joana toro

DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER

www.joanatoro.com

TransLatinx Resilience against Covid-19

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Location: Bogota - New York

Nationality: Colombian

Biography: Joana Toro Colombian is a self-taught photographer based in both New York City and Bogota, Colombia. Her work explores issues of immigration, human rights and identity and was featured on The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, World Press... MORE

A tribute to Lorena Borjas who...or Lorena on a Brooklyn beach.

A tribute to Lorena Borjas who died of Covid on March 30, 2020. As a documentary photographer the trans-Latin sisters have been a recurring theme in my work. The last photo I took of Lorena was on her birthday on May 27, 2016. This photo is a personal tribute that I perform for Lorena on a Brooklyn beach.

Detail of Lorena Borjas graves...ohn Cemetery in New York City.

Detail of Lorena Borjas gravestone at the St. John Cemetery in New York City.

Detail of  the St. Jo...;rsquo; gravestone is located.

Detail of the St. John Cemetery in New York City where Lorena Borjas’ gravestone is located.

Perla de Sales and Bonny Diaz ...ohn Cemetery in New York City.

Perla de Sales and Bonny Diaz pay their respects and bid farewell to Lorena Borjas’ remains at the remembrance event in celebration of Lorena Borjas’ life held on April 01, 2021, at the St. John Cemetery in New York City.

Amy Lobo pays her respects at ...ghts, Queens on March 30 2021.

Amy Lobo pays her respects at an altar made to honor Lorena Borjas, transgender activist who fought for the Trans community’s rights in New York City and is regarded as the mother of Translatina women. Lorena died alone at the Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn, due to COVID-19 illness on March 30, 2020. One year later, the Colectivo Intercultural TRANSgrediendo, a social collective founded by Lorena, opened its doors and commemorated her legacy in Jackson Heights, Queens on March 30 2021.

Altar created to commemorate t...h care for Transgender people.

Altar created to commemorate the anniversary of Lorena Borjas’ decease due to COVID-19 on March 30, 2020. Lorena died alone at the Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn. One year later the Trans community celebrate her legacy. The altar is located at the offices of Collective Intercultural TRANSgrediendo, a social collective founded by Lorena, on March 16, 2021 in Queens, New York. The Colectivo Intercultural TRANSgrediendo is an organization that works to expand access to comprehensive health care for Transgender people.

Laura Martínez prep...nts who aspire to be like her.

Laura Martínez prepares to perform at the first anniversary of Lorena Borjas’ passing. Immigrant transgender activist Lorena Borjas was memorialized by having a street co-named at Baxter Avenue and 83rd Street in Elmhurst, on March 31, 2021, in Queens, New York. Laura Martínez is a famous drag performer in the Latino LGBTQ+ community. She has been working in the entertainment business for over 15 years, and is followed by many emerging drags and transgender immigrants who aspire to be like her.

Alexa Felix, elder transgender... she says she owes everything.

Alexa Felix, elder transgender artist, performs through a plastic curtain, which was hung as part of the safety measures implemented for COVID-19 at Luna’s Kitchen Bar in Jackson Heights, Queens on February 9, 2021.
Alexa is a Cuban professional artist who has done performances since the age of nine; she arrived to the United States from Cuba in the eighties, and has been an immigrant for 42 years. In May 2020, Alexa was diagnosed with COVID-19 and managed a satisfactory recovery from it. Currently, she is vaccinated and continues to perform to her audiences, to whom she says she owes everything.

A Transgender woman Joselyn Me... on December 12,2020 New York.

A Transgender woman Joselyn Mendoza (in blue) ,Betty UBttm (in black) and other volunteers of the L.G.B.T.Q Latino community are getting ready to collaborate in the food pantry Love Wins delivering groceries to vulnerable people in Jackson Heights, Queens in response to the Covid -19 pandemic on December 12,2020 New York.

Lesly Herrera  was vo... New York on18 September 2020.

Lesly Herrera was volunteers at The Love Wins food Pantry that use to providing vegetables and non perishable food to the LGBTQ community and neighbors in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York on18 September 2020.

Detail of cake made to celebra..., NY 11372, on March 31, 2021.

Detail of cake made to celebrate-the opening of the headquarters for the first community center for Trans and Gender-Nonconforming people in Queens The Colectivo Intercultural TRANSgrediendo at 8305 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights, NY 11372, on March 31, 2021.

Alexa Felix, celebrating her b... she says she owes everything.

Alexa Felix, celebrating her birthday party at her home in Queens . Alexa is a Cuban professional artist who has
done performances since the age of nine;
she arrived to the United States from Cuba in
the eighties, and has been an immigrant for
42 years. In May 2020, Alexa was diagnosed with COVID-19 and managed a satisfactory recovery from it. Currently, she is vaccinated and continues to perform to her audiences, to whom she says she owes everything.

Laura Martínez perf...nts who aspire to be like her.

Laura Martínez performs at the first anniversary of Lorena Borjas’ passing. Immigrant transgender activist Lorena Borjas was memorialized by having a street co-named at Baxter Avenue and 83rd Street in Elmhurst, on March 31, 2021, in Queens, New York. Laura Martínez is a famous drag performer in the Latino LGBTQ+ community. She has been working in the entertainment business for over 15 years, and is followed by many emerging drags and transgender immigrants who aspire to be like her.

Erick makeup model at the afte...ed folks within the community.

Erick makeup model at the afternoon practice makeup sessions for scholarship recipients from Mirror Beauty Cooperative. March 12, 2021, Jackson Heights, New York City. Mirror Trans Beauty LLC is a worker cooperative for Trans Latina cosmetologists and makeup artists in New York. It was created to protect the Latino Transgender community from discrimnation; they provide a safe space and education in beauty and cosmetology. Mirror Beauty’s efforts give job opportunities for a community widely discriminated against, especially so when looking for employment outside of sexual work. Mirror Trans Beauty seeks to change stereotypes in education and entrepreneurship fields, which are often seen as cumbersome by the women in the community who wish to study or work. Mirror also help undocumented, immigrant communities to pursue education and to connect with other talented folks within the community.

From left to right: Lesly Herr...ed folks within the community.

From left to right: Lesly Herrera and Joselyn Mendoza, founders of the first Trans-owned co-op in New York, style and apply makeup to one of their partners during the afternoon practice makeup sessions organized by Mirror Trans Beauty LLC. February 13, 2021. Mirror Trans Beauty LLC is a worker co-op for Trans Latina cosmetologists and makeup artists in New York, established to protect the Latino Transgender community from discrimination. They provide a safe space and education in beauty and cosmetology; their efforts give job opportunities for a community widely discriminated against, especially so when looking for employment outside of sexual work. Mirror Trans Beauty seeks to change stereotypes in education and entrepreneurship fields, which are often seen as cumbersome by the women in the community who wish to study or work. Mirror also help undocumented immigrant communities to pursue education and to connect with other talented folks within the community.

Andrés Rojas, is a ...ghts, New York. June 12, 2021.

Andrés Rojas, is a non-binary student and scholarship recipients from Mirror Trans Beauty LLC, shows the diploma. Thanks to the scholarship, Andrés will be able to pursue further education in makeup artistry. Jackson Heights, New York. June 12, 2021.

Christin Guerrero represents T...s Health Awareness month 2021.

Christin Guerrero represents TransLatinx fury as she walks through the streets of Roosevelt Ave in Jackson Heights, vindicating the existence, struggle and courage that many of her trans siblings face. She is on her way to host her show at Trans Health Awareness month 2021.

Christin Guerrero performs at ...Borjas Way in Jackson Heights.

Christin Guerrero performs at Trans Health Awareness month 2021at Lorena Borjas Way in Jackson Heights.

Daniela Soler says goodbye to ...kson Heights, Queens New York.

Daniela Soler says goodbye to her trans sister at the end of the event Trans Health Awareness month 2021 en Lorena Borjas Way, Jackson Heights, Queens New York.

Detail of Translatina particip... Latinx communities in Queens.

Detail of Translatina participant at the celebration of the 10th Annual Trans Latinx March 2021 held in Corona Plaza Queens,New York. This celebration called out violence targeting trans Latinx communities in Queens.

Daniela Soler is performing to...kson Heights, Queens New York.

Daniela Soler is performing to Lorena Borjas at the event Trans Health Awareness month 2021 en Lorena Borjas Way, Jackson Heights, Queens New York.

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Thumbnail of A tribute to Lorena Borjas who _for Lorena on a Brooklyn beach.

Thumbnail of Detail of Lorena Borjas gravest_John Cemetery in New York City.

Thumbnail of Detail of  the St. Joh_p;rsquo; gravestone is located.

Thumbnail of Perla de Sales and Bonny Diaz p_John Cemetery in New York City.

Thumbnail of Amy Lobo pays her respects at a_ights, Queens on March 30 2021.

Thumbnail of Altar created to commemorate th_th care for Transgender people.

Thumbnail of Laura Martínez prepa_ants who aspire to be like her.

Thumbnail of Alexa Felix, elder transgender _m she says she owes everything.

Thumbnail of A Transgender woman Joselyn Men_c on December 12,2020 New York.

Thumbnail of Lesly Herrera  was vol_, New York on18 September 2020.

Thumbnail of Detail of cake made to celebrat_s, NY 11372, on March 31, 2021.

Thumbnail of Alexa Felix, celebrating her bi_m she says she owes everything.

Thumbnail of Laura Martínez perfo_ants who aspire to be like her.

Thumbnail of Erick makeup model at the after_ted folks within the community.

Thumbnail of From left to right: Lesly Herre_ted folks within the community.

Thumbnail of Andrés Rojas, is a n_ights, New York. June 12, 2021.

Thumbnail of Christin Guerrero represents Tr_ns Health Awareness month 2021.

Thumbnail of Christin Guerrero performs at T_ Borjas Way in Jackson Heights.

Thumbnail of Daniela Soler says goodbye to h_ckson Heights, Queens New York.

Thumbnail of Detail of Translatina participa_s Latinx communities in Queens.

Thumbnail of Daniela Soler is performing to _ckson Heights, Queens New York.

Public Story

TransLatinx Resilience against Covid-19

Copyright joana toro 2024

Updated Aug 2022

Location Queens New York

Topics Documentary, Editorial, Fine Art, Gay Rights, Health/Healing, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, Journalism, Photography, Photojournalism

TransLatinx Resilience against Covid-19 (2020-2021)

This project documents how transgender and gender nonconforming Latinx immigrants in Queens, NY have mobilized to resist the impact of the Covid-19.

The starting point of this essay the tragic passing of TransLatina activist and icon Lorena Borjas due to COVID-19 illness. Lorena worked for over 26 years on the frontlines, fighting to help the Trans immigrant community in Queens survive and to navigate the seemingly insurmountable challenges of ongoing discrimination in employment, homelessness, hate crimes, and poverty.

These photographs celebrate the beauty and resilience of a community which has been severely impacted by loss of life and livelihood caused by the pandemic.

This work was supported by the National Geographic Society’s Emergency Fund for Journalists.

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joana toro

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