By Jim McCoy

His stage name is not one to be mispronounced! “El Lalito” is usually broadcast as loud as possible through the club’s microphone as he saunters or glides onto the stage with his Latin Flair and exciting showmanship. Eduardo is a treat to the soul with his gleaming eyes and bright smile. I was fortunate to catch up with him during one of his performances with the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus, and we chatted about everything!

In the infamous words of the Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland, “Who Are You?”

Pialli! Notocah Eduardo Celis. Nimacehualli Nipa Mexihco (Hello! My name is Eduardo Celis. I am indigenous, and I am from Mexico.)

Eduardo Celis

Both of my parents come from the same small pueblo in Jalisco, Mexico, called El Rio de Ixtlahuacán. My dad would travel back and forth from Mexico to Los Angeles, California, from a young age to work and send money back to his family. During one of his trips back to Mexico, he met my mother. They later married and decided to live in the U.S. permanently. They started their married lives in South Central, where they had four kids: my two older brothers, my sister, and me. I was born on April 27, 1995, in Torrance, California. My parents stayed an additional five years after I was born before deciding to leave. South Central was a rough area at that time, and for safety reasons, they packed up and moved to a small town in Oklahoma called Guymon, where I grew up. Here, I trained in dance, singing, tumbling, and explored many interests. I spent 20 years in Oklahoma before I decided to move to Las Vegas on my own. These last five years, I have grown immensely as a person and performer. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in business and hope to continue growing and experiencing life.

I’m proud of who I am. I’m proud to be Mexican, indigenous, and queer. I’m not perfect, far from it, but I always self-reflect and strive to be better. I am a hard worker; some don’t even realize how much effort I put in. I want to help my people in any way I can, even if it’s just showing the obstacles we face. “Sí se puede.” When the path is blocked, make your own path. It’s what I did when I wanted to learn dance, singing, and tumbling. My family didn’t have money, so I had to learn on my own. Others saw my talents and helped me grow.

Anything is possible.

I’m proud of my heritage and identity. I work hard and always seek ways to improve myself. My goal is to help my community, no matter the challenges, and to show that obstacles can be overcome with determination and support. I want to be remembered as a hard worker who made anything possible. I hope to be known as a dorky, nerdy person who made people laugh but also stood firm. I wish to bring awareness to important issues, start conversations that some may find uncomfortable, and stand up for what is right, protecting those I can.

We both share so much in common for our QUEER communities. To name a few, making a difference on a daily basis, setting priorities, and advocacy are so important. Why and how?

One of the biggest things I do is be active on social media, talk about what is happening in our community, and raise awareness of these issues. I use my platform to encourage people to vote and share opportunities when available. I want to visit predominantly Latino spaces to ask how I can help and be of service, and to find out what is needed.

My priorities are being an advocate and raising awareness on social media platforms. I want to continue my education and am currently studying for the LSATs. I hope to go to law school and help my community in any way I can. In a time when being Latino is dangerous, I want to be a voice for the voiceless and visible for those who are hiding, continuing to fight for those who struggle to stand up for themselves.

You have a fresh perspective on the Las Vegas Latinx Queer Community. What do you feel are the biggest issues impacting this community?

Safety is the biggest concern. ICE raids continue to affect our streets, impacting both undocumented and documented individuals. Affordable housing and pay discrepancies are ongoing issues; people are not paid a living wage, which makes it hard to find affordable housing. Having a safe space is critical. Latinos are generally conservative, which makes it difficult for LGBTQIA individuals to come out. Queer Latinos are five points more likely to drop out of higher education due to higher barriers. Queer Latinos are at disproportionate risk, accounting for a high percentage of HIV diagnoses.

Your energy is contagious, and you are so full of ideas! What projects to enhance the Las Vegas Latino Community do you want to focus on?

I want to start a scholarship fund for Latinos pursuing higher education and help them access scholarship opportunities and other avenues to achieve their goals. I also want to help undocumented Latinos access support and resources for better-paying jobs, housing, and assistance to acclimate to a new country, including work permits and residency, so they don’t live in fear.

I want to promote safe sex as much as possible, provide condoms, and connect people with resources for PrEP, PEP, and other education to help young LGBTQ individuals have healthy and safer sex.

The Official Las Vegas Latin PRIDE Coronation Announcement will be held on Saturday, May 2, at the Phoenix Bar and Lounge at 8 pm. The event will be hosted by current Las Vegas PRIDE Royalty and feature an incredible cast of performers from the Las Vegas Latin Community.

This article was originally published in the 2026 PRIDE Month & Community Issue of Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine, and can be read in its original format here.