DOMINGO REGALADO | Victor Escobar 2004

The repression of the gay community by the militaries and the church during the Franco regime in Spain was enormous and a lot of people were killed.

Domingo Regalado, a sharp tongue paisan in the small Buena Vista Village (Tenerife/Canary Islands), had a secret dream: being a woman. In the 60's during the village carnaval festivities he had a revealing experience that turn his life apart: the government authorities had unwillingly to accept Domingo Regalado homosexual tendencies.

The first day of the mayor carnaval procession Domingo was leading as Pharaoh the "Egyptian Caravan", but let's say it, more in a Cleopatra style. That of course cause that the city Major forbid him to appear in public like this. Everyone in the procession was completely upset and his caravan and the others menaced the major of boycotting the procession if Domingo Regalado wasn't let to parade with them. The major had to accept the protest and Domingo did the show of his life!

During his life Domingo suffer blackmail, exploitation and strong persecution from the conservative spanish society but he remains happy, easy going and conform with his life. He used to dress up as a Virgin and sit outside the road in a bench of rocks to entertain tourists. He died alone and in poverty in 2006.

The music accompanying the video is an original 1931's recording. The famous singer "La Argentinita", accompanied in the piano by the great spanish poet Federico García Lorca, sings the "Zorongo Gitano" (Gypsy Zorongo) a tipical Sevillana melody. By slowing down the music the "La Argentinita" voice became a very masculine sound. The castanets and the piano acquires a very sad and kind of mysterious tone.

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[afs928]

Thanks for this memorial to him...!

[afs928]

I proudly can say that Domingo was part of my family...

[legolas1601]

good video