Border Stories:
A five year chapter of my life was spent in El Paso, Texas, where I taught theatre at The University of Texas, El Paso (UTEP). When I first moved to the border in 1999, I set out to learn about the region and its history. My maternal grandfather was born in Jimenez in the state of Chihuahua, not far from Ciudad Juarez, which is just across the Rio Grande from the University. He lived for sometime on the border and I could very easily have been born and raised there. I feel my own family history is part of the history of the border. I was intrigued by the oral history institute at The University of Texas at El Paso which holds a treasure chest of compelling, dramatic and informative stories of life on the borderlands. But when I started acquainting myself with the archives, I was immediately struck by the lack of queer voices represented there. Border Stories grew out of my desire to connect with queer people on the U.S. – Mexico border and to add their stories to the public record.
Beginning in 2000 I interviewed over 50 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people living on the U.S – Mexico border. I then transcribed the interviews and donated them to The Oral History Institute at UTEP. Queer people have been written out of history in so many ways (not only on the border) so it was very important to me to add queer stories to the archives as documentation, not only of queer people’s existence there but as proof of the diversity of human experience. As a theatre artist I was eager to share the stories and voices I had gathered. I selected and edited numerous interviews and created a play which now consists of 21 different monologues.
The show has changed and developed over the years into a solo performance piece. I have brought Border Stories to numerous venues around the country including, Cal State L.A., The University of Colorado, Boulder, Columbia University, Rutgers University, The University of Vermont, and The Flynn Space in Burlington, Vermont where it was performed as a fundraiser to support Statewide HIV/AIDS initiatives and to raise awareness for the LGBT community.
Gregory Ramos' account of queer life on the Southern Border is a modern story, and a story that helps to illuminate the late twentieth century for us. By bringing together both queer bodies and the border he has created a piece that speaks about universalities but also about particularities.
Dr. Glen Elder, Geographer
Gregory Ramos has crafted a solo performance that builds character and context toward a quiet but deeply touching conclusion. He raises your consciousness about performance and meaning-making.
Dr. Jeff Friedman, Dance and Oral History Scholar
Border Stories carries the spectator beyond the real of lived lives into the surreal of watching a single actor transmute into male and female, young and old, queer and questioning with an inner eye looking outward to show the truth.
Dr. Lynne Greeley, Theatre Historian