Cartagena to crown new Gay Queen of Carnival

Dubis Yepez, professional stylist and beauty salon owner, will be crowned Gay Queen of Carnival in Cartagena next month.

El Tiempo asked Yepez if he had always dreamed of becoming a queen, to which he responded, “We all dream of being queen of something. But my reign will also have a social component: to work to change the image of trans people in Colombia.”

“I’m from San Juan Nepomuceno and I left the town very young,” Yepez said, “Now I am an activist for GBLT [gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgender] rights in Barranquilla.”

Yepez came out of the closet at the age of 17, but says he had always known that he wanted to be a woman. His parents had trouble understanding, but Yepez was already living independently when they found out.

The new queen-to-be has had breast implants and liposuction, but has not had full sex-change surgery.

Yepez plans to pay his respects to the former queen of Barranquilla, Estercita Forero, during this year’s carnival.

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