The world's first and only LGBTQ Mariachi brings Mexican music and folklore to Southern California. We are a dynamic ensemble representing the traditions of a rich culture of Mexico. Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles prides itself in providing its public with the utmost professionalism and musicianship. This unique ensemble was created as a safe haven for mariachi musicians who identify as LGBTQ to come together and perform traditional Mexican regional music in an otherwise “machista” and somewhat discriminating subculture of the mariachi world.

Led by director Carlos Samaniego, Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles performs its repertoire to suit the LGBTQ community while it maintains the highest level of musicality. Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles is proud to have the first transgender female, Natalia Melendez, in the history of mariachi as one of its members. Natalia has been featured in a two-part special for Univision news, which depicts her life and struggles as a transgender woman in the mariachi world. As a result of this two-part special, in its short existence, Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles has been invited to perform for 3 different morning news shows on Univision, which includes the “Lanzate” program. During each one of these presentations, the mariachi was highlighted because of its special nature in representing the LGBTQ community.

Due to the history that Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles is making, a recorded interview from NPR of this ground-breaking ensemble has been archived in the U.S. Library of Congress (check out our "media" page).

Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles has also performed for Los Angeles and Long Beach Pride, Transgender Pride at the LGBT Center in Los Angeles, South Bay Pride, Oceanside Pride, The Abbey, Club Tempo, Hamburger Mary’s, #SchoolsNotPrisons tour for the Califronia Endowmnet, and many other LGBTQ establishments as well as for many same-sex and “traditional” weddings.