The Matilde Moros Annual Lecture, Featuring Dr. Rachel González-Martin

TOPIC | Transitioning into Joy: Quinceañera Celebrations and Embodied Storytelling

Date: Thursday, Mar 5, 2026

Start time: 12:30 PM

End time: 6:15 PM

Location: STEM Building Room 110 (817 W. Franklin Street)

Audience: This event is FREE and open to all!

Description

All are invited to join GSWS and the VCU Humanities Research for the Matilde Moros Annual Lecture featuring Dr. Rachel González-Martin, Monday 10/14 at 2:30 PM in STEM Building Room 110.

This special annual event is held in memory and honor of our beloved colleague, friend, and co-conspirator—Dr. Matilde Moros

In her presentation, Dr. González-Martin will discuss the case of Mexican American Zoey Luna’s quinceañera as the lead story of HBO’s four-part documentary series, 15: A Quinceañera Story (2017). Through her analyses, Dr. González-Martin confronts the way in which depictions of trans and gender expansive youth communities in popular media are often used to reinscribe and leverage their vulnerability and pain for profit. This presentation asks, what becomes possible in Latinx/e communities when we foreground joy?

 A reception with light refreshments will follow the presentation and a connected forum discussion will take place at 3:45pm in STEM Building Room 110.

This event is FREE and open to all! RSVP to attend.

Sponsor(s): The Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies, The Department of African American Studies, The Department of Sociology, The Global Education Office, The Humanities Research Center, The School of Social Work, and The School of World Studies

Event contact: Michi Gardner, gsws@vcu.edu