The article “For LGBT mariachi band, the music is free of machismo” by Hailey Branson-Potts analyzes the way a LGBT mariachi band is able to function in a genre based on machismo. This article introduce Carlos Samaniego, the director and founder of Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles. What sets this mariachi band apart from other is that they call themselves “the world’s first LGBT mariachi band.” The thing that makes this so unique is that the mariachi genre is dominated by machismo. Mariachi has traditionally been known to present values of men and their interest. Most of the time these interest are love or lust for a woman. Due to this machismo found in the mariachi, Samaniego and his group have suffered. They have been put down and overlooked due to their ideology. However they have not given up. No matter the obstacles that this machismo dominated genre present to Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles, they still work to try and create a “safe haven” for the LGBT community who enjoy mariachi. This concept of a “safe haven” is how this article relates to the readings. In the Introduction of Next of Kin, the concept of a “safe haven” is also mentioned. Like in the mariachi article this need for a “safe haven” is due to machismo. Machismo can be dominant and overpowering to the point where everyone who is not a male suffers. The idea that a “safe haven” is needed due to machismo is how the article and the readings relate.

http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-rainbow-mariachi-20151127-story.html