Today on the site I’m thrilled to welcome Orlando Ortega-Medina, whose Emerald Road releases today from Bywater Books! He’s here to talk about queer immigrant resilience in this newest novel:
Isaac Perez, a young dreamer caught in the crossfire of El Salvador’s civil war, is forced to flee north after his life is torn apart by military brutality. His journey to the United States is fraught with peril, but he’s not alone; by his side is Ahbhu, a loyal Australian Cattle Dog with whom he shares a mysterious, telepathic bond.
Together, Isaac and Ahbhu brave treacherous landscapes and cross paths with unforgettable allies: Suchi, a fierce protector of LGBTQ migrants, and Diego, a young man whose kindness rekindles Isaac’s hope for a future beyond survival. But as they journey through a world scarred by violence and betrayal, Isaac must confront the haunting shadows of his past—and discover whether he has the strength to build a new life in a land of promise.
Here’s Orlando Ortega-Medina!
As a product of immigration myself, I’ve long grappled with the intersection of identity, family, and belonging. Both of my parents hailed from conservative Latin America, which presented early challenges to my sense of self, especially as I realized I was gay.
In the 1990s, I left the United States, my homeland, due to marriage inequality, to be with my partner, an asylum seeker from El Salvador. Becoming an immigrant myself in pursuit of a more equitable life deeply influenced my work as an immigration lawyer and as an author. When it comes to my fiction, my stories have always centered around immigrants and the challenges they face—particularly the complexities of self-identity for those navigating dual, often conflicting worlds.
My forthcoming novel, Emerald Road, explores these themes. It tells the story of Isaac Perez, a young Salvadoran refugee, whose journey unfolds amidst the brutal Salvadoran Civil War. Isaac’s story is not just one of displacement or survival; it is also a tale of queer self-discovery, highlighting the emotional and physical toll that his identity as both a refugee and a queer man exacts on him. Through Emerald Road, I aim to contribute to the growing body of fiction that centers on the often unheard and complex stories of queer immigrants.
While immigrant stories frequently focus on themes of cultural displacement and survival, queer immigrant narratives add still another layer of marginalization. These individuals face dual alienation: first from mainstream society for their immigrant identity, and then within their own communities or LGBTQ+ spaces for their queerness. This dual struggle is often underrepresented in literature, yet it speaks to a profound human experience—the quest for belonging when you’re seen as “other” from multiple angles.
The depiction of queer immigrant stories in literature has evolved significantly in recent decades, mirroring society’s growing acceptance of both LGBTQ+ identities and the immigrant experience. Early queer immigrant narratives were often hidden or muted, with characters navigating their sexual identity in silence. For example, Gloria Anzaldúa’s Borderlands/La Frontera (1987) subtly blends prose and poetry to examine the queer, feminist, and immigrant experience, pushing against ethnic and gender-based marginalization.
More recent works have embraced a more direct and nuanced approach. The Book of Salt by Monique Truong (2003) explores the intersection of queer and immigrant identities through the story of a Vietnamese cook working for Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas in Paris. Meanwhile, Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (2012) delves into the experiences of Mexican-American youth as they grapple with questions of identity and queer love, offering an intimate exploration of the complexities of cultural and personal self-discovery.
Perhaps the most direct and poignant example of queer immigrant storytelling comes from Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous (2019). Vuong’s protagonist navigates the intersection of queerness, immigration, and war trauma in a deeply personal way, illustrating the profound emotional isolation faced by queer immigrants.
In these narratives, literature gives voice to individuals who live at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities. The unique tensions that arise from being both queer and an immigrant reveal the deep, often overlooked, emotional toll of cultural displacement compounded by the struggle for acceptance within one’s own community.
At the heart of my new novel, Emerald Road, is Isaac Perez, a young Salvadoran refugee whose life is torn apart by the Salvadoran Civil War. Forced to flee his homeland, Isaac embarks on a treacherous journey to the United States, confronting not only the external dangers of war and displacement but also the internal conflict of coming to terms with his queerness. His journey echoes the experience of many queer immigrants who must confront marginalization from multiple sides.
Isaac’s relationship with his dog, Ahbhu, with whom he shares a mysterious telepathic bond, serves as an emotional anchor throughout his journey. As seen in Isaac’s moments of grief and hardship, Ahbhu represents the unconditional love and resilience Isaac craves amidst the instability and rejection he faces from both his family and society. This bond also parallels Isaac’s own journey toward self-acceptance, making Ahbhu more than just a companion—he is a symbol of Isaac’s survival.
As Isaac travels through Tijuana toward the U.S., his queerness becomes both a source of vulnerability and strength. His inner journey of self-discovery runs parallel to his external quest for freedom. Both his queerness and his status as a refugee push him to the margins, but they also make him resilient—capable of surviving in a world that constantly threatens to erase him.
Isaac’s encounters with characters like Suchi, a fierce protector of LGBTQ migrants, and Diego, a young man whose kindness rekindles Isaac’s hope for a future beyond survival, underscores the collective nature of self-discovery and community. These individuals, each grappling with their own identities, add depth to Isaac’s journey, reflecting the broader challenges of navigating identity, displacement, and survival in a hostile world.
Isaac’s transformation from a timid, bullied boy into a resilient young man is a central arc in Emerald Road. His queerness, layered with the trauma of war and displacement, initially leaves him vulnerable, but by the novel’s end, Isaac stands up to his oppressors. Figures like the people smuggler El Garrobo and Officer Vasquez, a U.S. border agent who abuses his position—once symbols of fear—become obstacles Isaac bravely confronts as he reclaims his power. His resilience is not just about surviving—it is about reclaiming his identity in the face of immense adversity.
Isaac’s inner journey of self-acceptance mirrors the broader struggles faced by queer immigrants—embracing one’s identity when external and internal forces collide in opposition. The resilience Isaac exhibits in navigating his queerness, refugee status, and trauma becomes a testament to the strength it takes to live authentically.
Queer immigrant stories like Isaac’s in Emerald Road offer a vital perspective in contemporary literature. As global refugee crises escalate and LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face persecution in many parts of the world, these narratives become more urgent than ever. They remind readers that the immigrant journey is not just political; it is deeply personal—a battle for self-acceptance and survival.
Isaac’s quest for belonging reflects a universal struggle: in a world that often forces individuals to choose between cultural heritage and queer identity, Emerald Road challenges readers to consider what it means to exist authentically at the intersection of both. By sharing these stories, fiction fosters empathy, offering readers a window into the personal fortitude required to survive—and thrive—at the margins of society.
Emerald Road is not just a story of survival—it is a story of defiance. Isaac Perez’s journey reflects the fierce determination it takes to live authentically in a world that seeks to marginalize and erase those who are different. In a time when both queer and immigrant communities face persecution, Isaac’s story becomes an act of resistance.
Through Isaac, I hope to show that resilience is not simply enduring—it’s about reclaiming power and declaring that one’s identity is worth celebrating, even when the world is set against you. These are the stories that matter now more than ever. They remind us that while the struggle for belonging is universal, the stakes are uniquely high for those at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities.
Orlando Ortega-Medina was born in Los Angeles to Latin American immigrants and studied English Literature at UCLA before earning a Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law. His works include Jerusalem Ablaze, which was shortlisted for the UK’s Polari First Book Prize, and The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants, also shortlisted for the Polari Prize and featured on the Today Show’s “36 new books we can’t wait to read in 2023” list. Ortega-Medina currently resides in London, where he practices U.S. immigration law and continues to write fiction.
