“That gay Mexican American kid in 1950s East L.A. with his dark secret could never have imagined being on stage and in a film singing and dancing about being a gay Latino. Ain’t life interesting?” ~ Dan Guerrero
Talented, intelligent, witty, kind, entertainer, producer, director, writer, award winner, artist, educator, and activist all accurately describe Dan Guerrero, but the term he chose for his autobiographical one-man show is “Gaytino.” Experiencing life as both a gay man and a Latino has given Guerrero unique insights into the intersection of those communities that he shares in his show not only to entertain but to bring awareness to many of the issues faced by the LGBTQ and Latinx communities.
Growing up in the repressive climate of East Los Angeles in the 1950s it wasn’t easy to be Latino or gay, but Dan Guerrero was taught the importance of being proud of who you are and standing up for your rights from his father, Chicano music legend, Lalo Guerrero. At the age of twenty, Dan Guerrero moved to New York City to study musical theater and become a Broadway actor. Although he was extremely talented, he was denied a lot of roles because he was “too Mediterranean”. Instead of packing up and going home, Guerrero became a very successful agent. For twenty years he represented some of the biggest names on Broadway and in Hollywood including Sarah Jessica Parker and Fran Drescher. When he returned to Los Angeles, he continued his work in entertainment, producing and directing events at various venues including the Kennedy Center and La Cite de la Musique. He has also produced documentaries and works celebrating Latinx culture including programs highlighting the achievements of Cesar Chavez, and a PBS documentary on his father.
At an age when most people retire, Dan Guerrero continues using his voice to make the world a better place for everyone. In addition to telling his personal experiences in both the Chicano movement and the LGBTQ movement through ¡Gaytino! Made in America, Guerrero has taught courses and conducted workshops at the University of California Los Angeles to help other artists tell their stories and let their experiences be heard. He continues to teach and inspire others to be proud of who they are and to stand up for their rights.