Queer Casita

By Katherine Bahena-Benitez

Build me a house where we can exist unapologetically 

A house where we can dance, sing and vogue freely 

Build me a house where the house is made of wood blessed by palo santo

Palo santo from the ancestors straight from mother earth, madre tierra 

Dale de todo, dale de todo, dale de todo 

Gifts from our queer, trans and two-spirit elders passed on from generation to generation

Let it be a reminder that our medicina will always exist and it is yes, very healing

Dame una casita donde podremos existir feliz, feliz, feliz 

Una casita where we are safe

Safe from the hate

Hate not made from us but created as an attack towards us 

Build me a house where we can sit in the comfort of our living room without the fear of being harmed.

Build me a house where we can watch drag race, listen to precious—ra ta ta ta—eat popcorn, laugh, and celebrate our simple queer and trans existence. 

You see, that is a dream of mine, 

Un sueno mio 

Where casita is not constricted by the dimensions of four walls

But una casita that exists beyond four walls

Beyond borders 

Without borders

For home to exist, out in the world 

For us to embrace the world and for the world to embrace us. 

Let us live. 

Let us live. 

Not only at home but outside in the world.

Let us build a house.

Build me a house. 

You see, build me a house.

Where it is a community house. 

The QUEER CASITA. 

House of the QUEERS. 

Where everyone is welcomed. 

Is that too much to ask for? 

Give us our Queer casita.