On September 30, 2008, I went to Rutgers University in New Jersey, to attend my dear friend Chaco’s defense of his Doctoral dissertation:

Getting Life in 2 Worlds:
Prevention and Power in the New York City House Ball Community

In discussing his dissertation Rivera-Colón pointed out that in looking at the whole of his investigation, he realized that among other achievements, his work ultimately, is a narrative of the “failure of the Gay and Lesbian Liberation Movement of the 70’s to incorporate Black and Latino people.”

His Dissertation Committee Comprised by, Louisa Schien, thesis chair, Associate Professor
Department of Anthropology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Peter Guarnaccia, Professor and Chair of the Department of Human Ecology and Investigator at the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research; Ana Yolanda Ramos-Zayas, Associate Professor in the Departments of Anthropology and Latino & Hispanic Caribbean Studies; and, Carlos U. Decena, Assistant Professor, Latino and Hispanic Caribbean Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies.

Carlos U. Decena, another Latino scholar whose important and ground breaking contributions to theory are on my watch, described the last Chapter of the dissertation (on the renowned film: Paris Is Burning,) as a “gift” every person in the committee agreed and encouraged for its publication.

Trough his work, advise and discussions I learned to see the House Balls in NYC on a complete different light. Chaco’s ability to apply complex theories to his observations of the House Balls and his talent to explain them in lay words to me. allowed me to have a better, enhanced understanding of the House Balls and continue to have fun watching them. Watching Paris Is Burning again after beneffiting from his insight was amazing!

As a Latino anthropologist with expertise in HIV prevention among queer communities of color, I am sure Edgar’s work will continue to contribute to this field.

Among those attending this occasion were Edgar’s sister Lilliam and her wife Elsa , Jason, long time friend, partner, support of Edgar. Below are some pictures of this event of which I was proud to attend. If you have Edgar’s e-mail please write to him to congratulate him, leave him a message here, or both.