Ride It Good: Adventures from México City's Último Vagón

A este episodio le quité lo más que pude el ruido de fondo. Es el episodio de una metamorfosis consumada.

Zafiro y La Sigua reseñan un clásico de la literatura gay de México: El vampiro de la colonia Roma. “Los niños perdidos son los huérfanos de todos los órdenes conocidos. Bienaventurados los huérfanos, el caos del mundo les pertenece.” Tiqqun.

Este episodio es como la putiplaya del amorts, corto y dulce.

La Sigua reseña el libro Cruising de Alex Espinoza y lo usa de excusa para compendiar y resumir el argumento que está desperdigado en los episodios, para un poco más de cohesión y articulación.

La otra cara de la moneda en Guatemala, el bajo fondo. Siempre hasta el fondo con todo: las crisis existenciales, los tragos y toques, el culo y el Último. La Sigua junto a Byron y Manuel exploran la escena del cruising en Guatemala.

Este es uno de mis episodios favoritos de la temporada. La Sigua y Alejandro reseñan Un Chant d’amour de Jean Genet. Puse La Puerta Negra de Los Tigres del Norte como canto de amor a mis papás que no pudieron encerrarme por mucho que quisieron. Es talvez el episodio más íntimo de la temporada. Hablamos del privilegio de ser jota por tener esos minúsculos espacios donde se atisba un lujo que otra gente no va a poder tener jamás. Que los progres digan que los bugas son privilegiados cuando no tienen el privilegio de metrear, por ejemplo, es una testarudez de la buena víctima. El pasaje de lo abyecto a lo sublime, de lo sórdido a lo digno, constituye la perversión, que en este mediometraje también se manifiesta en el estoicismo de procurarse espacios inaccesibles para quien te somete.

Panch y La Sigua hablan sobre salud, entronería, pandemias, vishos, gestión del riesgo y del deseo. El paradigma de (auto)inmunización se consuma en la anulación de la comunidad y la autofagia. Para allá vamos con la nueva normalidad.

La Rata Panteonera, la Teletubi y La Sigua reseñan la película de William Friedkin de 1980. Fue el primer episodio que grabé estando en pandemia, por lo que estábamos pachipedas embriagando nuestro luto por la pérdida del último vagón que nos trajo el confinamiento y la sana distancia. Esta película muestra cómo deseos reprimidos se regresan en deseos de represión, y también como la sociabilidad y subjetividad se retroalimentan constantemente, entre la supresión y la instigación.

Carmen y La Sigua le huyen a lo fresa y hablan sobre el periodismo y visibilidad, y los retos diferenciados entre jotos y lenchas entre reproducir y desafiar los roles de género. Pueden consultar su proyecto en www.transmasculinidad.com.

Francisco y La Sigua charlan sobre el contexto gay en Guatemala y sobre la movilidad urbana como gran conformadora del cruising en una sociabilidad profundamenta marcada por la inseguridad y la violencia. También discuten el racismo en Guatemala, sincretismo religioso y aceptación gay en familias indígenas desde la empatía entre minorías.

Leslie platica con La Sigua sobre vínculos parejiles y líquidez afectiva reseñando algunas producciones filmográficas. Ambos esquemas fungen como falsos refugios de una soledad angustiada y ansiosa que se inflinge desde la familia, cuyo modelo gira entorno al abandono de la infancia vulnerable y desprotegida.

La Sigua habla con Gabriel sobre redes sociales y entronería, sobre la adicción, socialmente aceptada e incentivada, hacia las pantallas de dispositivos móviles y su zombificación.

Este episodio rinde honor a quienes invierten papeles y son putas en la calle y santas en la cama, a quienes se rehusan a ser las buenas víctimas de la progresitud, cuya moral se nutre del resentimiento y amargura (nunca de la picardía ni la alegría) y cuyo cauce natural tiene como consecuencia última parir victimarios. Clara y La Sigua reseñan A dama do lotaçao, una película brasileña de 1978.

Axel y La Sigua retoman esta temporada donde se quedó la primera temporada y platican sobre el vihcho, estigma, salud, medicina, moral y cruising.

En tiempos donde estornudar en público es objeto de reprobación y lo incontenible de la espontaneidad es sancionado, La Sigua lanza este proyecto. Este episodio es introductorio de toda la temporada.

For this season finale La Siguamonta decided to switch it up and make this episode in español with two extra special guests (and Val & La Chispita in the background also) to discuss (if the laughter allows them) recurring topics throughout the season such as how has el Último Vagón evolved, how are complicities built around it, how does it allow for non-sexual interactions and what is the charm, uniqueness and even nostalgia of it. Lots of great anecdotes accompanying, of course. In the hopes that you enjoyed my little tribute to el Último Vagón, I truly thank you for listening to it. It has been a hell of a ride for me to make this podcast and I can frankly say I owe so much to a place that has made me idealistic despite being surrounded by a world that makes me grow pessimist in so many ways. El Último Vagón feels like home indeed to a nomadic and disenchanted immigrant like me. Instagram @lasiguamonta @agathaangustia

La Siguamonta uses this episode as a much needed therapy session (can’t afford real therapy, don’t blame me), so here he is rambling about his personal experiences this week with ghosting, straight-entitlement and friendly complicities on el Último Vagón. Despite unfortunate events (like getting ghosted or running into nasty bugas), el Último Vagón has proved itself to be a shelter and a refuge that provides solace and consolation in the face of what one might run up into. That’s why La Siguamonta keeps reaffirming his commitment to el Último Vagón by sharing the word of la entronería. Wagon Jargon -fresearse (verb): to get too picky or selective with the people you get it on with, and the activities you are willing to take on. -arrojo (noun): spunk, assurance, fearlessness, boldness. -buga (noun): pejorative term to name a straight person. Instagram @lasiguamonta

How is el Último Vagón a place for novelty to happen? How is keeping the cruising action going a form of undeliberate resistance? How have ultimovagoneros adapted to governmental efforts of ending with the last wagon? For this episode La Siguamonta brings along her friend Juandi to discuss the chance of having happenings on el Último Vagón as a contrast from everyday life which may seem monotonous and like nothing happens. Juandi, a well-humoured cruising lover, shares some of his experiencies and insights on el Último Vagón. Wagon Jargon -Marra (noun): a famous gay bar in the center of México City, it’s almost a tradition. -Aplaudida (noun): someone who is applauded, but it’s like gay lingo (props to Tadi for making it a thing). -Desaplaudida (noun): unaplaudida -Sobreaplaudida (noun): overaplaudida. Instagram @lasiguamonta @srajuan

Why is cruising a gay-only activity? For this episode La Siguamonta and his roommate, Val, discuss the lencha cruising possibilities. As a precocious, early bloomer in the sexual arena, Val has the entronería spirit inside her. Here she shares some of her anecdotes regarding el Último Vagón, cruising and female homosexuality. As non-binary AFAB, Val also shares how gender ambiguity plays an ambivalent reaction from guys and girls who mistake her for a cis man. Wagon Jargon -Lencha (noun): a lezzie. -La prepa (noun): highschool. -Zona rosa (noun): gay village in CDMX. -Mirada braguetera (noun): since bragueta is the zipper to the trousers, a mirada braguetera is a bulge gaze/scan, considered flirting and, to me, very arousing. -Darse a respetar (verb, usually imperative): phrase told mostly to girls meaning they should not be hoes or have sex slightly, rather they should do it with a man who “respects” them before getting laid with them. Very gente-bien type of deal. Instagram @lasiguamonta If you like my content you can support me on patreon (/lasiguamonta).

Could el Último Vagón be gentrified? Can tourism be considered light colonialism? What criminal and nomadic potentialities do cruising in general and el Último Vagón in particular harbor? The first alternative to grindr that comes to mind is the usual serious committed relationship, La Siguamonta and Tadeo think there are other ways of bonding with other gays without loosing hoeness yet without being a gapp asshole. In this episode La Siguamonta and Tadeo discuss some recurring topics under a more theoretical (yet unpretentious) light. The charm of el Último Vagón is the difficulty to assimilate it (or punish it) into something with utility for the decay that is capitalism and the enlightenment project. Shall only cockroaches inhabit it’s shadows and make them proliferate. Wagon Jargon -Malinche: an historical mexican figure known for being a traductor to spaniard conquistadores and for betraying the natives. Malinchista would be someone who betrays a colonized people in favour of the colonizers, which could be my case if I don’t take care of my beloved Último Vagón. -El Tahur: a canteen/tacky bar at el centro in México City frequented mostly by older gay guys (the ones that wouldn’t feel comfortable at gay clubs). Instagram @lasiguamonta Pd. Sorry about my poor editing job with this episode, I’m really just tired and felt like going raw (pun intended) with this one.

How has globalization brought about pinkwashing, normalization and the disappearing of cruising spots? How can gringo entitlement be compensated? These are some of the questions posed in this episode to reflect on the world we live in and how to inhabit the margins and ruins it inevitably produces. La Siguamonta employs the term "gente mal" to describe people who move away from the traditional worker-consumer law-abiding citizen type of individual that is usually flattened out for mass consumption and production, and who are more prone to have more intense and significant ways of living. Wagon Jargon: Chairo/a (noun): someone with politically progressive (believes in progress to a degree) point of views. The equivalent would be a leftist. Gente bien (noun): people of good (exact translation), kind of a subtle way of describing people that are not poor, not fem, not racialized and usually into vainilla sex. Instagram @lasiguamonta

How does el Último Vagón compare itself with the cruising scene in Germany? What is to be taking into account if you’re a traveler using el Último Vagón? For this episode La Siguamonta interviews Otto as he just discovered el Último Vagón. They discuss the cruising scene in Germany and his thoughts on el Último Vagón. He took some great polaroids that are on my insta @lasiguamonta. Wagon Jargon -Gringo/a (adjective or noun): usually a person from the United States but to me anyone from Canada, the US or Western Europe (if they can’t distinguish between Guatemala and El Salvador I won’t distinguish their countries). Usually used pejoratively. PD. Sorry if the recording’s not the best, Otto has a low speaking voice compared to mine.

How has el Último Vagón changed over the years? Can it be reinvigorated to what it used to be? For this episode La Siguamonta pays his dues to people that paved his way and interviews a longtime metrera to discuss how has the metro cruising scene evolved throughout the years. Grayson Skye shares her amazing storytelling techniques to give us some insight about what el Último Vagón used to be. The funniest and most telling episode so far! Wagon Jargon -Metrero/a (noun referring a person): a user of el Último Vagón (usually in a sexual way). -Putear (verb): to hoe. -Chacal (noun): mexican thug, usually toned body, dark skin, tattoos. Sometimes also referred to as mayate. Instagram @lasiguamonta

Can allyships be formed between gays and women at el Último Vagón? For this episode, la Siguamonta brings a special friend to talk about the possibility of gay and straight complicities in el Último Vagón. They also discuss their metreada and the criminality revolving around el Último Vagón in particular and the metro in general. Wagon Jargon -Buga (noun or adjective): a straight person, can be used disdainfully. -Cagapalo (noun): stick shitter, someone whose presence would be interfering some decent action, like shit on a dick may be. -Hacer casita (verb): cover someone up, it could be so they can pee on the street while drunk or so they can get it on at el Último Vagón. -Entronómetro (noun): a very sophisticated device developed at La Siguamonta Lab&Analytics used to measure people’s entronería and erectability (in the workings). It’ll be patented and it only works if it’s my hand. Instagram @lasiguamonta @karlakaplun @patomanila for some good duck tacos!

What could the long terms of the digitalization of hook-ups be? How could aging reveal such digitalization’s toll on us? In this episode la Siguamonta gets a little bit more intimate about the affective misery that haunts the gay world and talks about how aging reveals this misery in a way. Young people are in a way responsible for cruising spots being lost, since before the digital world, gay people had to rely on such cruising spots to hook up. The criminality of cruising has been on the decline since gay apps have normalized homoeroticism. And this normalization carries the deepening of civilisation and it’s misery. Wagon Jargon -Godín (noun): short for Godínez (which is a last name). It refers to a bureaucrat who usually works a 9 to 5, wears a suit and a tie and has a pretty monotonous job. Insta @lasiguamonta

So what does going on el Último Vagón look like exactly? What am I to expect? What goes down? In this episode, La Siguamonta brings a special guest, long time friend and first timer using el Último Vagón to paint us a picture about what usually goes or might go down at el Último Vagón. Diego recently went for his first metreada which is sure to be a night he won’t forget, since he got to see the good, the bad, the funny and the charming of el Último Vagón (the bar was set so high his second time he considered a failure). They also give some tips to make sure y’all make the best of your first metreada. Wagon Jargon -Metreada (noun): a night spent (or a regular ride) on el Último Vagón. -Metrear (verb): to ride on el Último Vagón, synonym for ultimovagonear. -Agua loca (noun): booze with juice, usually vodka. -Ligar (verb): flirt/conversate with someone with whom there’s mutual interest to maybe hook up or exchange numbers. -La que mucho escoge, poco coge (saying): if you get too picky, you’ll fuck too little, basically. Extracredit: Diego has a sustainable café (La Palmera Café) right beside his house in the heart of México City, you’ve got to try his chilaquiles and support local gay businesses. Insta @lasiguamonta @dzubilla

Have you ever gone to the gay club and have your gay friends (or yourself) be on their phones checking their gapps? Them being so unpresent? In this episode La Siguamonta (who’s in the running towards becoming a goodwill ambassador of el Último Vagón) introduces himself and his story, and shares why he decided to start this podcast: let foreigners know the charm of el Último Vagón. The complicity that surrounds it allows for other type of interactions beyond your regular grindr one night stand. Is not that it is not ephimeral or that it is meaningful, but that it is spontaneous and inmediate, in the sense that it is not mediated by anything, allowing for true presence, truly being in the moment, which is something that’s lacking in and constantly fleeting from the gay world, where most guys can be in their heads, in their gapps or in their aspirational motivations (say, like sleeping each time with hotter gays) too much. Wagon Jargon -Entronería (noun): being entrón. -Entrón/a (adjective): someone who you can count they’ll be usually down for whatever plan you have. Go getter. Also someone who’s into certain sex practices such as bareback, chem fun, and PnP. -Calientahuevos (noun): someone who’s a sex teaser. Insta @lasiguamonta