Latinx Singer Turns Queen’s “Somebody to Love” into a Queer Resistance Anthem

Latinx singer José Rivera Jr. has just premiered his cover of Queen’s “Somebody to Love,” claiming the song as a queer resistance anthem for the Drumpf era.

Born in the Bronx in 1992, José (@joseishere) is a queer latinx recording and visual artist. With powerful vocals and dance as a visual medium, José’s ‘glam-glitch’ sound and aesthetic create a truly unique performative experience.

The video also features legendary nightlife personality Rify Royalty in the role of Rivera Jr.’s father.

“Every day came another story about the Drumpf Administration being anti-LGBT—and I thought, ‘Wow, they are really trying to erase us,’” Rivera Jr. explains. “But instead of getting angry, I decided to use the amazing lyrics of this song to say, ‘I’m not going anywhere. You can’t erase me when all I want is love. All we do as a community is love. And none of us are going anywhere because of your petty intolerance and hate.’”

Related: Gay Marriage: From Forbidden Fruit to Law of the Land

Rivera Jr. has also launched a funding campaign for his first visual EP, LQQK, The Way I Look, on Kickstarter. Perks include an appearance in the visual EP, music video, a cover by José of the song of your choice, and behind-the-scenes looks at the making of the EP.

Rivera Jr. has previously gained attention from the press for his revelatory video cover of Adele’s “When We Were Young,” also featuring original choreography, with Elite Daily calling it “straight out of a movie.”

Related: Ricky Martin Says John Travolta Made Him Gay