Prolific Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas to Perform at El Camino College in Observance of Transgender Day of Remembrance

The celebrated Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas will visit El Camino College on Nov. 20 to observe Transgender Day of Remembrance. The all-female mariachi band – standout artists in a male-dominated genre – will perform from noon to 2 p.m. in the Student Services Plaza.

Founded in Boyle Heights by musical director Maricela Martínez, Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas has performed, collaborated, and participated in several high-profile projects, including the Latin Grammy Awards with Mon Laferte, Martha Stewart & Snoop Dogg’s cookout, Red Bull Music Academy, Netflix, and Phillip Lim. They also performed at the White House earlier this year, among many other appearances.

Throughout the musical performance, students, alumni, and faculty will honor the victims of anti-trans violence and share their thoughts while bringing awareness to the significance of this day. Refreshments will be provided.

Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual recognition of the 1998 murder of Rita Hester, a highly visible member of the transgender community in her native Boston who worked to promote awareness and education regarding transgender issues. The following year, advocate and writer Gwendolyn Ann Smith coordinated a vigil in Rita’s honor; this vigil continues today, commemorating Rita’s life and work, and all those tragically lost to anti-transgender violence. More than two decades later, police still have not found Rita’s murderer.

“Our transgender students, faculty, and staff need our support now more than ever as they deal with the dangerous consequences from the misinformation and hurtful lies that were spread during this past election,” said El Camino College LGBTQIA+ Student Success Coordinator Kenny Simkins. “We are especially pleased to welcome Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas to campus as they share their message of peace and acceptance.”

Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas includes housewives, students, mothers, and musicians who enjoy sharing their Mexican and mariachi culture and longtime traditions with the world.

Martínez, a musician with more than 20 years of experience in the mariachi business, started the group in 2007 with the goal to introduce this music to younger generations around the world. She comes from a long family tradition of mariachi musicians from Jalisco, Mexico, where she has been a member of the most prestigious mariachi bands on both sides of the border. In addition to her passion for music and Mexican traditions, Martínez is an activist who seeks to be always aware of the social events that impact her locality, constantly speaking out publicly in favor of human rights and taking sides in different causes and projects of a social nature.

Guest speakers at the event include: El Camino professor Azul Celeste Rodriguez; Cedric-Achilles Sanabria, 2024-25 Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Club president; Dean Jophiel Washington, 2023-24 GSA vice president and 2024-25 GSA CAUSE representative; and Blue Chandler, ECC alum and 2023-24 GSA president. In addition, a Transgender Memorial will be located outside of the Social Justice Center, in the Student Services Plaza, starting on Nov. 14 and will remain on display for one week. The memorial will feature photos and bios of the lives that were lost to fatal violence against the transgender and gender expansive community in 2024.

Transgender Day of Remembrance is one of many programs coordinated by El Camino’s LGBTQIA+ PRIDE Center designed to support students and staff. Other events include Transgender Day of Visibility each spring, annual PRIDE Week activities, and the college just celebrated LGBTQIA+ History Month in October. El Camino also offers opportunities for the college community to be an ally and/or an advocate through the LGBTQIA+ Safe Zone Project, which provides specialized training that gives service members, staff, faculty, and administrators the opportunity to learn best practices in supporting queer students and their allies on campus. In addition, a network of resources is available to students, both on campus and in the community.

El Camino Community College District encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the El Camino College LGBTQIA+ PRIDE Center as soon as possible, but no later than seven days prior to the event.

For more information about El Camino College’s LGBTQIA+ resources, view www.elcamino.edu/support/resources/lgbtqia-resources/ or contact eccpridecenter@elcamino.edu.