Lupe's Gender Identity In 'As For Our Lady'

In rejecting traditional Catholicism, Latinxs were able to reframe who “God” is to them and who God loves/accepts. Some refuse religious categorizations or labels and reinterpret God as simply a higher power. This reinterpretation refuses ascribing a higher power to a particular organized religion and makes one that is more open and freer (Caraves, 220). This God or higher power ultimately resides in one’s body, heart, and mind, not a designated church or bible. Thus, it can be found and connected with from within in each and every person regardless of sexual orientation (Caravez, 220). Others study scriptures from the bible to make sense of their gender and sexuality. Camilo, for instance, learn through scriptures “that his gender identity and queer sexuality was in fact a gift that God gave

By answering the question, López imagines and visually illustrates “Lupe’s” physical appearance. Although López exposes legs, torso, and chest/collarbone, she is not sexualizing her. Instead, the body of La Virgen de Guadalupe is being normalized and depicted as symbol of empowerment and a goddess (Pérez, 193). The piece gained immense attention and backlash from the Latin and religious communities as they felt La Virgen de Guadalupe was being disrespected and made a joke. However, López argues that it is traditionalist Catholics whom are disrespecting the icon, as they are the ones who are sexualizing her body. López points out, “this body here is not acting sexually, she is standing there, looking,” thus, the viewer is guilty of acting sexually (López, 36:50). Our Lady resists the sexualization and control over women’s bodies and of La Virgen de Guadalupe. Love, femininity, and strength is central to Alma López’s artwork which works to expose, discredit, and resist Catholicism’s homophobia, transphobia, and