The late Jiggly Caliente will be inducted into the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor following her tragic death last month.
Jiggly Caliente, otherwise known as Bianca Castro-Arabejo, and best recognised for competing on season four and All Stars 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race before becoming a ‘resident judge’ on Drag Race Philippines, died “peacefully” on 27 April, her family confirmed in a statement at the time.
As well as a landslide of tributes and love sent to Jiggly and her family in the days following her passing, it has been announced that the trans trailblazer will be inducted into the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor.
The memorial wall in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York is dedciated to LGBTQ “pioneers, trailblazers and heroes,” and is located inside the legendary Stonewall Inn.
The induction ceremony for Jiggly and her fellow inductees – all of whom are deceased trans changemakers – will take place 26 June, ahead of New York Pride.
“This year’s focus on transgender trailblazers and changemakers underscores the importance of recognizing our history and the current climate for our trans siblings,” stated Cathy Renna, communications director of the National LGBTQ Task Force.
“As we continue to fiercely battle against attacks on our trans and nonbinary communities, we are honored to uplift their legacies. Their courage inspires our ongoing fight for liberation, both within the task force family and across every queer advocacy organisation.”
Nicole Murray Ramirez, founder of the Wall of Honor, added, “In these times, when there are radical and extreme campaigns trying to erase our transgender community, the Imperial Courts and task force are reminding us all that transgender people have not only always been here, but have also been some of our community’s most dedicated activists and leaders.”
Jiggly Caliente will be inducted in the Wall of Honor alongside Puerto Rican matriarch and drag artist Ruddy ‘Mami Ruddys’ Martinez, trans trailblazer Chili Pepper, scientist Lynn Conway, physicist Alan L Hart, The Lady Chablis and Sam Nordquist (a trans man who was brutally tortured).
Three days prior to her death, Jiggly’s family revealed that she had suffered a “serious health setback” and lost “most of her right leg” due to an infection.
The Wall of Honors was inaugurated in 2019 with 50 honorees. Additional members are added each year, including Leslie Jordan, Heklina and more.
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