Latestanita bacaMarch 02, 2023Esteban FelixComment

Timoteo, the pioneering circus of sexual diversity in Chile

Latestanita bacaMarch 02, 2023Esteban FelixComment

The transformation begins as night falls on this semi-desert esplanade on the outskirts of Chile’s capital, with Arturo, Alejandro and René applying makeup and donning wigs, feathers and sequins to become “Verónica Power,” “Alexandra” and “The Crazy Purse Woman.”

The characters are classics of the Timoteo Circus, a show that has fought prejudice and discrimination against Chile’s LGBTQ community for more than a half century, even through a military dictatorship, in a country known for its devout Catholicism.

Timoteo Circus performers, Adolfo Salas, from left, Arturo Peña and René Sáez, begin their transformations to Prince Angel, “La loca de la cartera" or “The Crazy Purse Lady,” and “Verónica Power,” respectively, inside their trailer in the backyard of the Timoteo Circus lot, on the outskirts of Santiago, Chile, Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Lights illuminate the Circus Timoteo’s big top, on the outskirts of Santiago, Chile, Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Timoteo Circus performer Alejandro Pavés who plays the role of Alexandra Jean-Marie, prepares a cup of instant coffee before taking the stage, on the outskirts of Santiago, Chile, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. Pavés, who comes from a family with a strong military and religious tradition, hid his sexual identity from his family until a television program revealed what he did. His family eventually accepted him but he says there always was the “shame of having a gay son, uncle or cousin.” (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

“Alexandra” – played by 65-year-old Alejandro Pavés – recalled life for the performers under the regime of Gen. Augusto Pinochet, which governed the South American country from 1973 to 1990.

“It was terrible to work under the dictatorship … there was a lot of hatred for gays in Chile at that time,” Pavés told The Associated Press, recalling the number of times he had been arrested, insulted and mistreated.

“The police would arrive and take us prisoner and if they found you dressed as a woman they would give you a sodomy” charge, which would mark you for the rest of your life, Pavés said. “The owners had to hide us.”

The silhouette of an artist is seen through a stage curtain during a Timoteo Circus show, on the outskirts of Santiago, Chile, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Arturo Peña in his role as "La loca de la cartera", or “The Crazy Purse Lady,” swings his purse as he engages with the audience during a Timoteo Circus show, on the outskirts of Santiago, Chile, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Timoteo Circus performer René Sáez, dressed in his role as “Verónica Power,” waits in the wings for his cue, on the outskirts of Santiago, Chile, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Founder of the Timoteo Circus René Valdés and members of the cast, take a bow at the end of an evening show, on the outskirts of Santiago, Chile, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Audience members bust out laughing as “The Crazy Purse Lady,” engages with them during a Timoteo Circus show, on the outskirts of Santiago, Chile, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Although it is called a circus, it is more of a sexual diversity show with humor, song and dance under a big top, and has 30 employees. At its peaks it had up to 70. The Timoteo Circus is one of the best known of Chile’s 120 circuses.

“All Chileans know Circo Timoteo, it’s like an institution,” said Stéfano Rubio, a conductor and administrative manager of the circus.

“The idea of the cross-dresser is that one walks in like a man during the day and transforms at night. That is what it is all about. During the day I am a man and one feels like a man and at night I play a woman’s role. On stage, I think I’m a woman but inside one has the mentality of a man.”

— René Sáez

The show began in 1968 when one of the circus’ female dancers was absent for a performance. Its founder, René Valdés, had one of the male performers dress as a woman and replace her on stage. The performance was so popular the dancer did five curtain calls to receive applause. The transformation circus was born and has been committed to sexual diversity ever since.

Arturo Peña, who plays “The Crazy Purse Lady,” said that during the dictatorship the performers used to receive kicks and blows for their appearance, and the idea of carrying a purse in her act was to use in self-defense.

Timoteo Circus performer Alejandro Pavés who plays the role of Alexandra Jean-Marie takes the stage, on the outskirts of Santiago, Chile, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Pavés, who comes from a family with a strong military and religious tradition, hid his sexual identity from his family until a television program revealed what he did.

His family eventually accepted him but he says there always was the “shame of having a gay son, uncle or cousin.”

Now, he cannot see himself having any other job than the Timoteo Circus, and that when he dies he wants his funeral to be held under the circus’ big top.

“Today I work with more security, they accept me more” and the public understands the message better, he said.