A multi-disciplinary Mexican queer filmmaker, Gabriel Gutierrez Morales produces documentaries, writes novels and paints portraits that are an exploration of sexuality and identity. In this episode, they talk about how art functions as a self-exploration, including of their own sexuality, gender identity, language as a bilingual English and Spanish speaker, and their young adulthood. 

Their most recent works include “Boy Slut”, a fictional film about an encounter between two gay men, a mini-documentary about Cliff Media called “A Certain Kind”, and a forthcoming feature-length documentary about Cliff Media called “A House on the Cliff”. 

Like many artists creating content about sexuality, Gabriel has been censored on multiple platforms, including a permanent ban from YouTube. They are also limited the film festivals that accept their work and the audience that their work reaches. As an independent artist, they make only minimal income which they supplement with a low-wage job. 

Nonetheless, they persist in their vision of ethical and honest art, work that brings them a sense of meaning and happiness. Their resilience in a reminder of the value of identifying and believing in who you are and the power of your personal vision.