs and creatives, uniting Triborough scenes in a joyous celebration of collective identity.

The name “Maricón” was chosen to reclaim and redefine a word that has been used with hate and discrimination for many years.

For years, the NYC queer scene lacked representation in art, music, and culture. Many underground Latinx artists were not showcased, and I wanted to focus on these talents. The main goal was to create a space for artistic individuals from marginalized communities to come together, celebrate, and learn from each other.

The name “maricón” was chosen to reclaim and redefine a word that has been used with hate and discrimination for many years. We use the word as a symbol of empowerment and as a huge “fuck you” to a society that often shuns us.

The success of our event has brought us overwhelming joy. The goal has never been about strictly monetizing this; it’s always been about music as an art form and uplifting our community. I think part of the success is due to our direct involvement in the underground art/music scene. Elvin and I have always been music heads, so we book talents we have followed for years, those we feel have broken boundaries in their respective lanes.

For this event, we joined forces with LATINEO, a FLINTA* collective created by queer migrants from Latin America in Barcelona, aiming to be a safe space for women and non-conforming individuals. The collaboration was an exciting one for us and had been in the works since the fall of 2023. It just made sense, and we could not be happier with the outcome and what we achieved together.

Watch full gallery below.

Photography by Diego Urbina.