The Timoteo Circus has been a transformative force for Chile’s LGBTQ community for over 50 years, fighting against prejudice and discrimination even during the country’s military dictatorship. The circus, which is more of a sexual diversity show than a traditional circus, has 30 employees and is one of Chile’s best-known circuses. The performers transform themselves into characters like “Verónica Power,” “Alexandra,” and “The Crazy Purse Woman” through makeup, wigs, feathers, and sequins, using humor, song, and dance to spread their message of acceptance and inclusion.
For 65-year-old Alejandro Pavés, who plays the character of “Alexandra,” life under the regime of Gen. Augusto Pinochet was a nightmare. The police would often arrest him and other LGBTQ performers, insult and mistreat them, and charge them with sodomy, which would mark them for life. Pavés recalls that the owners of the circus had to hide them to protect them from persecution.
Despite the challenges they faced, the performers of the Timoteo Circus remained committed to their cause, and their message is now more widely accepted and understood by the public. The circus has become an institution in Chile, with “All Chileans know Circo Timoteo,” according to Stéfano Rubio, a conductor and administrative manager of the circus.
For Pavés and his fellow performers, the circus is not just a job, it’s a way of life. Although he had to hide his sexual identity from his family for many years, Pavés now wants his funeral to be held under the circus’ big top. He says that today he feels more accepted and secure, and the public understands the message of the circus better. The Timoteo Circus continues to be a transformative force for Chile’s LGBTQ community, and its performers are an inspiration to people around the world.
