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This article is part of a month-long look at the challenges, triumphs and everyday life of Albuquerque’s LGBTQIA+ community. In keeping with the theme of Pride Month, each article will be in the format of a transcribed interview, allowing these people to speak directly to us and to our readers in their own words.
Gael Luna is a trans immigrant artist whose recent work highlights trans and queer athletes from New Mexico, using cultural elements such as Mexican wrestling masks to represent complex notions of sexual and national identity, political struggle and, perhaps most importantly, strength. Originally from Ciudad Juarez, Luna has been a wrestler since they were a child, and as an adult, they are bringing a different type of fight to the international stage. As a digital creator and strongman competitor, Luna has been doing some pretty heavy lifting in 2025 both inside and outside of the gym, encouraging others to stand in the face of injustice and fly their brightest colors with Pride.
Would tell us a little bit about your art?
I’m a visual artist, and I work with the trans community to convey their stories and shift narratives and cultural perspectives. So my artwork connects people with their gender identities, sexualities and their culture. At the moment there is a lot of misinformation and narratives put out there in the media about us. I believe that when people feel heard and seen in their authentic self, they can connect with one another. And right now, we need to encourage people who have historically been oppressed to share their true selves and create a world that is more accepting and inclusive for everybody.
I’ve developed a body of work called “Lucha Libre: Trans Queer Art Espectacular.” It’s an immersion installation of custom designed Lucha Libre capes and masks. I got the idea because in Mexico, luchadores don’t use masks to hide themselves. Instead of hiding who they are, they use the mask to actually show who they truly are, and to celebrate those identities. And so I use that as a way to really represent who our Trans communities in New Mexico are at the moment. There’s a lot of policy changes about sports and trans people being able to participate. The “Lucha Libre” trans art project contributes to the conversation by centering trans people and queer stories from a perspective of empowerment and honest expression.
You’re an athlete, too. What kind of athlete are you?
I used to primarily do running. Through sports or physical activities, I feel like I’ve been able to express myself and feel more comfortable in my body as a trans person. I grew up wrestling in middle school and high school. Recently I found this queer-owned gym called Evolution Strength and Conditioning on San Mateo and Zuni. It’s super cute because they’re literally a big queer gym working on this sport called “strongman,” and they lift really weird, heavy stuff. For the past year and a half, I have been training, and I just completed my first strongman competition like a month ago. They opened a category for trans folks to participate, and I did, and it was really awesome.
We know that there is legislation stacking up against the trans community right now, and I was wondering if you had encountered any of that. What are you facing policywise?
There’s definitely been a lot of rapid changes. A lot of trans folks are feeling the shifts and uncertainty about what the future can look like in terms of access to healthcare and employment and other necessary things that we need to live. Many trans undocumented people have never really had access to healthcare or been able to medically transition, and now they are facing greater threats: being deported and separated from their families. They migrated to the United States seeking safety and to be able to live a life as a trans person. So yeah, they are facing dangers. When folks are constantly thinking about their physical safety as a trans person and an immigrant person, both in this country and in their home countries, they are not truly allowed to live. I think people are doing what they know how to do best, and that is organizing themselves and having each other’s back.
Do you think that New Mexico is in a better or worse position than the rest of the nation, as far as having support systems for trans folks?
Not only has New Mexico had protection policies established for many trans people, it has also had protection policies for immigrants. New Mexican community leaders have been doing the groundwork for generations to make our home a welcoming place, not just at the legislative level, but in many other ways. I’ve seen people organize support groups and free events where people can exchange anything from clothing to food to supplies. Events where people can just take care of themselves physically and mentally.
How does that support system apply to self expression through art?
I think a lot of folks are seeking a new place, and they’re making New Mexico that new place. We are seeing a lot of threats from the federal administration, and I think as an artist, it is extremely important for me to talk about art as a vehicle for conversations about who we are and bring people together. I’ve been an artist for over 10 years now, and last year I became a full-time artist. The entire time I talked about trans communities and intersections with immigration — bringing the LGBTQ+ and immigrant community together to talk about each other’s obstacles and barriers and how they are interwound — and created art pieces that speak to those realities. I’ve had extremely supportive partnerships,, and I feel really grateful to be able to express myself and contribute in this way.
What are you upbeat about and excited about right now? It’s Pride Month, so we want to talk about the cool stuff.
Trans and queer people are just very loving, and Pride is a reminder of all the work we’ve done to get to where we are right now. I love all the events from the parades to the dances to the queer pool parties — all the little events happening across town — and I really encourage people to continue to go to the spaces that call for them. Yeah, there’s a lot of changes happening and a lot of uncertainty and fear, but there’s nothing better [than] to heal and talk about our struggles and what’s concerning us as we celebrate one another, because we made it far and we’re going to continue.
What do you have planned personally?
There’s a lot happening so I’ll go out with everyone and celebrate! July 24 we’re going to have an opening reception at the Transgender Resource Center with the athletes whose stories I have lifted through this art. We’re going to have a panel discussion talking about our stories and our experiences as trans athletes participating in sports or participating in our gyms and what this means for us in the current moment that we’re living.
In Their Own Words: A Different Type of Caped Crusader is a story from The Paper.. Publishing from New Mexico’s largest city, The Paper is your source for local, independent news, covering politics, arts, culture, and events.