Gume Laurel III

Jotxs y Recuerdos

In this episode of "Jotxs y Recuerdos," Gume Laurel III, a gay Latino writer from Weslaco, TX discusses his journey from coming out at 13 to navigating his identity in a conservative, religious, and machismo-dominated environment. He highlights the importance of chosen family, especially for queer individuals who may not find acceptance at home. He emphasizes the significance of representation in literature and his efforts to include diverse characters in his books, which tackle themes of racial and religious suppression. Gume also reads from his poetry collection, "Lovers in Hindsight." You can purchase his books online!
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Gume is a Texan, native to the Rio Grande Valley, a border region along the southernmost US/MX borderlands. For the past decade, he has dedicated himself to crafting literary works that promote inclusion and showcase diverse characters with intersectional identities. Gume’s stories especially highlight the underrepresented groups he is a part of: Latine, Chicanx and queer. His first traditionally published hi-lo verse novel, Samson & Domingo, received Honorable Mention for Best in LGBTQ+ Themed Book from the International Latino Book Awards. When Gume isn’t writing, he can be found getting lost on a hiking trail with his dogs Blu and Mouse. He's also a botana connoisseur, considers himself a professional amateur poet, and claims he could probably be a good DJ if he tried.
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Recorded and released in 2017