In 1997, a former homeless teen hustler became an unlikely contributor to the literary arts as the first openly gay Nuyorican poet to emerge from the spoken word slam scene.
Latinx poet and activist, Emanuel Xavier was born in Brooklyn, New York. He is author of the novel, Christ Like, and the poetry collections Pier Queen, If Jesus Were Gay, Nefarious, Radiance and Selected Poems of Emanuel Xavier.
Xavier was named an LGBTQ Icon by The Equality Forum, has been presented a New York City Council Citation Award, received International Latino Book Awards and Lambda Literary Award nominations and American Library Association Over the Rainbow Books selections. He is recipient of a Gay City Impact Award and The Marsha A. Gomez Cultural Heritage Award.
There was a time when all I had was spoken word poetry to turn to for self-healing. I needed the love and support of strangers in the audience to validate my struggle and history. I didn’t have the opportunity, as I’ve mentioned many times before, to pursue a formal literary education. I didn’t have the privilege of going to therapy to work out my issues with abandonment, sexual abuse, drug addiction, and violence.
I could’ve easily ended up in prison or dead like most of my peers. My craft did not guarantee me personal survival, success, or even fame and fortune, but it did offer hope. I’m not trying to misguide anyone into thinking that pursuing one’s passion is what’s going to resolve one’s issues, but it can at least offer hope. So having privilege is great but passion and talent can also be their own rewards.
—Emanuel Xavier, interview with Lambda Literary
Photo by Shane Lukas