In the early 2000s, Carlos Samaniego was a student at Cal State Los Angeles, a college campus just outside of downtown LA with a large Latinx population. While there, he drew an esteemed group of musicians to an original concept: A group of queer Latinx students would stage a mock gay Mexican wedding during Pride Month, at a time when gay marriage was still a topic of debate. From that experiment, Carlos, a student of mariachi since he was a young boy, came up with the idea of creating an all-LGBTQ+ mariachi band. It was immediately successful, and the band was quickly hired for some local club work. But the demands of student life and performing at that level took a toll, and the group eventually took a long break.

Ten years later, in 2013, Carlos revisited the idea, recognizing the impact a group of its kind could make on both the LGBTQ+ and Latinx communities. He decided it was time to revive Mariachis Arcoiris, and the band gave its first performance on Valentine’s Day 2014. Next year, they will celebrate a decade of music. 

Samaniego understood the group would provide a safe haven for musicians, including his longtime friend and musical collaborator Natalia Melendez, a trans woman he has known since childhood. Natalia comes from an entire family of skilled mariachi performers, and Carlos identified Mariachis Arcoiris as an opportunity to let her showcase her musical gifts while embracing complete openness about her identity. 

Carlos also sees the impact of the group’s performances on a queer audience when beloved, romantic mariachi songs are presented in a new light by queer performers. “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha presents a new context for how queer people fight for safety and respect in our society. 

The performers are elegantly dressed in perfectly tailored, neutral costumes accented by beautiful, rainbow-toned accessories—belt buckles, hat trimmings, neckties and flowers—to convey professionalism alongside their identity. The group commands the respect of its audience, with talent that is unequivocal. In June, they performed at dozens of Pride events all over California, and most recently traveled to New York to perform at Lincoln Center. 

The group continues to be pleasantly surprised by its emotional effect on audiences. This ranges from grandparents from conservative backgrounds seeing queer culture with fresh eyes to young Latinx queer audience members tearfully listening to the nostalgic music of their elders performed by confident, queer musicians. 

Through Mariachis Arcoiris, Carlos sees the opportunity for traditional art forms to share messages of acceptance and embrace. This includes Mexico de Colores, a folklórico group from Mexico City that performs in an exaggerated drag style and acts out important—and even painful—stories of queer identity.“ Mariachis Arcoiris has the potential to change minds, to have an impact on culture,” Carlos says. “We have a bubble in Los Angeles with the combination of the Mexican community and also the LGBTQ+ community. We can be appreciated in Los Angeles like no other place.”